Into the Hands of Fate - When There's No Easy Way Out

Into the Hands of Fate - When There's No Easy Way Out
By Alexa Keating

He first noticed her entering the elevator; just noticed her for some reason. He began seeing her leaving his building several times during the week. Their eyes met in a casual, friendly kind of way. Finally, he approached her; "Are you a new arrival in our building?" She seemed surprised, "Heavens no, I've worked here for years!" He was surprised, why was he suddenly noticing her? "Have you ever seen me in this building?" She laughed, "I only noticed you in the elevator a few days ago to be honest, are you new here?" He had been working in the building for 19 years; how odd he thought.

He was surprised that the stranger seemed to be occupying his mind lately. His marriage was indestructible - everyone said so; he considered it to be the most solid part of his life. "Married for twenty years and still acting like newlyweds", that's what all their friends said; it was how he felt! His favorite part of the day was arriving home and seeing his children run to meet his car. They hung onto him all the way to the door, where he was always met with a kiss by Lisa. Leo was a lucky man!

He noticed that Lisa was wearing sweat pants; just noticed, that's all. She looked good in everything to Leo. Looking back, he remembered thinking that this is where it all began, the unraveling of his life. Such a simple thing, the sweat pants, meaningless really, yet he remembered that night when his friends asked him what happened. It seemed like nearly every day after that he began noticing some simple little thing about Lisa that made him see her in a different light. He wondered what the hell had happened.

Carla was her name, the woman in the elevator that he kept bumping into. The next day, when they ran into each other again, they laughed together. By the end of the week, they began learning more about each other. She was married with two children, happily she said. He told her about Lisa. Carla and Lisa couldn't be more different. Carla had always worked in management; she had a confident walk, dressed for success and seemed very businesslike. Lisa loved the outdoors, gardening and was a terrific stay at home Mom; exactly the kind of woman he wanted.

Soon he was having lunch with Carla in the cafeteria, then occasional dinners. They had a lot in common; enjoying so many of the same interests it was eerie. He found himself lying to Lisa, knowing she would never understand. How could she? He did not understand his fascination with Carla. Faster than he could ever have imagined, they were in bed together. Then weekends together that progressed to an imaginary week long business trip where they both admitted they could not stay with their spouses. Leo had no idea what had happened, or how things had changed so rapidly. He only knew how he felt inside. He was elated and miserable at the same time. His perfect life was tattered and torn into pieces; part of him was miserable, the other more excited than he had been in years.

He looked in the mirror and hated his own reflection. He was a liar and a cheat. He looked into his children's eyes knowing he had violated everything he had taught them; he felt like a fraud, he was a fraud. He could no longer look into Lisa's eyes. Some things are worth fighting for; he always believed his marriage was. Some feelings will never die; like those he had for Carla. He felt like fate had caught up with him; the beautiful life he had taken for granted for so many years was a mockery that taunted him now. He had to tell Lisa; at least he could resolve the liar issue which was deeply troubling to him.

Leo moved into an efficiency apartment the next day. Telling Lisa and facing his children had been the most difficult time in his life. Odd, Carla was also going through the same issues in her own marriage; but this time they were not comfortable sharing the stories. There is something deeply private about your life shattering into pieces; some strange sense of loyalty to all that life had been before it fell apart. He felt like a prisoner to his feelings; he wondered if giving in had been wrong.

The process of unraveling his life was like an endless road; like shedding his own skin. It was painful; he realized how much of himself he had lost while he was entwined in their long relationship. It was over now; there was no shortcut home even if he had wanted to ask for a second chance. Lisa had a new boyfriend. Carla was trying to work things out with her husband and family. Leo was left wondering how it all had happened, why they had suddenly noticed each other and what had happened to his perfect life. Whatever it was, there is no easy way out; there never is. He knew one thing for sure now; think long and hard before you destroy something important in your life. Nothing is indestructible.

To learn more about this author and her available books please visit http://www.arkconnect.com.

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