Susan felt as if she was on top of the world.

Everything in her life was going just as she had planned. She had graduated and landed a great job as an executive with a large corporation. She was young, and very beautiful, she had the world spread out before her, to do with as she pleased. She enjoyed her job and loved living in New York. She was certain that nothing could ever happen that would change that. The only thing she felt was missing from her life, was true love. She enjoyed romance movies and wished to experience a real romance. Although she dated off and on, she had never found a man who made her feel the way the women did in the movies. She focused on her career since love seemed to not be an option at the moment. For four years she worked and built a solid reputation for herself within the company. One day she stayed late to finish off a stack of paperwork. She thought she was the only one still in the office. When she decided to take a short break and stretch her legs she noticed that there was a light still on in another office. Greg Brown was one of the other executives in the company and they had worked together on several projects. She always admired how handsome he was, but the ring on his finger had kept her interest at bay. She knocked lightly on his office door. It swung open beneath her knock as he invited her in. I thought I was the only one working late. Susan said as she stepped into Greg's office. He glanced up with a wide smile that made his beautiful eyes shimmer. So did I. He gestured to the chair in front of his desk. Please join me, I was getting very lonely. He laughed at his words as he rocked back in his chair. He was tall and well built which only added to Susan's attraction for him. As she sat down across from him she could not bring herself to look away. Maybe we could get a cup of coffee to keep us going. Susan suggested as casually as she could. Greg's smiled was steady as he studied her closely, but a moment later he glanced at his watch. Actually, I have to get going. He began to stack his paper work up on one side of his desk. But I'll be working late all week, maybe another day? He suggested as he stood from his desk. Susan nodded as she tried to hide her disappointment with a quick smile. Sounds good. She replied. She also had planned on working late all week. She found it easier to get more work done when there was less commotion in the office. She stepped out into the hall with him and said a casual goodbye as she headed back to her office. For the rest of the evening she found it nearly impossible to concentrate on her work. The image of his smile, and the shimmering of his eyes kept replaying in her mind. As hard as she tried to push it away, she could not escape it. She knew that he was married, but so were a lot of people. Not all of them were happily married. Susan found herself fantasizing instead of working. She imagined a world where he was not married. A world where they could be together. In that world she was absolutely certain that he was the one for her. When she headed home for the night, her heart pounded with excitement to see him again the next day. Over the next week Susan and Greg met up every evening after everyone else had gone home. They worked side by side in his office so that they could keep each other company. As they worked they talked, and Susan found herself sharing more than she intended with Greg. He in turn confessed that things were not great in his marriage. He explained how he had expected it would be all romance and fun, but lately everything was strained and difficult. Susan's crush was only fueled by his revelation of an unhappy marriage. Greg could make her laugh with any little comment, and he always listened attentively to whatever she was saying. By the end of the week, despite all of Susan's attempts not to, she found herself falling in love with Greg. Her little crush was blossoming into an all out desire, and her eagerness to see him each day was becoming overwhelming. She spent her weekend planning how to test the waters with Greg to see if he would be interested in taking their friendship to another level. When it came time to leave for work Monday morning she was giddy with excitement. In her mind she had it all planned out. She would reveal her affection for Greg and he would pull her into his arms,

igniting their passionate love affair once and for all. She drove to work with a smile on her face. Even her co-workers noticed her cheerful attitude as she went about her day. She caught a glance or two of Greg between meetings and he took the time to smile at her every time their eyes met. Susan was certain he would feel the same way she did. Sure, the marriage would be a hurdle they would have to overcome, but they would take things one step at a time and figure it all out together. Finally, Susan had found the missing piece in the flow of her perfect life. When everyone else began to leave for the day, Susan made up an excuse for staying. In truth, her work was complete but she was eager to spend more time with Greg. She was determined to be honest with him today. Once they were alone in the building Greg approached her office. He knocked on the door and when she waved him in he smiled his charming smile. Wow they are working you as hard as me these days. He laughed as he glanced at the stack of papers Susan was pretending to work