Thoughts of Sharlotte

He knew he had made a mistake the
minute he said it, but the damage was done.

Her face dropped as she realized he was
talking to her and that all the promises
he had made were not to be.

She pretended not to hear as she excused
herself from the room, tears beginning
to roll down her cheeks.

He also knew he couldn't go after her.
It would be too obvious. He had to let
her go, a big lump in his throat.
He looked down , trying to gather
his thoughts and emotions. A panic set
over him.

The restroom was crowded as she
made her way to the open stall.
She was crying uncontrollably now.
She knew exactly what he meant.
She just couldn't' believe he had just
told the world.
She sobbed for the love they
may have had.

He had to leave the room, go find
her, apologize, figure this out...what
to say to her, what to do.
He walked in to the ladies room.

"Sharlotte?"

She heard him but couldn't believe
he had come, no qualms on entering
the woman's restroom. She
stayed quiet.

He was devastated and could hardly
hold back all the emotions he felt
right then. Why, why, did I say
such a thing? He questioned his
motives. He loved her but hadn't
been able to tell her, yet.
She waited until he was gone and
slipped out the door. From there
she tried to escape out the back.

Just when she thought she was
in the clear, she heard his voice.

"Sharlotte? Are you okay?"
She turned around and smiled, "Yeah,
it's cool. I'm good, why, what's up?"

He choked back his words. "Are you sure?"

She was good at pretending after all
this time. She had loved him and
could not let him know.
"Yes, I've got to go, though..."
She walked away. It was all she
could do before she would burst into
tears in front of him. She was almost
safe in her car when she heard him again...

"Sharlotte..." he was pretending he had
a microphone in his hand and he sang
a song to her;

              "Spending my day, thinking about you...
                      being here with you, being near to you...
                            You gotta let me know how you feel....
                                   And I'm wrapped up in your arms...
                            Because I'm still in love with you...."

She turned and smiled and waved.
When she got home, she put on her
pajamas and cried herself to sleep.
She knew he would not, could not
call her.

It was one of those awful reasons
that Sharlotte knew she could
no longer wait for him. She would have
to let him go. And it was breaking her
heart.

He drove home only worried about
Sharlotte. What would she do? She
couldn't give up now...they were so
close...he had fallen in love with her.

He used his key to open the door.
His wife was cooking dinner.
He made his way to the bathroom,
where he stayed for the next hour..
sickness had overcome him  and
thoughts of Sharlotte....


June 21, 2013

Song by Al Green, "Still In Love With You"