Laura Esther, from Moving On; Chapter III - The Circled Date

alone want me to be with your son. All these months, I’ve been nothing but nice to you, yet you still give me the cold shoulder. There's no way we could co-exist.” Jade sighs deeply at her confession. She thinks back to the trip to Paris with her fiancé. It was the first time she went outside of the United States and the first time he said the infamous three words to her. At that moment, the world around them seemingly disappeared and they were the only ones on Earth. Jade has never loved anyone before, so she’s never had to deal with the agony of letting them go. So why start now? “But you made me realize something, Carol. I don’t care what you think anymore.” Jade lets out a breathy laugh at her realization. “I love your son and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. He’s sweet, and funny and the nicest person I’ve ever met. And the best part is, he doesn’t see me for my economic status. So, whether you like me or not, I’m going to marry your son tomorrow. Not because you think I’m a freeloader or shallow, but because we love each other.”

Jade adjusts the bag strap on her shoulder, the weight of her bag seems lighter as she finishes her rant. She’s surprised that Carol hasn’t interrupted her yet as she continues, “Despite your negative feelings towards me, I hope to see you tomorrow at the wedding. If not for yourself, then for your son’s happiness.”

The door handle feels cold in her hand as she goes to twist it open, yet she removes her hand again for a different reason. Jade turns around and heads towards the direction she originally came from.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

Jade looks over her shoulder to look at Carol before saying, “I’m going to use the front door.”

from Moving On Chapter III - The Circled Date

LAURA ESTHER

After putting out his cigarette, Alex handed George a gold key, then placed his hand on his shoulder before walking over to his car and driving away, leaving Mary Lou and George standing in Emily’s driveway looking at her house.

“Do you want to walk to the house?” said Mary Lou in a careful manner.

Mary Lou understood that just standing in Emily’s driveway was an emotional moment for George. There was just silence for a brief moment, then Mary Lou glanced over at George, and noticed he was staring at the key in his hand that Alex had just given him.

“Sure,” said George timidly.

Mary Lou nodded at George, then began to walk with him to Emily’s house, being careful not to pass him but to walk slowly with him. As they walked towards the house, which was a bit far away, Mary Lou would glance at George then back at the house from time to time. The entire way there, George said nothing, and neither did Mary Lou. But this was not unexpected of George because Mary Lou was absolutely sure Emily was the one thing on his mind. Emily was her best friend since college and George was her fiancé. As they reached the steps to the front door, George stopped.

“Do you want me to go with you?” said Mary Lou softly.

George looked up at the house, saying nothing. For a moment, Mary Lou thought that he was going to cry, but he didn’t.

“Just don’t leave, okay?” spouted George nervously.

“I won’t,” said Mary Lou profoundly, in the hopes to reassure George that she wouldn’t leave his side.

George led the way up the stairs, then placed the key in the keyhole, turning it slowly. George then gave the door a bit of a push, which made it squeak. They walked into Emily’s house carefully. They touched nothing in the house, they just looked at everything in silence as if it were a priceless painting hanging on the wall of a museum. As they looked around, they noticed the neatly organized