IM5 Preference #36 "It's Been a While"

3. Dana

It was just a game to him, nothing sincere, nothing even remotely heartfelt. Nothing.

“Honestly, was it all just so you could make fun of me behind my back and feel ‘cool’?” Tears prick your eyes as the words leave your mouth.

“I—” Dana starts but has trouble finding the words, “It’s not what you think,” he murmurs.

“Then what is it, Dana!” Your tears start rolling your cheeks, “Is it all a game?” Your face begins heating up as your hands grow cold and your voice drops to a whisper, “Was I ever anything to you?”

He blows up, “Of course you were! You’re the best thing that ever happened to me!”

You just shake your head, unable to believe him after what he did. So you gather all your courage, “Dana, you started this relationship with me as a dare from one of your friends, it was all acting at first and even if it’s genuine now, I don’t think I can continue being in a relationship that’s built on lies and false pretenses. We’ve been together for four years and I can’t help but wonder if I’ve been wasting all of that time.”

You watch as he entire demeanor drops and his eyes grow dull and tired. You open the door for him, “Goodbye, Dana,” and he walks out, murmuring, “See ya…”

And once he’s gone, you collapse with your back against the door, the tears falling freely now as you think about what you were supposed to say to him tonight, Dana, I’m pregnant…But that obviously didn’t happen.

*             *             *             *             *

After that night, you moved in with your aunt, far from home and far from Dana. You’re cut off from all reminders of him, that is, except for one big one. “You got everything alright?” Your aunt calls from the kitchen as you attempt to calm your now sixteen-year-old son, Jameson, before his first date. Jameson is a lot like his father, in more ways than one; headstrong, stubborn, hotheaded, and determined. When the doorbell rings, you’re beyond confused. After all, Jameson is picking up his date, she’s not coming here.

Your son answers the door, looking into the stranger’s face with a deep hostility. “Can I help you?” he asks, curtly as possible. Dana looks at the boy, confused and wondering how. Quickly, you stride to the open door and place a calming hand on Jameson’s shoulder. Your son turns to you, “Mom, is this someone you know?” Dana’s eyes pop and he looks from you to Jameson, back and forth, over and over. “Yes, he’s an old friend. I’ll take it from here,” you give his shoulder and reassuring squeeze and he gives Dana one last glare before grabbing his jacket and keys, heading out to pick up his date.

“Um, come in!” you chirp, trying to sound cheerful. Dana nods and shuts the door behind him. “Would you like something to drink?”

“No, that’s alright,” he replies, looking at the pictures you have in the house, or lack thereof. The both of you sit down at the dining room table and a tense silence washes over the house.

Dana is the one to break it, “So, how have you been?”

You’re grateful, “Pretty good, not as busy now that he’s growing up and able to take care of himself more.”

He nods, avoiding your eyes and also the elephant in the room. This time, you break the silence, “How did you find me?”

He smiles weakly, “Remember Katie from high school? The one who…” set up the dare.

You nod, “Yeah, I remember her,” you reply bitterly.

He’s silent for a moment, “Well, she saw you around and..called me up.”

You just nod and ask, “So, how long are you in town?”

“Um,” his eyes wander around the house for moment, “just for the week, long enough to visit some family and old friends…” his eyes rest on you and you blush, fully remembering your break-up. “Listen, that boy—”

“Jameson.”

“Yeah, Jameson, he’s your son?”

You nod.

“How… “ He lowers his voice, “How old is he?”

“Sixteen,” you murmur.

And he realizes, “Is he…?”

He doesn’t have to finish the question to know the answer.