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Oscar Hayes, stirred his two sugars in his cup of coffee as he listened to the new tech intern talk about his marriage proposal of the night before. Tired of biting his tongue, “Why are you so sure she is the only one for you?” Oscar asked. All the conversations in the break room came to a halt.

Randall, the intern, started to answer Oscar’s question. “I just know.” He replied. “That is not an answer,” Oscar countered. “Well, I know she makes me happy, and I want to spend the rest of my life being happy with her,” Randall said.

Oscar laughed. “Really, and what if someone else makes you happy? Will you still stay with her?”

“Why do you think I would leave her? The reason to get married it to stay married,” Randall said. Oscar laughed again. “Do you live in the real world? How many people do you know that stay married?” Oscar asked.

“My parents have been married forty years, and my grandparents were married for fifty years before they died. They are my examples of happy marriages,” Randall said as he smirked at Oscar. Many in the break room watched the interaction between Randall and Oscar. Maggie shook her head. “Oscar, have you ever been married?” She asked. “No and never will,” Oscar replied. “Why?” Maggie asked.

Oscar took a sip of his coffee and looked around the room. All eyes were on him. Many he had worked with for years but had never had a personal conversation about marriage before. He usually stayed away from those talks. However, today, something clicked inside, and he had to speak. “I do not have the luxury of having parents that stayed together. My parents married three times each. And do you want to know why?”

Heads nodded, waiting for his response. “My parents cheated on each of their spouses. Did not give me a great example of marriage life. So, Randall, I ask again, how do you know she is the one? Will you cheat on her or maybe she will cheat on you?”

Randall’s face turned bright red. Oscar laughed. “Oh, is there something you want to say about cheating?” “Just because your parents cheated it does not mean everyone cheats,” Randall said. “Yes, but when I said about cheating, you reacted. Is there something you want to share?” Oscar asked.

Randall turned and walked out of the break room. Maggie shook her head. “You are a piece of work, Oscar. I am sure there is no one who wants to marry you.” “You are probably right, and that is why I will never get married.”

Oscar stayed in the break room long after all the others had gone back to their cubicles. His coffee sat cold on the table. He wondered if he should have kept his opinions to himself. Most of the staff were younger and lived in a fantasy world. Oscar knew the real world gave people options, some of which they could not walk away from. This was the first time he wished he had asked his parents why they got married and why they cheated.

Troubled Oscar left the break room and decided he would leave work for the day. The giddiness of Randall was bothersome, but the look of disgust of the other staff put a rock in the pit of his stomach. And that is why you are alone and will die alone was the voice he heard.

© 2019 Ivy Jade

“What do you mean you came for me?” Jacob asked, and he stared at her hand. “I have been trying to make sense of my dream. A few minutes ago I saw you in my house,” Lila said. “Do you always follow your dreams?” Jacob asked. “The elders taught me to pay attention to my dreams, knowing they have a purpose in my life,” Lila answered.

Looking at her hand as if it were a snake would bite if he touched it, Jacob walked to the window. When he turned to face Lila, her hand was still out. A magnetic force pulled him back to her. This time he took her hand. The sight of the warm brown hand holding his pale hand jolted his system. “Did we speak when we first saw each other?” Jacob asked as he continued to look at their hands intertwined. “No, we looked at each other and walked on our way,” Lila said.

Jacob raised his eyes, and for the first time, he saw Lila smile. Her face glowed, and the room took on the warmth she offered. “Where is home?” Jacob asked. Lila laughed as she began to stroke his hand. A calm Jacob had never known filled his body. “My home is in Arizona,” was Lila’s reply.

“I have so many questions, and nothing seems to make sense at the moment. Weeks ago, I started feeling as if it was time to move. That Miami was no longer home, but I did not understand where I would go,” Jacob said. “Home is with me,” Lila offered. “And you know that?” Jacob asked. “Yes, my dream told me to come home. The destroyed beach house was the reason to come for the person,” Lila said.

Jacob laughed for the first time that day. “This feels like a science fiction movie. A hurricane upends my life, and I must leave with you and start anew,” Jacob said. “You make it sound like a bad thing,” Lila said. “But I do not know you,” Jacob countered. “Listen to your heart, Jacob. What is it telling you?” Jacob paused. His brow pinched.

“It says come home. But I am already home,” Jacob said. “Are you home, Jacob?” Lila asked. The years of loneliness seeped into his soul, and Jacob sighed. “When do we leave, I’m coming home with you,” Jacob said. “I have been wandering all over the country trying to find a home. I am coming home with you, Jacob. We are home to each other,” Lila hesitated. “No, I know you need to have a conversation with your children. This will be harder on Karen than Carl.”

Jacob’s first call was to Carl. It surprised him how supportive Carl was to his plans. Karen questioned who this woman was and why he would leave with her, but realized that her father was grown and needed to leave. Jacob’s final call was to Paul. A sixty-year friendship ended with that call. This time he took Lila’s hand and smiled. “Let’s go home.”

© 2019 Ivy Jade