The Tragedy of Marco

Chapter XI

Around five o'clock in the morning Jordan left his house in hope he was heading towards the conclusion of Marco's story.

During the ride, Jordan thought about his life. To be more precise, he was thinking about his life with Anna. Their marriage, house, travels, everything felt fake. He loved and trusted her unconditionally and now that the trust was broken, anger fogged the love. He couldn't understand her even if he tried. She had everything. He did everything to make her happy, yet she betrayed him. Why? Why does a person leave the comfort of an hour for a thrill of a second?

*

Jordan met Anna 15 years ago. He was a divorcee and she was a lonely woman. Both, scared of being hurt again, acted reserved at first but it was meant to be. Two years later a huge wedding was held at town's castle. It was an event everyone important was invited. Jordan was deeply in love with her. He had his eyes only for her beauty and when she announced she was expecting a baby, the adoration and respect in Jordan even increased. For him, she was the symbol of purity and perfection. He took good care of her. With his investigation business he earned enough money for both of them to live pleasantly, and with her working as a highly appreciated art teacher, they could afford a big house with luxurious interior and expensive holidays.

Anna gave birth to a healthy boy. They named him Larry. He was the biggest treasure of their life. As he grew up he became a handsome teenager, popular and intelligent. His relationship with his parents, especially his dad, was above amazing. Perfect family of Jordan Harrison had everything a family could ever wish for but Anna was still not completely satisfied. She had a loving husband, comfortable home, a beautiful son and a satisfying career. But it was not enough. What she was craving for was a talk. With a husband so successful as Jordan was, it was hard to get him to talk to her, to tell her about his struggles. He held his thoughts for himself and all the negativity he felt, he turned into motivation for work. And Anna wanted him to be more open about his feelings. When they talked, they talked about her feelings or plans but never about him and his wishes. As long as she was pleased and work didn't suffer he was happy.

That is the reason why Anna got so attached to Marco's father. He was in pain and she was a listener who gave him all her attention. And she did a mistake. They both did a mistake. A listener got a talker and vice versa. They didn't stop at expressing their thoughts verbally but took it to a physical level. Their wish for getting an honest conversation destroyed two marriages. Instead of solving the problems inside the family, they took them outside. And that was their sin.

But Jordan didn't see the relationship like that. He didn't know the whole story. What he knew was that his wife had had a sexual relationship with another man and that destroyed him. No matter what her reasons were, he wouldn't be able to look at her the same again. The sanctity of marriage has been broken.

*

Thoughts of Anna and their marriage awoke feelings of grand sadness in Jordan. He had to stop the car, stop the reality and find a piece of hope inside of himself. His second marriage was at the edge of destruction and there was nothing to hold to. Why should someone keep trying when all there was left was painful truth of shattered life? But the life that seemed deflected had a little light of hope. Light that could overpower all pains of his life. His son. If not for anyone else, he had to stay strong for his son. "My heart can be broken a thousand times but it will always have enough power to love you, my son," murmured Jordan and as he said it, an image of Marco's life flashed his thoughts. That was what he needed. He needed to know his parents loved him. Because they did. They loved him profoundly. But what is the point of love if you cannot feel it?

"My son will not have the same story. His mother and I may have troubles, but I'll make sure he feels loved every single day of his life."

Author's note: Till now, you have followed stories of six people. The next chapter will finish the story of one of them. Whose will it be?