Jackson sat in his office, watching the clock on the wall. The clock shorthand struck three and longhand rested on twelve.
"I can't take this!" Jackson yelled. He took his coat and left his office.
"Hey, Kate. I am going out and won't be back until tomorrow. In case anyone visits me, do tell them that I am out of service and call me if it is important." Jackson shouted toward Kate as he left the building.
The air was cold as snow fell from the sky. "Well, I will take Stevens's advice and do some daylight drinking. After all, he took my advice about telling Julie the truth." Jackson said as he entered his car.
The bar was quiet around this hour. Jackson sat on a stool and asked the bartender to get him a whiskey. After his third glass, an annoying but familiar voice called out to him.
"Hello, Jackson. It is a pleasure to meet you here." Chloe said as she took a seat next to him.
"The roller coaster was amusing! After I got over my fear of falling, the ride became enjoyable. Thanks, Steven. What next? Should we grab some lunch and discuss your job offer and what position you have available for me?" Julie said happily.Today was magical for her. She knew that it was not a date. But somehow it felt like it was, and she didn't hate the feeling."I am glad you had fun, Julie. I wish this could last longer. However, I just got a text from Jackson, and I need to meet up with him at the bar." Steven told her.Julie felt disappointed. She wanted him to stay with her for a while longer. Still, Julie didn't want to be pushy or greedy. But she could not help herself."I can come with you to the bar, and we can both meet Jackson together. Afterward, he can drop me home since we are neighbors." She intoned.Steven wanted nothing more than to agree with her. Yet he kne
"God, I am late. My mother will kill me. It is all Jackson's fault for overwhelming me with that hard news. I had to retouch my makeup after crying my eyes out in the bar. Ah, that was so embarrassing. Now, I can't get a taxi or Uber in time because of this traffic. AHH! It is frustrating!" Chloe screamed as she stood on the sidewalk."Joe, can you draw the center sliding glass up? I am sleepy, but the light is bothering me. That way, the tinted glass will block the light from disturbing my sleep." Julie suggested."Sure thing, Madame!" Joe said and pressed the button.Julie watched as the glass isolated her and Joe. The darkened glass made sure she did not see the sunlight or him. Now Julie can take a nap, but there's something else she has to address."Joe!" Julie called."Yes, Madame!" Joe replied"Can you call me Julie, please? Madame seems stiff." She re
"Julie! We are nearly at your residence." Joe announced.Julie and Joe have been riding in silence since he dropped off Chloe. Although he attempted to call her name numerous times, Julie did not answer."Joe, can you please stop me at Jackson's address?" Julie replied, striving her best to make her voice as carefree as possible. She has been sobbing since she eavesdropped on Joe and Chloe's conversation.Julie did not understand why she was feeling betrayed and wrong. Yet Julie could not help feeling that way, so she wanted to express these emotions to someone who has been in love and understands Steven. The only person Julie knew that contained both qualities was Jackson."Sure, Julie!" Joe said worriedly. He could detect the uneasiness in her tone.Julie brought out her mirror and applied some powder on her appearance to conceal her puffy eyes and tear stain face. 
"I can tell that you are not interested in this blind date, Chloe," Matt mumbled.He had been chatting for an hour, and the only response he could get from Chloe was two to three words."What!" Chloe answered.She continued staring into space and questioning why Steven did not inform her he was proposing when he asked her that silly question two years ago.Matt glanced at her and gave her the "what is going on" look. Chloe realized that she was not treating Matt fairly if she stays there."I am sorry, but I can't proceed with this date any further." She stated.The restaurant appeared so beautiful with different couples laughing and discussing happily. Yet Matt was the only person aiming to establish a kinship with someone who did not have any warmth toward him."Fascinating, who is he?" Matt demanded as Chloe tried to leave her seat.
"You are home, daughter. How did your date with Matt go?" Mrs. Wanton said.Chloe saw her mother sitting on the dining room table. She felt her carefree spirit leave her, and the only feeling left was fear. Yet Chloe understood that it had to end. All the resentment, panic, and anxiety has to cease for her to recover the spirit to stand up for herself.She approached Mrs. Wanton and sat in a chair opposite her. The dining hall light glowed on the faces of the two women for about three minutes before Chloe found the strength to respond."I..." Chloe uttered, but Mrs. Wanton could read the expression on her daughter, and she realized what Chloe was about to say would put her in trouble."You don't have to answer my question. Matt called your dad, and he said that your date was lovely. Matt invited you on another date the day after tomorrow. Your father is content right now. All you have to do is don't
"I am home, hubby!" Jackson announced when he entered the living room.The house was dark from the inside. All the light bulbs were off, the curtains were down, and closed."What is happening to her again? Recently Jennie has been manifesting new characters to drive me insane. I reached home. Instead of meeting a radiant wife awaiting my arrival, I found my entire home gloomy and dark. Plus, my wife is nowhere in sight. God, what is transpiring in my marriage!" Jackson cried as he turned on the lights.He switches on the dining room light switch and sees the whole table occupied with various foods and a note.Written on the paper were these words. "I know you have been drinking on an empty stomach, and the only food you ate from this morning till now is breakfast. So eat up and meet me in the bedroom. I love you."Jackson felt warm inside, and yet he appeared distressed, as if Ja
Joe drove the car into the fence. The vehicle's light shone in the yard, assisting Joe in safely parking the car into the garage. Steven stepped out of the vehicle with his hands in his pocket.It was December, and the air was freezing. Steven could not wait to get into his home. He hurries toward the door and unlocks it. Steven was about to enter when he got stopped by Joe."There's something you need to know, Sir!" He stated.Steven did not love the weather, and he was not enjoying this brief conversation because of it."Speak, Joe!" He ordered. The driver felt a little hesitant to explain, yet he could not extract his previous statement."Sir, earlier today, I met miss Chloe when I was driving Julie to her residence, and she asked me for a lift. Miss Chloe did not see Julie because of the tinted glass, but I have this feeling that Julie overheard Miss Chloe and I discussing yo
"I swear upon this day with heaven and the earth being our witness to hold our love as a love everlasting. My love, I promise to share my entire life with you in everything. Within the presence of everyone, I vow to eternally be honest and promise myself to you. I stand on my words this moment to never in my life cheat on you with another person. I hold to this sentence with my breath that I will never allow you to share tears because of another, not just for this moment, not for an hour, or a day or a year, but for the rest of our lives I will love you always."The alarm begins to buzz. "Um...," Jackson said as he rubbed his eyes. He turns and throws his hands stretching out for his wife. But the space beside him was vacant. Jackson searched the bed with his eyes still closed. However, he could not touch her. Jackson slowly opened his eyes, and he seemed not shocked when her side of the bed was unoccupied."Morning, sleepyhead. Did you drea