The Getaway

Chapter One

Ashley opened her eyes; the glare of the sun forced her to shut them once again, one more time but this time she brought her hand to her forehead and covered her eyes. Although hazy she could see the sparkle of the sun coming off the water, as it came into focus, the aquamarine water gently lapping against the stunningly gorgeous white sandy beach. Upon removing her hand, it all came into view the stunning beaches, the luscious palm trees, the crystal clear waters, and beautiful skies of Bali. "If this isn't heaven I don't know what is," She thought to herself as she got out of her wooden lounge chair and removed her cover-up and threw it on the chair as she started walking down the beach. 

How could she have ever lived any other way, she was free to do what she wanted, free to do whatever without someone else's input and to think all those years spent working a 9-5 and convincing herself she was happy. All of that seemed so distant now; she felt empowered for the first time, sexy for the first time, and pleased in what she was doing. Continuing her walk toward the water she could feel the sun's rays beaming down its warmth onto her skin causing her to pause just before her toes hit the water. With an outreach of her foot she waited for the warm water to wash over it but when it came, it was frigid almost like the icy waters of the North Atlantic.

Feeling the cold wind and hearing the sound of the busy New York streets, Ashley knew she had dozed off on the park bench again. Still, she keeps her eyes closed trying to savor every second she could as if by pure willpower she could be transported back to the beaches, the palm trees, and the crystal waters of Bali. After trying as if the world depended on carrying herself back to her pleasant setting, for what seemed like an eternity she finally accepted the fact that her daydream had ended and reality was back into full swing. Even though she wasn't in Bali, as she opened her eyes she was greeted by central park in the fall, the leaves covered the ground making a golden pathway, and the trees overhead seemed like a never-ending tunnel of the colors of autumn. 

With a smile on her face she couldn't help but think "what a place to live, it may not be Bali but one would be ignorant to deny the beauty that central park held." With a reluctant sigh, Ashley got to her feet and started stretching, "oh god, what time is it" she wondered. As she pulled out her phone "5:55 pm "oh god, John is going to kill me if I don't start heading home, why is it that he can't just let me be, without thinking the worst all the time? Oh well, no use in worrying about it, one more sacrifice in the name of love right?"

With a defeated look on her face, she starts walking to the edge of the park and back to her and John's apartment they have together at 262 Central Park W complex a walk she makes five days a week 50 weeks a year. Every day the same old sounds of the busy streets alive with cars, shops, restaurants, and people walking and talking on their cell phones as if whatever it is can't be put on hold for even a second to just enjoy the city around them. Within minutes she had arrived at the outside of her building, the dark green canopy always made the building look like it was trying to overcompensate for the lack of color and add a reminiscent touch of class that is seen in the cheesy romantic movies that Hollywood made.

The entryway wasn't much better, ever since the remodel it had reminded her of a poorly designed motel six room, trying to bring a modern and elegant decor but failing in every way possible. Seven years ago when she and John started living here, it was beautiful and classy looking, old wooden clerk's desk and inviting decor that was a stark contrast to the outside of the building as well as the canopy. These days Ashley barely even looks up just heading straight for the elevator trying not to throw up at the sight of the lobby. 

As she made her way up the elevator, all she could think about was being on a beach thousands of miles away just enjoying life from the comfort of a lounge chair. Before opening the door to the apartment, with keys in hand, she shut her eyes and pictures the beach one last time "I've got this, one day that's where I'll be, and I'm not going to let anyone or anything stop me." With a smile, she unlocks the door and opens it.

With the door wide open and Ashley standing in the doorway, she finds John sitting on the couch like a lifeless frog on a stump just staring at the TV enveloped in the latest show that he had started to watch. The apartment was an excellent size, especially for New York City it was a two-bedroom two bath apartment in the west side, the kitchen was a close floor plan as you entered through the pantry on the right with the two bedrooms on the right side of the foyer down the hall.

It took Ashley closing the door for her lifeless husband to spring back to life and pause the latest life sucking show long enough to acknowledge she was even home and told her how that dinner was on the counter, then back to his lifeless self no wondering how her day was or why she was late. "Hell, I could've been at that park till midnight dozing away and he would probably not notice. As she made her way to the counter she noticed the Chinese takeout sitting there, Ashley hated Chinese food, and John knows that "oh well" she thought to herself "food is food" and she was starving. After taking the food out of the microwave she headed to the spare bedroom where she had a small bed and a recliner and wall to wall lined in bookshelves filled with her favorite books, she curled up in the recliner and finished her food and immediately grabbed a travel guidebook to Thailand.