A tale of false love
Based upon true facts.
Two of my friends who had been together for 6 years enjoyed a loving and prosperous relationship. They always seemed happy around each other and others. It was perfection to everyone around them. But for me, I would soon find a truth that I may have been happier not discovering.
I was on my way to the local gas station to grab a drink and a pack of cigarettes. The walk is short and goes right by my friend Tim's house. Jessie, his girlfriend, had been living with him for 3 years. As I continued on, smoking my last cigarette, I looked over at Tim's house. A woman, about in her 40's I'd say, was leaving his house with a very noticeable grin.
Curious, I slowed my pace as she walked to her red Ford Mustang. Tim soon followed after her, an easily noticeable smile on his face as well. They were talking as the woman got into her car and fastened her seatbelt. She started the car's engine, looked back up at Tim, and leaned up, as if expecting a kiss from Tim. Immediately, my mind exclaimed, "No way!" With no hesitation, Tim leaned down and kissed her, passionately.
I was dumb struck. At this point, I had stopped walking and was awkwardly staring at two kissers. The woman patted Tim's cheek before pulling a u-turn and driving off. As Tim watched her drive away, he noticed me standing on the sidewalk, staring. His big grin had easily vanished as a pale hue took to his skin with an expression of fear ensuing.
For what felt like hours, we looked at each other for only a few seconds before he called my name and began to walk towards me. Instinctively, I turned and ran past a nearby house and into an alley. Tim began yelling, screaming my name, as he gave chase. I had many options to escape, but I knew he would be scouring the area upon losing sight of me. I turned a corner near one of the town's churches and remembered that the backdoor will sometimes be accidentally left open. I grabbed on the handle, but with no luck.
I could hear Tim's loud footsteps as he rapidly got closer to the church. I looked to my left and hid within some bushes along the side of the church. Tim rounded the corner of the church and searched for me. I watched him carefully and quietly. If he were to discover my location, I would have to do my best to knock him down and bolt home. But his frantic searching of the streets and houses allowed my escape into the bushes succeed. He walked to the front of the church and went out of my line of sight.
I waited for an hour, sitting behind bushes with my cell phone in my hand. I had Jessie's number pulled up, ready to text her what I found. But I was hesitating. Why was I hesitating? One of my closest friends is being cheated on...by one of my other closest friends. I was confused and panicked. The couple had started talking about marriage. How could something like that be mentioned and then an affair occur?
My thoughts were racing. I couldn't form a single idea or method to deal with what I had seen. If I told Jessie, she wouldn't believe me, not even for an instant. Tim would deny any accusations vigorously. I had no proof of what I had seen... And then it hit me. I needed proof of the affair. But how could I do such a thing now that Tim knows that I know?
I stood up slowly and checked my surroundings, making sure Tim wasn't still looking for me. I carefully made my way home, going down back alleys and through neighbors' backyards. As I closed my front door, my sister called down from the upstairs hallway. "Hey!", she yelled. "Tim was looking for you. He looked freaked out. You should call him." I didn't say a word as she went back into her bedroom. I wanted to tell my sister, but I doubt the sarcastic little brat would believe me, and would most likely tell Jessie and Tim.
I hiked up the stairs, cell phone still in hand, sweat rolling down my temples. I needed to expose the truth, that much I knew. But I had to be careful. The situation is delicate and can easily backfire in my face. I walked into my bedroom and closed the door quietly. Looking over at my dresser, I stared at it for a while, thinking. Tim would surely see the woman again to at least tell her he was discovered. Whether or not he breaks off the affair wouldn't matter.
I opened the top drawer and rustled through the random junk I hoarded. An old flashlight, a lighter, a switchblade, and wire cutters were things I deemed important enough to pocket. I was going to catch Tim in the act of cheating and make sure there was no doubts. As I closed the dresser drawer, I stopped to think about what it was I was planning to do.
This guy has been my friend for a little over 10 years. Was I really going to spy on him and expose his affair to his lover? It would potentially destroy his heart. But at the same time, Jessie's too. But what's worse? To live with the lie? Or step into the light and take responsibility? I knew Tim, he would hide this as best as he could. And by knowing that, he was no longer my friend to me.
I called my friend Rick to borrow his car. The usual excuses and groaning followed, but he could tell I seriously needed it and told me his car keys would be under the welcome mat. I opened my side door and looked around, expecting to see Tim still looking for me. The coast was clear. As I made my way down the back porch stairs, I pulled up the hood on my sweater and casually walked to Rick's house.
His car, a blue Mitsubishi Eclipse, was waiting for me. I grabbed the keys, got into the car, and made the short drive down the road to Tim's. I parked on a main road, not exactly in front of someone's house, but not so that it was obvious that I was suspicious or anything. I had to turn to my left to see Tim's house. I waited and watched. Jessie was still at work and would be for another 4 hours. Tim's truck was still at the house. The blinds on every window were down, so I couldn't really see much activity.
