Forbidden Love

Why am I Falling

Jen knew from the moment she laid eyes on George at the university's open house that he was the one. After a year of him guest lecturing at another college, he returned her sophomore year. They exchange pleasantries in the hallway as they passed, but nothing more than that. She wanted more, but never had a reason to talk with him. Finally, this year, her junior year, she was assigned to be the Stage Manager on his mainstage production of The Winter's Tale. She nearly collapsed in excitement. She'd finally get to spend time with the man she had been dreaming of for over two years.

George had been looking forward to getting to know his stage manager. He loved her continued positivity and her constant sunny disposition. It brought him so much joy to see how happy she always was even though she had faced so many challenges in her short time at the university. She had a serious infection which had left her hospitalized for over a week during her first month of freshman year, five surgeries over the course of two and a half years, and she lost her grandmother back in November. Through all of this and other family medical issues and drama, she never lost that smile. Her smile was infectious and anytime he passed her, he couldn't help but feel happy for the rest of the day. She had that effect on him and others around her whether she knew it or not.

Years before he had met Jen, George had joined the Jesuit Brotherhood after his junior year of college. It was something he had thought about a lot as he was brought up in the Catholic Church. He ultimately decided that if he wanted to pursue a career as an actor, he should enter the seminary as well.

George loved being a priest, but often times he found himself lonely and wondering what might have been if his life had taken a different direction. He had been wondering that a lot since Jen fell into his life. At first he thought it was a coincidence, but the more time he spent with Jen, he realized she was the reason he was having these thoughts. Before he had met Jen, he was content with his life as a priest, but now he wanted more. He wanted what he had never had before: love. The intense, passionate love that was shared between two people.

Lately, George had found himself lying awake at night fantasizing about what it would be like to have Jen in his life. He dreamed of lying next to her, pulling her close into his chest and never letting her go. He thought about the life they could have together and of course, the children he had always wanted.

George did his best to drive her out of his thoughts. He repeatedly told himself that he was a man of the church and she was a 20 year old woman with her whole life ahead of her. There was no way they could ever be romantically involved, it was wrong for him to ever consider it. His life was beginning to wind down while hers was only beginning. He knew seeing her everyday could be difficult, but she had brought him so much happiness that he was willing to put up with the fact that they could never be together.

George grew more and more anxious about their upcoming rehearsals. He hadn't seen Jen in a while because they were both working on separate shows. She was the Production Stage Manager of her best friend's studio show and he was co-directing and acting in a show downtown. Their paths rarely crossed until the first day of rehearsal.

George walked into the rehearsal room and scoped out where Jen was sitting. He saw there were two chairs to her right that were available. As he was making his way over to set his bag down next to Jen, his over eager Assistant Director, Ava, intercepted the chair and immediately began talking his ear off.

"Hi George! How have you been? How is your show downtown going? I've only heard great things. I'm so excited for rehearsal to begin today!" George smiled politely at his AD as he set his bag down on the chair next to the one he was aiming for.