on. Absolutely. Susan said with a sigh. I am so worn out. I could really go for a cup of coffee. Greg nodded as he sat on the arm of the chair across from her desk. So could I. He glanced at his watch. Why don't we duck out of here for a cup, there are plenty of hours left in the day to put our noses to the grindstone. He chuckled as he stood from the chair. Susan's mind was buzzing with joy. It seemed to her that he had just asked her out on their first date. She could not hide her bright smile as she stood from her desk. That sounds fantastic. Susan said eagerly. She slung her purse over her shoulder as Greg held the door for her. There was a small coffee shop just outside of the building that they could walk too. As they walked in the evening air, Susan imagined holding Greg's hand. She might have tried to but he had his hands shoved deep into his pockets against the slight chill in the air. When they reached the coffee shop they both ordered and paid for their coffees separately. Susan chose a table at the back of the shop so they would have some privacy. They talked at first about work and how many long hours they had to put in lately. Greg explained that he was hoping to be promoted by the end of the year so he was making every effort he could to be noticed. Susan confessed that she too was hoping that her extra work would be enough to at least generate a raise or more of a reputation within the company. She was happy to have landed the position in the first place, but she felt as if it were time she moved up. As they drank their coffee their conversation wandered from work to their own histories. Susan shared some of her childhood memories, as did Greg. Before their coffee cups were empty they were comparing dating histories and the adventures they had in high school. The more they spoke the more intimate their conversation became. Susan found herself seeking constant eye contact as they spoke. She was fascinated by how kind and warm he was. All of his stories had a sweet ending, and most were centered around his desire to help others when and where he could. Susan was certain he was the best man she had ever met. She became even more determined that they were meant to be together. When Greg glanced at his watch in the middle of their conversation, Susan realized that they had been talking for over an hour. Wow, we're not going to impress anyone taking this long of a coffee break. Greg said with a grin as he drank the last of his coffee in one quick swig. Susan finished hers as well and followed Greg out the front door of the shop. Just before they reached the company building, she paused and stepped into a small alcove created by the large building and a small adjoining one. Greg stopped walking when he noticed, and followed her. Are you okay? He asked with a hint of confusion. Susan gazed up into his beautiful eyes and felt her heart pounding against her chest. This was it, this was the moment. She was certain she would remember this moment for the rest of her life. She would tell their children about it one day. When Greg stepped a little closer, his gaze searching Susan's for an explanation, Susan lifted her hand and rested it on his shoulder. Greg glanced from her hand and back to her eyes. He did not speak as she slid her hand across his

shoulder and around the back of his neck. Before he had a chance to pull away Susan drew his lips to hers, as she tipped her chin upward so that they could meet in a soft sensual kiss. When Greg did not respond at first, Susan tried to deepen the kiss. Greg reached up and pulled her hand gently from his neck as he forced his lips away from hers. Oh, Susan, I'm sorry. He murmured as he stared down into her confused gaze. Maybe I gave you the wrong idea. He took a step back from her, as Susan felt her heart drop into her stomach. Quick tears of embarrassment and disappointment rose to her eyes. She could not look away swiftly enough to hide them. Please don't cry. Greg said as he frowned. It isn't that I wouldn't love to.... He trailed off as he sighed. I thought you just wanted to be friends. He explained as he thought back over all of the ways he must have misled her. I am married. He added, though he knew that Susan already knew that. But, you said you weren't happy. Susan said desperately as she tried to deal with the collapse of her entire romantic fantasy. Greg rubbed his hands over his face as he realized the mistake he had made, when he lowered his hands again Susan saw the regret in his expression. We're in a rough patch, yes. But I am not ready to give up on what we have. I am so sorry if you misunderstood my friendship. It was never my intention to hurt you. Susan lowered her eyes to the ground and stared hard at the pavement as she fought back tears. She did not know what felt worse, the rejection, or the embarrassment that she had been imagining his affection the entire time. Without another word she stepped past him. She did not go back into the building, instead she headed straight for the parking lot. As she walked her body began to tremble with unshed tears. She wished that she could be strong enough to suppress them, but she felt all of those tears ready to burst as she struggled with the lock on her car door. When she finally got it open and was able to slide into the seat, she finally let them flow. She pressed her forehead against the steering wheel and wept openly. She had