The Road Less Taken

Episode 3: Coffee

"It's not my fault." Alejandro sighs as he types away at his computer. "It's not my fault my marriage is falling apart. It's not my fault at all."

"It's not my fault she chooses her job over me." Alejandro presses 'print'. "It's not my fault she always leaves in a hurry to get to that damn job she loves so much. It's not my fault at all."

"It's not my damn fault she can't even eat without attending to her job." Alejandro walks towards his boss' office. "It's not my fault she can't be ten minutes without having her phone by her ear."

Alejandro hands his boss the documents. He exits the office and looks at his watch. It is 3 PM. "It's not my fault I feel like second place to her. It's not my fault she doesn't have time for me."

Suddenly, his phone rings. He answers. "Hello?"

"Hi hun..." it's Courtney. Her voice sounds tired. "I just wanted to hear your voice..."

"Hey...you OK?" Alejandro taps his fingers on his desk.

"No..." Courtney sighs. "I need to stay at the office, pull some overtime...This..."

"It's OK." Alejandro cuts her off. "No problem."

"I'm really sorry..." Courtney sniffs a bit. She hiccups. "I'm a little tired..."

"I know..." Alejandro sighs. "Don't worry about it. I'm gonna be a little late myself, I think."

"I'm sorry to hear that..." Courtney sighs. "I'm...a little tired..."

"I know, but you always talk about how you want to climb ladders." Alejandro's voice sounds slightly vicious. He clears his throat. "Sorry, looking at some documents here."

"It's OK sweety..." Courtney sighs. He can't see it, but her eyes are red and poofy. "I just want to take a break is all...It's a lot of work..."

"I know..." Alejandro sighs. "Listen, speaking of a lot of work, I'm swamped. I'll call you later OK?"

"Wait, honey..." But by then he had already hung up. She closes her flip phone and stares down at the legal documents at her desk. There are some with stains from tear drops. "Shit..."

Courtney tries to dry off some of her papers. She bites her lip. She gets up and heads to the bathroom. She sits alone in the bathroom stall, silently weeping.

"It's not my fault." Alejandro types away at his computer. "It's Courtney's."

It is now 4:51 PM. Alejandro is waiting nervously at the cafe he had agreed to meet Heather in. She walks in, the cold winter wind blowing in, her milky white face shivering in the cold. Alejandro stands up and walks up to her.

"Wow...you're early." He smiles sheepishly.

"I know..." She smiles back. She follows him to the table he was using. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm fine. Just got out of work you know." Alejandro smiles, his eyes wide with joy. "How was your day?"

"I took a day off. I needed to clear my head." Heather sighs. "I'm OK now, though."

"I hope you didn't upset your boss. I mean, what about...?"

"I had a couple of sick days accumulated. Don't worry." Heather smiles at him. He sheepishly smiles back.

"I wanted to talk to you, about yesterday..." Alejandro gulps.

"I'm sorry. I know..." Heather's fingers are trembling. "You're a married man..."

"I feel trapped, Heather. I don't think I want to stay married to her anymore." Alejandro sighs. Heather grabs his hands.

"Is it OK for you to be here with me?" Heather looks away, but does not let go of his hand. "I mean..."

"Do you like me?" Alejandro holds his breath.

Heather hesitates for half a minute. "Yes. A lot."

"Do you know what it's like? To go to bed next to someone you have no more feelings for?" Alejandro sighs. "To wake up next to that person if you're lucky, to wake up in an empty bed when you're not, because that person's already in a hurry to get to work?"

"I can't say I do..." Heather bites her lip.

"You have soft hands, Heather." Alejandro's breathing is getting heavier. "And...I have to confess...I've been thinking..."

"About?" Heather holds her breath.

"You..." Alejandro closes his eyes. "You've been on my mind all day. I'm sorry...I know it's wrong for a married man to do this, but...I just can't."

Heather is unable to say anything.

"Whenever we get together, I feel more relaxed. I forget about my problems, about everything that troubles me." Alejandro stares into her eyes. "And yesterday, when you kissed me, I felt something. I don't know about you, but I felt something..."

"I felt something too..." Heather's breathing is heavier. They lean in closer until their lips meet.

Meanwhile...

Justin is staring at the sky. It is snowing. "I wonder how Courtney is doing. Maybe..."

He takes out his cellphone. He bites his lip. Does he call her? Suddenly, his phone rings. He answers it.

"Hi..." It's Courtney. "Justin?"

"Courtney? How are you?" He gets up from the bench. "Everything OK?"

"I...yeah..." Courtney sighs. "I'm just a bit tired is all..."

"Wow...I'm sorry to hear that..." Justin gulps. "So...to what do I owe the pleasure of you calling me?"

"Oh...no real reason...I..." Courtney dries her tears, though obviously Justin can't see this. "Just wanted to hear a friendly voice."

"Oh...well, I do have a friendly voice." Justin smiles as he hears her light chuckling. "You sure you're OK?"

"Well...my job you know?" Courtney sighs once more. "Justin?"

"Yeah?" Justin shivers.

"Any luck finding a job?"

"Not yet..." Justin sighs.

"Don't give up. You'll find one soon enough." She smiles.

"Courtney?" Justin looks up at the sky. "Are you happy?"

"...Know what, Justin? At the moment, I'm just tired, you know?" Courtney hiccups. "But I haven't accumulated enough vacation days yet. And I can't quit, because Alejandro doesn't make enough to cover all our expenses."

"Courntey..." Justin frowns, his eyes reflecting sadness and pity.

"But it's worth it, because Alejandro is so supportive, you know? He never asks me to cook or clean when I come home, because he's already done that." Courtney wipes a tear from her eye. "I feel so lucky...And yet, I feel like I'm not being fair to him. We don't spend enough time together...Maybe I'm an obstacle to his happiness."

"Don't ever think like that again, Courtney. Because HE'S the lucky one." Justin breathes in. "He has you, and you are the most..."

"Justin? Please, don't say it. I'm married... But thank you..." Courtney's lips quiver. "Justin?"

"Yeah?"

"Please...don't leave me..." Courtney's tears fall down to the floor. "I'm sorry if it seems I'm using you...But I don't think I'd be able to go on if I ever lost your friendship."

Justin is silent. "I...can't help how I feel...But I promise you...I'll never stop caring about you."

They say their goodbyes. Justin hangs up his phone, staring at the snow on the ground.

Two hours pass. It is past nightfall, and Justin is walking along the streets. Suddenly, his phone rings.

"Justin?" It's Heather. "Sorry about earlier... I'm just a mess at the moment."

"What's wrong?"

"It's...kind of complicated." Heather sighs. "Actually, know what? It's VERY complicated."

"You want to talk about it?" Justin stops under a street light. "I'm all ears if you do."

"Actually...know what? I can't talk about it through the phone...but...if you'd like, maybe we can meet up someplace?"

"Sure, no problem." Justin smiles. "Just tell me the place and time."

"Well...if it's not too out of your way, I'm at a cafe named Edie's, located on..."

"Main Street, building 316?" Justin looks across the street.

"Yeah...how..."

"I'm on my way!" Justin crosses the street and enters Edie's...