The Empty Glass

Introduction

Heather stood up, watching as he walked out of her house for the last time. Ty had been good for her over the year she had known him. Now everything was irrevocably broken, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Where it began

Heather was nervous, as she sat at the table across from him. First dates were always awkward, but with him. He was so excited, and outgoing. He seemed eager to enter a new relationship, and she needed the boost of confidence he provided when he exclaimed how beautiful he thought she was. "So Ty, tell me more about where you're from," Heather said nervously. It had been a while since she had been on a date with anyone. So it stood to reason that her nerves were frayed. "Well, I am from Louisiana, I was adopted as a baby and raised in the swamps. My parents are Cajun and speak Creole." At first, she didn't believe what he was telling her, he did carry an accent. He seemed to believe the story he was telling her, so she could only take him at his word. Because he claimed to be adopted, she could not dispute what he was saying. He was tall, maybe 5'10 with short blonde hair and blue eyes. He was only an inch taller than she was, he had a hooked nose and beautiful blue eyes. He had what a lot of women would describe as a "Dad bod" which made him all the more attractive. She was hooked from the beginning, and they connected so easily that it made her even more nervous. "I do like your accent, but I don't hear the creole in it?" said Heather. Ty replied, "I've had a number of years in school to work through and improve the accent. So, that could easily be why you would wonder". She still questioned his authenticity but chose to look past it. This was clearly not the biggest red flag, and it deserved to be set aside for another day. Besides, they were still getting to know each other. "Well, I'm stuffed!" exclaimed Heather, and she grabbed her glass of Merlot. She sipped slowly and looked at him over the rim of the glass. She studied his face. He was a normal, everyday guy rustic, and manly. He was the type of guy she always envisioned she'd spend her life with. He reached for her hand. "Are you ready to go?" he said as he squeezed her hand. He had felt the same connection she had. "Why don't we go to a movie?" He sat up from his chair and reached again for her hand. As she placed her hand in his, he helped her out of her chair. She sipped the last of her Merlot and exclaimed "That could be a lot of fun, why not?" They had driven separately, and so she followed him to the movie theater nearby. This was turning out to be a wonderful date. Little did Heather know what her future had in store for her. At the end of the film, they drove to his house and stood outside talking for what felt like forever. "Heather, I know this is really sudden, but would you accompany me to a competition in Las Vegas?" he continued "I was a sharpshooter in the Army, and I have been asked to participate in a competition there." He was already making plans for them. This was a very good sign. "I would absolutely love to! Just let me know when!" The wind started to pick up, and the chill in the air made it difficult to continue their conversation. "Ty, this date was wonderful, thank you for a wonderful evening". She said. He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. "It was my pleasure." He said as the left side of his mouth lifted slightly in a half-smile. "Maybe you could go as my girlfriend?" he said, questioning her interest in him. Yes, it was very early to be in a relationship, at least it wasn't marriage. "I would love that even more!" She smiled brightly. This was the perfect date, and he really was the whole package. She wrapped her arms around his waist, her face turned up to his face. She kissed him, this time the kiss deepened. She pulled away slowly and thanked him for a wonderful evening. She climbed into her car and watched him as she drove away.

Where it Unravels

Heather sat in her car, she knew Ty had been good for her. He made her feel beautiful, he seemed to enjoy the time he spent with her, and he knew how to make her feel special. Still, there were nuances to their relationship that made her think something wasn't right. When they met on their first date, he proudly proclaimed his desire to be her boyfriend. Yet, he seemed to backtrack and only want friendship. How he could want a relationship one minute, and then abruptly change that decision made very little sense to her. If only her heart could backtrack as easily as his. She exited her vehicle and walked up the stairs to his apartment. He lived alone in a one-bedroom apartment. She knocked on the door and waited for him to call out that the door was open. When he did, she knew she needed to clear the air. It was the only way. He was sitting on the sofa with his laptop on his lap. He was watching college football on tv, all while typing furiously on the keys of the laptop. "Ty, I need you to tell me what's going on?" he looked at her for a moment. As if he wasn't sure how to proceed with the truth. He muted the Tv and set the laptop on the coffee table in front of him. He sighed and ran his hands down the top of his thighs. "Heather, there was another woman before you." he paused, then proceeded after a long sigh "I didn't know how to talk about Mary. She was the love of my life." Now, this was getting somewhere, but she knew he was leaving a lot out. "She had cancer, and died." He was so matter-of-fact about it. As if he was numb to all of it, and couldn't really speak more in-depth to it. "I know there is more going on Ty, and you need to tell me everything. It isn't just Mary, there are things going on now that don't make any sense." She wanted it all out, he needed to tell her the truth. She was hurting, and he clearly had more that he was refusing to share. "Tell you what," he said "Let's go camping this weekend, and my friend Lisa will join us". Instantly Heather knew all that she needed to in that one sentence. He wasn't just dating her, he was dating another woman. Heather didn't want to behave like a jealous girlfriend or make the assumption that this woman named Lisa was more than just a friend. "You're dating other women aren't you?" he looked at her. He didn't respond, and that alone was all the answer she needed. Heather said her goodbyes and walked out the door. Hopefully, she could put him out of her mind, and deal with the heartbreak she was feeling privately.

Where it Ends

Heather stared out the window, there was Ty walking up to her house. He wasn't finished with her as she had been finished with him. It had been more than a month since she had spoken to him. He had never once been to her home she realized. Another red flag that had popped up. She had many of them over the year she had known him. She was thankful she had trusted her instincts and walked away. He was a liar, there was no room in her life for someone who could lie and cheat on a woman. Whatever he had to say, it didn't matter. Her mind was made up, specifically when he didn't speak to her for more than a month. She clearly meant nothing to him. So, whatever it was he had to say, she wasn't interested. She opened the door before he could knock. He entered the home, as she walking to the kitchen to pour more Merlot into her glass. "What do you want Ty?" she said with a flat tone to her voice. She poured the remaining contents of the bottle into her glass and stared at him above the rim of the glass. Just as she had done on her first date with him. The irony in this situation was very clear. She knew from day one he wasn't honest, and he had proven to be a waste of her time. If only she had listened to her instincts from day one. He shuffled his feet, she could tell he had lost some weight. "I lost my job Heather, and Lisa found out about you. She no longer wants to be with me." Heather stared at him, she only wished she could see the expression on her face as he spoke. Had he really been looking at her face, because she was certain she was sending him daggers with her eyes. "Ty, what does that have to do with me?" he stuttered a bit "I-I told her I didn't love her, and that I wanted to be with you." Somehow, Heather knew that was a lie too, just like everything else he had ever told her. "Forgive me Ty if I don't believe you," she said with a hint of mocking in her tone. "I promise Heather, I do love you and I miss our friendship." Heather gulped her wine and suppressed a laugh. "It's hard to believe your sincerity when I haven't seen you in a month. Also, you just told me she broke up with you and, knowing you as I do. I'm pretty sure you're only here to grovel because you don't want to be alone. At one time Ty, I would have given anything to have you here in my house. Groveling, wishing for me to take you back, but that was a month ago and only now you're here. I think you need to leave." He went to speak more, but she cut him off with the wave of her finger. "Nothing you say at this point will change my mind. Leave, we're done." She said as she chugged the wine in her glass. The drunker she got, the more numb she would become, and what a welcome relief that would be. He moved his hand to a slight wave and walked backward a bit. Then he turned and walked out of her life. There is never a reason to allow someone in your life that doesn't know how to show up in your life.

The End