begin again

The One

August 2019

Taylor Swift's POV

     Joe and I had been together for what feels like forever. I've been through thick and thin with him and we can tell each other anything. Or at least I thought. He never keeps secrets from me, but recently he had been acting strange.

     I was out shopping one day, I offered for him to come along but he decided to stay back. This was sort of a pattern for him. Things we would usually do together, he no longer wanted to do. But he would always have an excuse. It was always, "I have a meeting." Or "I'm not feeling good." And I believed him. What reason would he have to lie to me?

     I arrived back home at our New York City apartment. The door man, Mark, greeted me. "Hello Taylor! Did you know Joe has a visitor?" My heart began to pound. A visitor? It's probably just a friend, nothing to worry about.

     "No, I didn't." I replied with a smile. My heart pounded in my chest as the elevator made its way to my floor. I got the courage to unlock the door.

     Very slowly I turned the handle. I set my bags down and looked around for Joe and his supposed visitor. "Joe?" I called out. Nobody answered. I made my way to our bedroom door. I carefully opened the door.

     "What the fuck." There was Joe, and some woman I had never seen before. "Taylor, it's not what you think." He quickly got dressed.

    "Excuse me? It's exactly what I think it is, you are having sex with another woman in my bed." I yelled. I couldn't believe what was happening. "And to think I trusted you." I paced around thinking of what to do.

    "Taylor please we can talk about this!" He followed me around. "No. Get out. Just leave." I screamed in his face. The woman quickly left just before Joe.

     "Your things will be outside. After that, I never want to see you again. And don't worry, I will make sure of it." I slapped him. I even surprised myself by doing that. His face turned red of embarrassment and humiliation.

     For hours I paced around my now empty apartment, not daring to look in that bedroom that used to be full of love. "Fuck!" I yelled. I was mad at everything, Joe, that woman, and myself for letting it happen.

     I was throwing and kicking his things around until I heard a knock at the door. "Taylor?" It was my mom. I wiped the tears off my face and took a deep breath.

     "Hi sweet girl!" I reached my arms out and picked up the toddler. "Taylor are you okay?" My mom asked and I led her inside.

    "Mommy and Nana need to talk so you're going to play in here." I kissed my two year old daughter on the cheek and set her on the floor of her playroom. Oblivious to what was going on, she giggled.

     "Mom, Joe and I are over." A choked sob escaped my mouth as I spoke. I collapsed in her arms and just cried. "Oh baby, it's okay." She stroked through my blonde hair and let me cry until I was ready to talk.

     "Basically, I came home and there was another woman..." I wiped the tears falling down my cheeks. "I'm sorry honey." She replied.

      "What are you going to do about Paislee?" She asked and gestured to my daughter. I didn't think about that yet. "She's staying with me. Clearly her father doesn't care enough to stay faithful." I rolled my eyes.

    We talked for a while as I gathered up Joe's belongings. She helped me set everything in the lobby and I explained that he is to get this stuff and never come here again.

      After my mother left I went to talk to Paislee. "Hey sweet girl. Are you having fun playing?" I sat on the floor next to her. She nodded and handed me a stuffed cat. "This one for daddy." She placed a stuffed dog next to me. I didn't have the heart to tell her yet. Clearly she doesn't understand the concept of cheating but I don't want to tell her that her daddy isn't coming home.

     "Pais, how do you feel about pizza tonight?" I was hoping she agreed because I needed to bury my feelings in a greasy slice of pizza. She excitedly nodded and ran to the kitchen.

     Our pizza arrived and I broke the rules and decided we were eating on the couch tonight. I let Paislee choose the movie, so we were watching Frozen. She sang along and showed me her super cool dance moves.

    Her little gestures cheered me up. When she got tired she snuggled up next to me. "I want daddy." She mumbled with her thumb in her mouth. "Sweet girl it's okay I'm here." I stroked her small head and tried to calm her down before the tears came.

    I thought about bringing her down tomorrow while he was grabbing his things but I decided it's best if we don't. Eventually she fell asleep.

—————

     I dropped Paislee off at my mom's house like I do most mornings. She didn't ask about her father, I was happy I didn't have to answer any more questions with a lie.

     I was on my way to the recording studio but I decided to get a coffee first. I ordered my usual and took a seat. But I couldn't help but look at this man sitting at a table across the room. It felt wrong, but just looking can't hurt. Joe clearly moved on fast so I can too.

     He noticed me looking and our eyes met. He had gorgeous green eyes. I quickly looked away when he noticed. We did that dance a few more times before he stood up and came over to my table.

     "Hey." He took a seat across from me. "Hi." I laughed. "I'm Travis, Travis Kelce."