built up in her mind that she would never be lonely again, and yet she had never felt more alone. It took her several minutes to settle down enough to start the car. Even as she drove home she was sniffling and fighting back tears. Her grief was not so much for the loss of a potential love, but more for the loss of what she thought she had achieved. For so long she had been searching for that one special person to complete her well-rounded life. A part of her often suspected, and even worried, that she would never find that person. Now the one person that she was certain was the right person, was not even interested in her. Not only that, she would have to see him the next day at work, and the day after that. Would he whisper to the other executives that she had tried to kiss him? Would she become the joke around the water cooler, or worse, the one who was on the receiving end of pitying looks. When she finally arrived at her apartment building she did not notice the beauty of the city around her. She did not smile at the doorman who held the door for her without ever noticing her tear streaked face. It felt as if the elevator took forever to reach her floor. When it finally did she stepped off of it and into an empty hallway. She had lived here for quite some time, and yet she did not know a single one of her neighbors. Despite being surrounded by people in the middle of New York City, as she stepped into her apartment and closed the door behind her, she felt nothing but suffocating isolation. She spent the rest of her night lamenting over her mistake and wondering how she could have misread Greg so completely. She tried to watch one of her favorite romance movies, but the plot line seemed silly and contrived to her now. What had once struck her as the ultimate goal in life, true unconditional love, she was now beginning to believe was just a cruel trick of the imagination. That morning she had awoken ready to embark on a new adventure with Greg, that night she fell asleep wishing that she would never have to leave her apartment again. The next day when she awoke the memories of the day before crashed into her like a truck. She winced and ducked her head back under her blanket. She did not want to go into work and face Greg or the rest

of her coworkers. She huddled under the blanket and closed her eyes. She imagined simply walking away. She could just pack her bags and drive off to a whole new place. What would she really be leaving behind? Everything that she had just the day before treasured about her life, now seemed utterly superficial. So the city was exciting and full of culture. It was also full of people who would rather step over you than stop to see if you were okay. And yes, she did enjoy the fact that she had found such a high powered job right out of college. But now four years had passed, and instead of moving up, she felt as if she had been shoved into a plateau. How many more years of overtime and living for work would it take before the higher ups in the company even considered the possibility of her promotion? The more she thought about it, the more the idea of simply running away became feasible. She forced herself to shower and dress for the day. The one thing she would not simply toss aside was her career. She had worked hard through college to make sure she would be able to achieve a successful and comfortable life. There was no way she was going to waste that now. With her chin held high and her shoulders back she walked off of the elevator and down the corridor to her office. She did not spare a glance in the direction of Greg's office. Instead she walked straight into her own and shut the door behind her. She began her work for the day and focused entirely on doing it well rather than allowing her mind or heart to fall to pieces over how close by she knew he was. A sneaky thought wound its way around her mind, of whether or not he would even bother to say hello. He did not. In fact he did his very best to avoid Susan, even going so far as to duck into the copy room when they nearly saw each other in the hallway. The more his evasiveness continued, the more awkward Susan felt. As a few days passed with no improvement, she began to dread going into work each day. The idea of simply leaving kept popping up into the back of her mind every time she noticed Greg hiding from her. When she returned home to her quiet apartment in the evenings the silence seemed to punctuate how empty she felt inside. Friday morning when she awoke once again feeling as if she was about to go before a firing squad, something inside of her snapped. The sensation was akin to an awakening. She was not tethered to this place. She was not possessed by her apartment, or this city, or even her career. She could easily ask for a transfer and embark on the new adventure she desired. Sure, she would be journeying alone, but at least everything would be fresh and new. She would not feel so much regret or embarrassment. She would no longer have to wonder if the giggles of the receptionist were about her. In truth it might be the change she needed in order to launch her career to new heights. The company here was so large and had so many executives that she was constantly competing. Perhaps in a different environment she would be more noticeable. She decided that was exactly what she would do. All of her life she had followed a certain predictable