One Monday

The texting began at 8:30 AM.

A bit early compared to normal.

I mean, they always shared good morning texts, but then would each do their work. Maybe a few messages around lunch time.

But they'd seen each other the night before.

She'd kissed him. Looked at him with hunger in her eyes. They'd had drinks, and she went out with friends.

They would see each other again this Monday evening.

And she kept texting him.

Of course, he responded. They laughed. Or, he imagined her laughing. He laughed, that was for sure.

The conversation was everywhere. Her brother. Dinnerware. Their pending meeting.

He sat at his computer, at the large desk in his office. To be clear, the office in his home. His clients provided him office space, but he preferred to sit in sweatpants at a large desk in a dark room he'd decorated with historic pieces.

Around noon, he ate a protein bar and made himself a cocktail. He needed to relax -- he'd been both writing feverishly and texting her for hours.

He found the email, the phone number. He made the call. Yes, the black and white diamond ring. Yes, if it could be shipped overnight, that'd be ideal. He'd put this off until the last minute, had been exchanging emails and knew it was still available. Now, he needed it soon.

He went back to his computer and finished up some work.

Texted her that he was taking a shower. She asked him what else he was doing. He just smiled.

Following the shower, he felt relaxed, calm, excited. He began preparing the lasagna he'd eat with his family.

She texted him around 4. Inquired about his shower. Asked if his meeting later in the week would include dinner. Since it wouldn't, could she make him dinner that night? And what about tonight?

He told her there was food now. And he'd bring her a surprise.

The lasagna was met with positive reviews from his family. A twist on a familiar recipe had made it quite tasty.

He left to meet his new client.

To meet her.

Stopping by the liquor store, he bought a bottle of gin he liked and wanted to share with her.

She met him and he greeted her and her dog.

He gave her the gin. She suggested they buy a soda to mix it with, and they walked together there and back.

She'd bought a dart board for the evening's entertainment. She mixed him a drink and they talked and laughed and played.

He'd never felt so whole. So … ok. It was as if every part of him was perfect. She made him feel like the best version of himself every time they were together. She told him he was the light of her days. Had begun referring to him as her boyfriend to family and friends.

They told stories of their lives and he'd … he'd never opened himself that way. She was open, too. More than she ever allowed.

Late in the evening, well into his third drink, he told her another story... and told her he loved her. He'd never explicitly said those words. She smiled.

They talked a bit more, she touched him... he never let anyone touch him, but she could. Always so gentle, so kind. The way he'd always dreamed of being touched.

And he told her he should go... it was nearing midnight and that was a bit long for a client meeting.

She held him... so, so close.

And he was gone.

He texted her when he got home, but she didn't text back. He thought she must be asleep.

The next morning, her texts were sparse, short. He knew.

He didn't know what exactly, but he knew. He replayed every minute of their six hours together.

And he knew that on that third drink, he'd done it. He'd said he loved her and then he said he had to go. Back to his safe, warm home and family.

She couldn't do this anymore. She wanted all of him and could only have stolen moments.

By noon on Tuesday, the black and white diamond arrived. His wife would be surprised. All he could think of was her. How to repair whatever amount of damage he had done.

But, there was no repairing. She kept in touch with him for a few days, then stopped responding. And he knew.

He knew that on that one Monday, everything had changed.

His life was now clear... he had been open... and it was more than she wanted right then. He couldn't give her all of him, and so she wanted none.

One Monday, it became clear he'd been allowed to touch the sun … and it was also clear he hadn't been truly ready.

One Monday, in six hours … really, in less than six minutes, his world changed forever.