A New Path on Secret Lovers Lane

A hard day at work. A hard day with the family. A hard day of feeling unappreciated, undesired, just BLAH. The weight of the world just seems to be on your shoulders. Everyone has baggage. Maybe a little different in everyones life--some baggage is heavier than others, some travel with less and some travel with more. But none the less, we all have our own baggage.

A drink after work to just unwind and escape for just a few moments before returning to "the real world". A moment to be able to step out of your life and just take a breath of fresh air. Across the bar, I am thinking the same thing. One drink, a few stolen minutes to gather my sanity before returning to the next chapter of my life (beginnning my second job). Returning to the reality of dinner, baths, bills, a humdrum marriage--SIGH--where are the years going? Is this the way life is suppose to be? A mechanical marriage. Going through the motions without any real emotions.

Our eyes meet from across the bar. We smile and I can feel my heart flicker just a bit. But it was enough for me to take a second look at the man across the bar. A look in his eye that seemed so familiar, a little sparkle --a little attraction. I decide to investigate a little further and head to the ladies room. As he does the same, we meet at the end of the bar. Yes, something about this man's eyes are luring me in. They seem sincere, they seem real, they seem to belong to a man that also has that void in his heart.

We introduce ourselves and we start talking. He buys me a drink and we settle down in the corner away from the crowded bar. He's handsome, he's sweet, he's personable and he makes me laugh...the attraction is getting stronger. He's married and his story is not much different from others I have met. Sadly we admit...the attraction is not in our marriages anymore. The passion, the sex, that intense connection--has long died leaving us a hole in our soul. Yes, he knows that hole...if you have it you know it. A feeling that you go through each and everyday working, family, errands.... a routine. A routine that does not include passion, lust or that flame that used to burn so strong. The flame has become a burned out forest..with just a few sparks left.

There's no time now to see if we can help each other--re-light a little of that flame and fill some of that void. Reality is calling (literally--spouses calling on the phone). We both have worlds waiting for us where kids need tending, garbage needs to be taken out and the dreaded interaction with our spouses about things that have to be done (and weren't). The flame seems to flicker, that hole seems to close just a tiny bit--as we say good by. He walks me to my car and as we say good by, I give him a kiss. Not intense, just a small one on the cheek and then a small one on his lips. I can feel the rush of energy go through my body. I can feel the gasoline that was thrown on the flame. I can feel my insides come back to life. Just from a kiss. And in his eyes, I can see the flame has also ignited.

We exchange numbers and plan to meet again. What the meeting will hold...only time will tell. But I do know this man has the potential to rekindle that flame. So we leave, go back to our lives and go through the motions but this time--it's not as bad--because there is a little secret emotion that is very tiny but a little alive within. Just enough to get us through a couple of days. Just enough to make us a little happier at home, just enough to let us be able to carry that baggage a little easier on our shoulders. Just enough to make us feel alive again--not living a black and white world but adding just a tint of color to our real world.

It's an escape--it's our own new path to Secret Lovers Lane!