Chapter 1 – The Beginning

Naked, leaning against the bathroom wall, she just realized what would happen today – her boyfriend’s funeral.  He was gone.  She couldn’t stop him from getting in the car that night and now he’s gone.  She tasted the salty tears as she curled her hair.  She looked at herself in the mirror as if she wanted to see more.  She did.  She wanted to see him again.  She wanted to look into his eyes and hear him say, “I love you,” again.  And then he did.

In her head she heard him; it was clear as day.  “I love you Mia,” again she heard it, though, this time it wasn’t him.  After slipping on a robe she opened the bathroom door and saw him.  Some guy she’d met after Ray died.  She’d felt vulnerable and needy.  Last night she just wanted someone to love her, love all over her, all night long.  Tequila did the trick and this new face turned into Ray.  Mia thought she had dreamt her love making session with Ray, but in fact, she had been making love to…

“Uhm, I’m sorry.  I don’t remember your name.” She asked with her head lowered.

“That’s funny, you screamed it all night long.  My name is Raymond.” He said.

Mia finally looked up at his face, “Ray?”

“That’s right.”  He smiled.

It wasn’t her Ray.

Mia dropped to her knees in disbelief.  Why would she do this to herself?  She not only felt like she’d just cheated on her Ray, but now she’d invited this other Raymond into her bed.  In the fetal position on the kitchen floor, crying hysterically, the new Raymond seemingly understood.  As he picked her up to take her back to the bed she wondered what she had told him in order for him to be so kind.