Birth of a Story

Scene 1 -
     Her brown hair flew across her face as the wind blew by her. Her green eyes sparkled as the sun shone down. Her name was Amy Drear and she was in her sophomore year at New York University.
He walked by her every day at two in he afternoon. She never noticed him though. She was always engulfed in a novel. John Parker knew from the moment he saw Amy that he would marry her. She was stunning, smart, and really funny (or so he had heard). He couldn’t stand to not be around her.
It was April of 1996 when John finally worked up the courage to ask Amy out.
    “Hey there,” John casually stated.
    “Umm…hey,” Amy responded. She was a little shocked. She wasn’t the kind of girl that guys really approached all that much. Well actually none of them approached her. She felt like she was a plain Jane.
    “My name is John, and yours is?” He asked. His voice was full of hope.
    “Amy…Drear, are you in one of my classes or something?” She questioned skeptically.
    “No, but I see you here almost every day under this tree so I thought I would introduce myself. Sorry if that was too forward,” he apologized. She could see the hurt in his hazel eyes.
    “Oh no it wasn’t. Not at all. It’s just that…you just surprised me that’s all,” she said nervously. She shot him a wide smile. There was a small gap between her two front teeth. He thought it made her look even cuter.
    “Well sorry again…so umm hey I was wondering…I know we don’t really know each other, but…” he stuttered. He wanted to ask her out, but he seemed to be struggling.
    “It’s ok I won’t bite or anything…continue,” she urged.
    “Well…do you…would you like to go out with me?” He finally asked. Beads of sweat were running down his forehead. She wondered if it was the nerves or the heat that was making him sweat. She convinced herself it was the nerves so that she could feel less like an idiot for being so nervous.
    “You are right we don’t really know each other, but why not give it a chance you seem like a pretty nice guy. When are you free?” She calmly uttered. She couldn’t believe she got through speaking without her voice shaking. She could feel her heart racing. Gosh why does she feel this way? It’s just a date there is no reason to freak out or anything.
    “I was thinking Friday night around eight p.m.,” he stated, “I can pick you up at your dorm if that works for you.” Whew. She said yes. That part was over, but now he actually had to go on the date. Crap. What if she didn’t find him interesting or smart or funny or…dang he was going to have to build up his confidence before Friday. That gave him exactly two days to pull himself together.
    “Sounds great. See you then,” she casually said.
    He gazed into her sparkling green eyes wondering if she felt nervous too. Didn’t look to be the case, must just be him.
“Ok yeah see you then,” he repeated. He wanted to scream he was so excited. He was going on a date with the girl of his dreams. This would be a memorable weekend; his nerves would not be able to get in the way of fate.
    She watched him walking away and studied his every movement. He was very graceful in the way he walked, well graceful for a guy at least. His auburn hair was beautifully set against his ivory skin. His hair was a bit past his ears and he made it look as though he had just gotten out of bed. Well actually it was the hair guys wanted when they got out of bed, but could only achieve by putting in at least a little gel. Any person could tell he likes to work out. His muscles are fairly defined, but not too large. Amy wasn’t that into body builders so that is a good thing. She brought her mind back to the book she had been reading before John had approached her and finished reading the chapter. She got up and almost skipped to her next class. She was ecstatic.