After an hour, Tim came out of his front door and into his truck. He still looked scared, so I knew exactly what he was up to. He started up his truck and drove to the main road. I followed him, close but not too close. We were heading in the direction of a busy city. We drove for 45 minutes before reaching the outskirts of the city. Turning into very run down neighborhoods, it seemed we had reached our destination as Tim pulled up to a nicer looking blue house.
I parked in a nearby park's parking lot and watched. I couldn't see the Ford Mustang anywhere, so I wasn't positive if this was where his secret lover would be. He knocked on the front door a couple times, but there was no response. He then called out for a woman, "Alicia?!" I watched on as he called her name out two more times. From behind the home, I noticed a lady come out of a shed replying to Tim's calls. It was her.
Tim began to walk around the house, thankfully on the side I could see, and the two met each other half way. She came close to, almost wanting to hug him, but it was clear she could see how disturbed Tim was. They started talking, Tim a little more nervous and loud. I pulled out my cell phone and began recording, hoping for any kind of evidence to capture. The two argued for 30 minutes before the woman finally hugged him.
The hug was brief, but was followed by a deep and damning kiss. "Bingo...", I muttered. I kept recording as Tim slid his hands down to the woman's rear, getting a firm feel as she gasped and laughed. Taking Tim's hand, she led him inside. In my mind, I knew what was going to happen. But I wanted to see it, I wanted to capture it. I wanted every ounce of proof so that everyone could know what I knew.
I waited for 10 minutes after they went inside before getting out of Rick's car to investigate. I made my way over to the house slowly and casually, the hood on my sweater still up, decently concealing my identity. I was maybe 4 feet from the corner of the house when I could hear moaning. It quickly progressed to yelling, the sound of pleasure. But I couldn't tell from where in the house. I stood on the lawn of the home for a few minutes, observing the home, and decided to go in through the backdoor.
Call me crazy, but I was completely ready to sneak in. I maintained my casual demeanor, acting as if I lived there. I opened the door however very quietly. Only the screen door was closed, making entry pretty easy. I avoided any creaking and gently let the door close behind me. The yelling and moaning was audible in a room to my right. I seemed to be in what was a kitchen and laundry room mix. It was quite odd. I tip toed around a table and made my way to the doorway of the room from which I could hear Tim and his lover. The door was left open by just a crack, but it was enough for my cell phone's camera to see into.
Sure enough, the two were doing the deed. The bed they were on was facing away from me, but there was a slight enough angle for me to be able to distinguish who was who in the recording. I watched and recorded these two lovers. One my friend, the other a somewhat enemy I felt. I hated that woman for some reason. As if it was completely her fault Jessie would be hurt by this. After 4 minutes, I stopped recording and decided to head back out.
My exit was perfect, not a sound was made. I got back into Rick's car and began driving back home. There was about an hour and a half of time left before Jessie would get off work. I decided to head to her job and wait for her to get off work before showing her the proof I had acquired. Jessie worked in a hospital at the time, a nurse for elderly. I located her car and parked next to it, and waited yet again. As I finished a map on Angry Birds, I noticed Jessie exiting the back of the hospital and walking to her car.
I got out of Rick's car, pulled my hood down, and called out for her. She was happy and surprised to see me, but realized I was in a very serious mood. I told her we needed to talk, preferably at her house. I knew Tim would be there. After agreeing to give me time to talk to her, I started to walk back to get into Rick's car. But what came next as I grabbed the door handle would turn my world upside-down, again.
"Hey babe, we still on for our date tomorrow?", a man called out from the hospital. I looked over at him and realized he was looking right at Jessie, who was looking right at me. I could not believe it. Literally, I was having a hard time believing it. I looked over at Jessie and saw the same expression of absolute fear Tim had on his face when I caught him. She began to cry and frantically begged me to not tell Tim. She came around Rick's car up to me, holding onto the sleeves of my sweater, begging and pleading.
I pulled my arms away from her and shook my head in disgust. She kept begging me to not tell Tim. I pulled out my cell phone and loaded the recording I had of Tim having sex. I held it up to her without saying a word. She stared at it for a few seconds before looking at me and asking if that was Tim. I said nothing. She looked back at the phone and was silent. Her face was no longer twisting from crying, but more expressionless, as if she had no reaction to what I found at all.
I ended the recording, deleted it and the other of Tim kissing his lover, and coldly said to Jessie, "You two really are perfect for each other." I got into Rick's car and sped off, heading home. Their love was nothing but an illusion. A false tale of what my friends and I thought to be true love.
The next day, Jessie and Tim had both moved out of their house. Nobody knew where either had gone, but it was assumed they eloped. But I alone knew the truth. I figured they had a huge fight and decided to go their separate ways. Good riddance.
