Sappho Crush

It’s been a year. Haley’s husband, Nathan, died last year. She still hadn’t quite healed from it. Their children seemed to be coping well. But, the widow still had some issues to work with. Today, she was at the men’s wear store. Nathan’s birthday would be tomorrow. Haley walked up to the counter and set the shirts down. The clerk only looked at her in pity. He understood her pain.

“Is this all Mrs. James?” he asked. Haley looked down at the shirts.

“Yes sir…” she mumbled. The clerk totaled up the three dress shirts before him.

“3,053.28¥, please,” he said. Haley quietly paid for Nathan’s gifts.

“How are you these days?” the clerk asked. Haley lifted her head quickly.

“Hm?” she asked. “Oh, good. School starts next week.”

“Ah,” the clerk said, nodding. They spoke no more. Haley started this ritual shortly after Nathan’s death. She always bought gifts on the big holidays. It helped her keep it together.

“Would you like receipt with those?” the clerk asked. Haley quickly came back to earth.

“Oh! Yeah, yeah,” she replied, nodding. “Yes, please.” The clerk printed up the receipt and handed it to the widow. She slowly took it and folded it up.

“Have a good say, sir,” she murmured.

“You too,” the clerk replied. They bowed heads and she left the store.

Last year, a virus broke out on Akai Island. Several people caught it. Few survived. Nathan didn’t. Haley didn’t know how to deal with the loss. She still didn’t know how to. But then…

Crash! Haley found herself on the pavement with a sore forehead.

“Ow,” she mumbled.

“Oh,” a sultry Polish accent said. “I’m sorry about that You’re not hurt are you?” Haley paused and directed her eyes forward. Was she staring at a minx or what? This woman… Whew! Blonde hair, forest green eyes, soft face, dark and seductive lips… Haley blinked many times as her cheeks colored an apple red.

“No…” she mumbled. Haley looked down around her.

“Oh no!” the widow wailed. “The shirts! They’re ruined!” She rushed to pick them up.

“Here, let me help,” the other woman offered. They scooped up the shirts and put them back in the bag. The sultry woman watched the widow for a moment.

“You have everything?” she asked. Haley turned back to her “angel.” A dreamy haze flooded her eyes.

“Yeah…” she drifted in a tone that mirrored her eyes. “Thank you…” Her voice trailed off as they stared at each other. Haley had the look of a love struck teenage girl with this woman.

From there, Haley entered into the land of confusion. She walked to Coral High School uneasily. “Oh my god! I’ve fallen for another woman!” she thought. “But how is this possible? I’m straight!” Haley breathed as she counted in her head to calm herself down. Once the storm passed, she took a moment to think about her situation. She and Nathan had been married since they were sixteen. They had beautiful children together. Their marriage wasn’t perfect, but that’s what made it more fruitful. Eleven years stolen away by death. But now…

She came into the ring of affection. This blonde Polish goddess… She managed to rope in Haley’s attention. Now, she refused to leave her state of mind. Haley shook her head. “No, no, no, no, no! I’m not gay! I’ve been married for eleven years! Why would I be gay now?” she thought.

“Something on your mind, Hales?” a voice boomed. The teacher whipped around gasping in the hallway of Carol High. A blonde-haired gentleman smiled at her.

“Hey,” he said with cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Haley looked at him sternly.

“Tre!” she exclaimed. “There’s no smoking allowed in school.” Her colleague shrugged at her.

“Sorry,” he said, playfully. “Old habit. Besides, school hasn’t started yet.” Haley nodded with that logic.

“True…” she said. “But still…” Tre sighed at her.

“Fine, fine,” he mumbled. “I’ll put it out.” The history teacher snubbed out his cig on the bottom of his shoe.

“Better?” he asked. Haley nodded.

“Yes,” she said. Her friend noticed her face.

“Hales, what’s on your mind?” he asked. The teacher turned her eyes on him.

“Am I that easy?” she asked. Tre nodded at her.

“Hales,” he said. “I’ve known you for years. I was there when your kids when born. I have even been there for you when Nate died. So talk to me.” His friend shifted her eyes around. She breathed in as she bit her lip.

“Not here!” Haley whispered at him. Tre eyed her.

“Okay…” he said. “Where?” Haley looked around her.

“My room?” she asked.

“Alright,” Tre replied. The English teacher quickly led the way. Her friend stayed behind. The walk only took about three minutes. Haley closed and looked the door behind them. Tre glanced around the lifeless classroom.

“Okay,” he blurted out. “What’s all this about?” Haley whipped around to her old friend. She looked as if she had seen a rat.

“I’m in a crisis,” she whispered. Tre blinked at her.

“Okay…” he said. Haley sighed, broke down, and told the history teacher about her meeting this morning with the Polish babe. Her cheeks flared red as she spoke. The teacher caught her breath afterwards. Tre blinked at her with his jaw dropped.

“Whoa!” he said. “That’s… well… uh… o-kay…” Haley felt herself sinking.

“I knew this would happen!” she wailed.

“So… Are you…” Tre began to ask.

“No!” Haley blurted out. “I mean, I guess. I don’t know…”

“Have you decided what to do yet?” Haley shook her head.

“No… That’s where I’m so lost.” Tre smiled and gently patted her on the shoulder. The widow looked up at him.

“There, there,” he said, softly. “You’ll find the answer soon enough. Just give it time.”

“You sure about that?” she asked. Tre nodded once. Haley looked out the dusty window.

“Okay…” she said, almost inaudible. Somehow, Tre failed to help her this time.

Meanwhile, Nina received a new e-mail.

Sapphire

	Garbage - The World Is Not Enough .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine