It's Just Pretend

New Beginnings

Anna's life had always been shaped by the rhythm of the island. Growing up in Jamaica, the gentle sway of palm trees, the salty air of the sea, and the warmth of the Caribbean sun were as much a part of her as the heartbeat she could feel echoing in her chest. Raised in a small, bustling town where community mattered more than anything, she learned early on the value of connection. It wasn't a perfect childhood, but it was hers. Her family wasn't wealthy, but they had enough. Her mother, a schoolteacher, and her father, a small business owner, instilled in her the importance of hard work and resilience.

But even with that strong foundation, Anna always had bigger dreams. She wanted to see more of the world, experience things beyond the shores of Jamaica, and build a career that didn't just rely on her father's store or her mother's lessons. From an early age, she was determined to make her own way, and that determination carried her all the way through her education.

At 21, Anna packed up her things and left the warmth of the Caribbean to pursue her degree in hospitality management in the United States. The opportunity came as part of a university exchange program, and though it was a bit daunting to leave behind everything she knew, the thrill of new experiences was enough to push her forward. She found herself in the small, quiet town of Wood Creek, Montana, a far cry from the vibrant energy of Jamaica. The cold air hit her the moment she stepped off the plane, a sharp contrast to the tropical warmth she was used to. She pulled her jacket tighter around her, already feeling the sting of homesickness.

Her internship at the local hotel was meant to be a stepping stone, a way to gain experience before heading back to Jamaica. She'd heard of other students who had taken the internship and gone back home to great opportunities, and she imagined that would be her path as well. Wood Creek was charming in its own right, but Anna wasn't sure it was her future. Still, the people she met were kind, and she made the most of the experience, throwing herself into her work and learning everything she could about the hospitality industry.

It wasn't long, however, before she started to miss home. The friends she'd made in the States were wonderful, but they couldn't replace the familiar faces and sounds of her island home. And then there was Chris.

Her relationship with Chris had been one of those comfortable, easy things. They'd been together for two years by the time she left for the internship. Their relationship wasn't perfect—there had been the occasional fight, and even some doubts about their future—but he was kind and dependable. They had a rhythm together, a life they'd built. When the internship was over, she found herself torn between staying in the States for an opportunity she hadn't yet fully realized or returning to Jamaica, where Chris was waiting for her.

In the end, she chose to return home. The distance between them hadn't been ideal, but they both believed they could make it work. So, Anna picked up her life in Wood Creek and headed back to Jamaica, eager to reunite with Chris and start building their future.

The next months were awful and as time went on the distance began to stretch, and the connection between them began to fray. The conversations became less frequent, the visits shorter, the excuses piling up. Anna found herself in a place where she had no job prospects, the economy in Jamaica stifling any hope for a career that would allow her to live the life she dreamed of. Chris, though he had his own career, was settling into the life they'd planned, but Anna wasn't so sure anymore. She wanted more—more for herself, more for her career.

It was a tough decision, but one night, sitting at her mother's kitchen table, she made a choice. Anna reached out to the hotel in Wood Creek, asking if the assistant manager position was still available. The response came quickly, and before she knew it, she was booking her flight back to Montana.

The hotel offered her a chance to pick up where she'd left off, to return to a town that she still wasn't sure about, but one that offered something her own country couldn't: an opportunity. It felt like a fresh start, one she couldn't afford to ignore. She knew leaving Chris behind would hurt, but deep down, she knew it was the right decision.

Two years had passed since that moment, and though she'd settled into life in Wood Creek, there was always a part of her that felt the loss of the life she'd imagined back in Jamaica.

Now, at 25, Anna stood at a crossroads once again. She had established herself at the hotel, a place that, though small and quiet, had become a second home to her. She was good at what she did—managing, organizing, making things run smoothly—but something was still missing. It wasn't the job that left her restless, but the loneliness that clung to her in the quiet moments.

Her friends had been urging her to get back into the dating scene, but Anna wasn't sure if she was ready for that. Her heart still ached from the end of her last relationship, and the idea of opening herself up to someone new felt daunting. But there was a pull inside her, a desire to feel that spark again, to connect with someone who could see her for who she was.

That's when she downloaded Tinder. It felt like a small step into something new, a way to dip her toes back into the dating pool without diving in headfirst.

It was there, in the swiping and the casual exchanges, that she came across Mr. Sir People. His profile picture showed a ruggedly handsome man with a crooked smile and eyes that seemed to look right through the camera. His bio said simply, "Looking for something real." It caught her attention.

Their conversation started off simple enough—small talk about what brought them to Tinder, shared interests in traveling, and some banter about the small-town life. But it didn't take long before Anna realized that they had an undeniable connection. He was a man who didn't mince words, who was upfront about what he wanted, and yet, there was something calming about his honesty. He wasn't in a rush, but he was looking for something genuine, and that resonated with her.

His name was Benson. He was 28, an army mechanic from Kansas City, and he had been divorced for four years. He spoke about his life with a quiet confidence, not brash or overly proud, but assured in who he was and what he wanted. He was looking for a partner, someone to build a future with, and his words made her feel like he was speaking directly to the parts of her that had been dormant for too long.

As their messages turned into phone calls, and phone calls into late-night chats, Anna couldn't help but feel that the connection between them was more than just serendipity. It was something real. Something worth pursuing.

The more they talked, the more she realized that she was ready. Ready to be with someone who saw her as more than just a face in the crowd. Ready to open herself to the possibility of love again.

And this is where their story begins.

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Alright, off to a great start!