The One Who Got Away

"What else could go wrong" she thought to herself on the side of the busy highway. It was Friday evening and she had just met her ex-husband to drop her daughter's off for 'his weekend'. His weekend-it could have been our weekend if he could have been faithful she thought over and over to herself. How did her life get to this point.

Samantha is 30year old woman, who works for the local school system as a teacher. She had gotten married at 19 years old and had three beautiful little girls with a not so wonderful man. He was wonderful in the beginning but over the years he had been unfaithful multiple times. Samantha's final straw was when Craig, her ex-husband, got the local new librarian pregnant. She quickly filed for divorce.

There she stood on the side of a busy highway with her car smoking. Her cell phone reception was terrible. Shes pacing, trying not to panic, praying her call would go through! 'Could today get any worse?' Then she heard the thunder.

As the first drop of rain began to fall she felt a tear slide down her cheek. She heard a siren and saw flashes as a huge firetruck pulled over in front of her jeep Cherokee. Several men got out of the truck. The driver walked over and said "Ma'm do you need some help?" She tried to calm herself down before she spoke. "Yes I dont know what's wrong with it, it just started smoking and I have no service."

As soon as the words left her mouth the team went to work. Well all but one. The front seat passenger was the last to walk over. He was tall, at least 6feet. He had tan skin and dark black hair. He extended his hand and placed it on her elbow. "Samantha?" His masculine voice was shaky.

As soon as he said her name she knew who he was. Memories of years passed came rushing to her. Jared. Jared and Samantha had been high school sweet hearts. They were best friends. They loved to go fishing and ride four wheelers by the light of the moon. Nearly a decade ago Jared had been served with deployment papers and had abruptly ended their relationship. She had not seen him sense.

Today he stands before her with dark black hair. His skin just as tanned as she remembers. His deep brown eyes and his pale pink lips. She stood there in awe! "Jared?"