DREAM CATCHER

PROLOGUE

He showed up at the hospital and asked to go on a walk together...
She grabbed her coat from the chair and followed him out.
They walked for a while until they arrived at the park and he sat on a bench and gestured for her to join him.

They sat there for a few minutes until she broke the silence...

What's going on,she asked?
He felt around his pocket until he found what he was looking for.

He held out the jewelry box to her and she looked at him in surprise.

Alex...she began but he cut her off immediately..
Before you jump into any conclusion, this is not a proposal.
Not yet anyway.

She opened the box and found a set of keys.
Are you asking me to move in with you she asked.
No,I'm saying I have two extra bedrooms that's not in use.
So, if you and Tabby need a place to stay..I'm more than happy to accommodate you, he replied.

Alex, we've been having fun.. and fun has been great while it lasted but... clearly, you are moving past fun into the serious part and I can't do serious.
Serious is scary because it soon becomes complicated and my life is complicated enough as it is between my job and my ex...

And Tabby, he says.
Tabby's not a complication Alex.
Why would you say that.

Because you are in love with her Dad, he replied hesitantly.

What are you talking about, she asks him.

You have been separated for eight years... and in that time, neither of you filed for divorce nor did you get back together,he began.
I always knew that he was in love with you. How could he not be?
You are Libby Hernandez for goodness sake.
You are beautiful and kind and you have a big heart.
He would be crazy not to love you.

At first, I thought it was one sided on his part but the more time I spent around you two, seeing how you light up when he's around,I realized you felt the same,he concluded.

What do you want me to say Alex?
Do I love him? Of course I do.
He's my best friend and my daughter's father.
At one point,he was the love of my life and I guess those feelings never went away even when we were apart.
I cannot put into words my feelings for Joshua because what I feel for him... it's escaped definition and there's no label in the world that can aptly describe what we mean to each other.
All I know is,I never told you that I didn't love him.

No.. you never said that but you stopped wearing your wedding ring.
You'd worn it everyday after your separation.
You were wearing it when we met.. even when we starting seeing each other.
Then you suddenly stopped wearing it for the past six weeks and I thought that maybe you were willing to give us a chance.
That it might be a sign that you were willing to let go of the past and build a future with me.. that you might actually file for divorce...

Alex...I'm sorry if I sent the wrong message but I stopped wearing my wedding ring because it hurt so much.
Because anytime I see it reflected in the mirror,I'm reminded of the good times,of how happy we were and I'm left to wonder where it all went wrong.

Why are you doing this now Alex?
My daughter's father..no, my husband is lying unconscious in the hospital right now.
I should be by his side.
You are a good man..Alex.
You are just not the right man for me..not the man I need.
I tried to love you Alex..I really tried but I can't do this anymore.
I think it's best if we don't see each other anymore...
I...I have to get back to the hospital...
Goodbye Alexander...