WORK IN PROGRESS: Shattered Love (Unedited)

2. Anne

I set my sight in the picture we had posted on the fridge. It was from a photo booth, located on the bar we first met.

My life was all about work and lots of friends. I just finished an on-and-off relationship, so I was focusing on my professional goals. I considered applying for a position abroad and I felt good about myself. It was a good life-moment.

Dina, my work colleague at the PR agency, thought it was odd to be 26 and not looking for a serious relationship. "It's just unhealthy not to be in love" she said, and made a quest about finding my "soulmate". She always told me about different guys she wanted me to know but that never happened. So, I was just going along with her when she said she would introduce me to his husband's boss.

It was my turn to choose the place for our after-office drink, so I chose Blackdog Bar. Nothing like a place with great beer and amazing vintage music, perfect after a grueling week.

Dina and I walked a couple of blocks, since the office was downtown. Her husband Aaron was meeting us there, as usual, since his job was a bit further. We were at the bar, talking about the job position in Europe, when Aaron appeared surprising Dina and giving her a not PG13 kiss.

Nothing about that was out of the normal, but when a guy walked right behind him and introduced himself as Kyle Rodgers, Aaron's boss, I was pretty surprised. I was so sure this introduction would be hypothetical, as all the previous ones, the shock in my face was obvious.

Later, he confessed he thought I didn't know about us meeting at the bar and that he didn't know what do to. "I felt you were ambushed and I was conflicted. There was the beautiful woman that I insisted to meet and she didn't even know it." So I learned that he saw me on Aaron's social media one of those night we used to go for drinks after work, and he asked Aaron to introduced us. I went to his house that weekend and after that, every weekend that followed.

Three months later, we were living together, seven months after that we got married. I thought I had found my forever love. I guess life proved me wrong.

I was pulled out from my flashback when I felt Kyle's presence behind me. My hand was grabbing the bottle with force, still I was feeling numb. I decided to take a big drink of wine before processing the situation. He smelled like the delicious minty soap I kept buying for him every Christmas, since we were together. It was one of my favorite scents and right now, it was just making me feel sick.

"Annie, sweetheart. Let me explain—"I interrupted him, not wanting to listen to whatever bullshit he was about to spit. "The day we took that picture on the fridge, was one of the most unexpected and amazing nights of my life. You were a surprising gift, and I found myself believing in all these concepts I felt were childish and naive before."

"Please, baby. I need—"I continued, ignoring him. The sound of his voice was causing me to feel nauseated, but throwing up would mean vomiting this very fine wine, o I took a deep breath and kept going.

"Soulmate was such a foreign concept before I met you. But then there I was, feeling this cosmical connection." I paused my speech and pulled another long drink of wine. "I guess the joke was on me, because never in my fucking fantasy, you were jerking off to the scene of your Life Coach, spreading her legs and touching herself while moaning your name!"

I turned around and found him staring at me, with eyes filled with pain and regret. How come he was mirroring my inner hell, when I was not the one having sex in front of a camera with another person? I guess that would be my stupid face if I were the one getting caught doing that shit.

"So, having an affair was part of the goals she helps you visualize and achieve during your sessions?" He tried to touch my face, but I jerked away as if he had slapped me. "Anne, listen to me. It's not what—"

I laughed humorlessly. Amazing, this asshole just broke me into pieces, but here he was making me laugh as well. "Before you try to continue spitting bullshit, just know I'm really fucking tired. I came home earlier wanting to celebrate our anniversary. I wanted it to be a surprise! Oh, it was a surprise alright. It was just me who ended up receiving it."

He pulled his hair with both hands, and made a movement as if trying to reach for me again, but he reconsidered and ended up scratching his neck and inhaling deeply with his eyes closed. He exhaled and looked at me again. "Annie, please let me explain. I need you to let me explain." He gave me a look filled with need and with so much torment that I just wanted to slap him again and again for making me feel bad for him.

"Right now, I don't give a shit about your needs. I don't wanna listen to your voice, and I sure as shit don't wanna hear your unoriginal excuses. What I do want though is to finish this fine bottle of wine and I also want you out of my fucking sight."

I went straight to my room, leaving him behind and calling my name. I hated his voice so much, I couldn't even turn around to flip him off. As soon as my door was closed, I fell down crying my heart out.

Life was unpredictable and unfair. I wanted to have an epic surprise for our wedding anniversary. I wanted it to be a night to remember. I guess my wish came true, because there was no way I could forget that the guy I thought loved me was just the one who was laughing at me behind my back.