A Reflection

Author's Note: As promised, here's the start of the companion piece to Charlie's Story. It's told from Richard's POV, but it's not like Charlie's story where he was telling us what happened. It's more like you're his conscience or the voice of reasoning inside his head. He's telling the story, but more to himself like he can't believe it happened.

Chapter One

I wish I hadn't caved. I mean, why does she do this to me? Why can't I deny her anything? If I hadn't have come, I could be relaxing on her couch, sipping a glass of wine, and watching her. But no matter how much I wish I hadn't have gone, I did, and now I have to face the consequences, I have to tell her what I saw.

Let me clarify, my name is Richard Karinsky. I'm in love. I don't admit this to a lot of people, so feel honored, but I'm in love...in love with Caroline. Caroline is my boss, she can get me to do anything she wants. She just has to look at me with those big, brown eyes. God, I'm so weak when it comes to her. But she's dating someone. Ugh, Joe...don't get me started on him. She could do so much better, he's just a kid, and unfaithful kid at that. He can't possibly lover her the way I do.

Anyway, back to my problem. Caroline threw a New Year's Eve party and Joe never showed up. She started to worry that something had happened to him, that he was hurt and dying...needless to say, she started crying.

As soon as the tears came, I grabbed my coat, telling her I would go look for him. True, I didn't lik Joe, but Caroline did, and I hated to see her hurt like that. So I went to look for him, with Charlie tagging along.

Thank god we went to his apartment first or we might not have caught him. See, when we knocked on his door, no one answered, but the door was unlocked. I told him not to, but Charlie opened the door anyway. That's when we saw him, or should I say them. Joe was in his bedroom...with a girl...in a very compromising position.

I don't really remember much of what's happened since then. It's all become such and emotional blur. All I know is that Charlie and I are both fuming on the way back to Caroline's. I'm sure I ranted and raved and swore at Joe, but it didn't change anything. I still have to tell her that the man she gave her heart to threw it away for one night with his ex. It's going to break her and I don't know if I can watch.