path, that she hoped would result in her being able to live happily ever after. Unfortunately as she was getting her first lesson in, life was not always about following a predictable path. She pulled herself out of bed and into the shower. The rush of the water against her skin felt so cleansing that it inspired her to believe that what her instincts were telling her was true. A new direction was exactly what she needed. When she arrived at work she requested an appointment with the executive above her. She spent the rest of her day organizing what work she needed to catch up on and pondering the new life that was about to be opened up to her. The corporation had a satellite company in California and she found herself wondering what it would be like to live there while she waited for her appointment. When she spoke with her boss it took a little negotiation for him to agree to the transfer. He valued Susan for how hard she worked, and he hated to lose her even if she would still be part of the company. In the end because there was a great need for good executives in their California branch he agreed. What happened next was a whirlwind of preparation and quick decisions. Everything she had to do from selecting a place to live, to hiring a moving company that would take her across the country went against the traditional way she handled things. There was no time for thinking things through or precise decision making. In the end as she packed her last back full of various items from her apartment, she

still had not fully realized what was about to happen. Never had she imagined this turn in her life, and though she felt plenty of anxiety she was also excited. When everything was packed and the movers drove off with her furniture and assortment of boxes, Susan climbed into her car and waved goodbye to her apartment building for the last time. The further she drove from the city the more liberated she began to feel. There were no longer lines for her to color in, only a horizon to reach for. Her cross-country trip was speckled with motels and tiny towns. She could have flown but this journey was about more than distance or time, it was about discovering what she truly wanted in life, and remembering what was most important. When she arrived on the west coast she was pleased by the beauty of it, but also by what she had left behind. No longer did she yearn to validate herself through work, or through the approval of others. Instead she hoped to find a fresh start in a new community where she could build a new life. Deep within she also secretly dreamed of finding her true love amidst the palm trees and wide open sky. She rented a small house in a quiet neighborhood, she could almost call it country. It was a huge change from the city life she was used to. The neighbors even came outside to greet her as she was moving the few boxes she had packed into her car into the house. One older gentleman offered to help her with a heavy box. It's okay, thank you. Susan said with a wide grin. Everyone was certainly more friendly than she was used to. At first she was a little irritated by it, but as she noticed their genuinely good intentions she found herself smiling and offering small talk in return. Maybe she had finally found a place where she could actually belong, and set down roots. As she gazed down the street at the parked cars and manicured yards she envisioned her future. She knew that she would be just as valued by her new boss, and that she would eventually move up in the company. Hopefully she would get along well with her coworkers, just not as well as she had with Greg. This time, she knew one thing for certain, she would not give her heart so easily, and never again to a married man. She would not love just for the sake of being loved. She would wait for it to find her, and when it did, and she still believed it would, she knew it would sweep her right off of her feet and into the arms of the right man. She felt a rush of excitement as within her mind her life began to unfold before her. The best part was instead of knowing exactly what choices to make and what path to follow, she was looking forward to the zigs and zags that lay ahead of her. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined in that moment, how different her life was about to become. Susan is a beautiful young executive who has the world at her fingertips. After successfully completing her college degree she easily landed a great job with a large company. Because of her hard work and careful choices everything is unfolding just as she planned. Everything except the one thing she desires the most, someone to share her life with. She longs for the fulfillment that a true loving relationship will bring her. Her mind is filled with romantic movies, and she is certain that one day she will be the star in her own love story.. One day she discovers that her true love might have been right there under her nose for quite some time. She finds herself falling head over heels for a handsome coworker. His flashing smile and beautiful eyes convince her that he is mister right. As their relationship evolves she is certain that the feeling is mutual, despite the fact that he is married. Susan thinks that her life is finally about to be complete, she has no idea that her new found love will take her on an entirely new journey full of twists and turns that she never expected.