Scene 2 -
     “I can’t do this anymore!” Amy spat out. Her hands flew up in a fit of rage. She was standing on the front porch with John. She was glaring at him as he traced the patterns of the wood grain under his feet with his eyes. Anything to avoid eye contact with her.
    “What can’t you do?” He questioned. He knew what she was talking about though; he just couldn’t bring it up himself. This was the fifth time they have had this conversation. This time the sun was just beyond view under the horizon and the leaves were changing colors on the trees. The porch light gave them enough dim lighting to see each other’s expressions and not much else.
    “I can’t pretend like you don’t hurt me.” She answered. Her voice was like stone, rough and coarse. It hit him like a ton of bricks. He had never wanted to hurt her. He did though. Many times. How could he have cheated on her? She was still as beautiful as the day he asked her out. Cheating on her was the biggest mistake or should I say mistakes of his life. Now he risked losing her forever.
     “I have never hurt you.” He reasoned. Well not intentionally that is. She listened to the pleading in his voice. She could tell he wanted forgiveness, but there is only so much forgiveness a person can summon towards another before the quota has been filled. She just couldn’t let herself give in again. Not this time, not ever.
    “No, I don’t mean physically. I mean you have broken my heart over and over again and I can’t stand it anymore.” She corrected. He needed to know that he had ripped her heart apart and stomped on it way too many times.
    “I…I…I’m sorry. I messed up and I know nothing can ever change that, but I love you.” He apologized. He wanted her back. He wanted her more than anything else in his life. The other woman was just temporary.
    “You don’t love me. You never have, never will. You wouldn’t treat me this way if you did. You left me five times for her. How do you think that makes me feel? I forgave you so many times and I can’t do it again.” She shot back. He wouldn’t get away with this. He couldn’t continue to manipulate her in any way possible. Never again will she believe his apologies. There was no point. He always left again.
    “But…I choose you. I will choose you every time. You know I can’t live without you.” He begged. He knew he would have to beg this time, but that killed his ego.
    “Shut up! Stop making it look like I am the one pushing you away. You pushed me away for the last two years so I have every right to hate you.” She shouted. There was no way he was going to beg to get her back. He should have to do a hell of a lot more than just begging. Nothing would cut it this time. He was never going to be allowed back.
    “Yes you are right; you do have every right to hate me. But I don’t believe that you do.” He stated. He tried to believe these words as he said them and by doing so he convinced himself that she loved him before and she would love him again.
    “Well you are wrong then. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I loved the man you were and not the man you are now. No amount of begging will get you anywhere.” She muttered honestly. She wanted him to know all of her thoughts, but she wanted to be strong. Her head was spinning and she felt dizzy. Her eyes shifted off of him and over to the porch swing. She wanted to sit down, but she knew as soon as she did that she would be in a vulnerable position. He would wrap his arms around her and tell her he lover her. No! That was not going to happen. She would not let him close to her.
    “Please honey. I will get down on one knee, propose to you all over again, buy you a bigger diamond ring, anything you want.” He implored. Where the hell would he get a ring. He doesn’t even have money to fix his car, let alone buy his wife a new diamond ring. Damn. Why did I promise her this? Well maybe if I sell the car…I can take the bus to work…this could work.
    “Stop trying to buy me! Stop trying! If I let you back in you will leave again and again and again until my heart is trampled on beyond repair and I can’t take that.” She screamed. This was just too much. She may have loved him two years ago and five years ago and more than that, but no more. She felt nothing for him anymore. The only thing she felt was pain.
    “I will never leave you again if you give me just one last chance.” He appealed. He was dangling the bait. The last four times she took him back when he said that sentence. Please. Please. Please.
    “You said that the last four times you idiot!” She shrieked. He was not going to use that trick again. She needed to stay strong she seemed to push her feet against the porch so she wouldn’t lose her balance.
    “I wasn’t as strong then. I can resist the temptation to leave. I want to work on this, on us now. You have to know that I will never lie to you again.” He tried to reason. He wanted her to trust him. He knew he could change (maybe) if she gave him just one more chance.
    “Go fall in a hole and die. I don’t care anymore. You have wasted my life for the past ten years and I want to start over. Not with you though.”  She muttered under her breath, but loud enough for him to hear her.
    “Stop being such a bitch about this…Oh honey I’m sorry. I just snapped. You know how my temper is.” He shot back and then regretted. She would make him pay for that.
    “No, to be perfectly honest, I don’t know you anymore. What I do know is that before you met that devil of a woman you would never have used that language.” She threw back.
     “You are right. You are always right. I love you babe. Please understand that.” He stated quickly. He was going to have to step up his game if he wanted to get her back. No. Wait, this is not a game. This is why she won’t take him back because he thinks this doesn’t mean anything.
     “If I am always right then WHY WON’T YOU LISTEN TO ME NOW!” She yelled at the top of her lungs. The neighbors were starting to notice the argument. A few of them had stepped onto their porches to be able to hear more. They needed the gossip. The neighborhood had been boring lately.
     “Because you don’t know what the hell you are saying and you will regret this.” He said.
     “I will regret this? No. You will regret this. You will regret ever leaving me. You will regret losing me. I will regret nothing. I deserve to regret nothing. The only thing I regret is marrying you.” She spat at him. He felt like he had just been slapped in the face. She really did hate him. Well he could show her some hate too.
      “You slut! You think you deserve better than this. You will never get anything as good as this. You will die alone. No one wants you. You will never be good for anything. Everyone hates you, but me so might as well take what you can get.” He shouted. The neighbors got an earful of that one.
     “Get out. GET OUT NOW! I hate you, you filthy bastard! Go rot in hell!” She screeched. Her entire body was shaking and she felt like she would faint at any second. That or punch a ole in the wall.
     “You don’t even deserve me. Go die alone whore.” He muttered. That would teach her. He didn’t want her anymore anyways. She would regret pushing him away. He could get over loving her. It would be easy.
     “Get out and never come back. I don’t want to see you within 500 feet of me ever again.” She concluded. She knew this was the end. They would never be the same again. She just prayed that he would stay as far away as possible from her.
      “Have it your way, bitch. But remember, you will never get anything as good as this. You are nothing.” He finished. The porch door swung open, he stomped down the stairs, and he was out of her life (hopefully).



Scene 3 -
     Amy watched John stomp off towards his car, swing the door open, and rev up the engine. He sped off, the wheels screeching. The neighbors had turned to watch him as well and as soon as he was gone they disappeared as well. Amy turned off the porch light and shrank back into the darkness. By this time the sun was long gone and the night sky was filled with stars. She stumbled her way over to the porch swing and sat down. She drew her knees up to her chest and let the tears flow. Her brain had completely shut down at this point. Her entire body was still trembling as the sobs sent spasms through her muscles. In the middle of her chest, where her heart used to be, there is a huge hole. It is causing her a physical pain so severe that she is unable to shift her body even an inch. It was two hours before she regained even the slightest reminder of consciousness. Finally, she started to think again. Bad idea. The entire night replayed in her mind and fresh tears emerged. She took a deep breath and convinced herself to calm down. The tears almost ceased to flow besides the single glistening drop still on her cheek. Then she began to pray. She had not prayed in probably five or more years. She wasn’t very religious. She prayed because she wants God’s help with something. She wants to live. She wants to forget everything that happened the past ten years. She wants to get on with life. From that first moment of prayer, Amy starts to realize that she can get through this. With God’s help and guidance she will persevere.