Page 1 of One More Touchdown
Chapter One
Sheri
Five years after my divorce and my best friend talked me into trying online dating. Within the first few weeks I had meet two men that piqued my interest, both former military and with the same first name. One of them, I really didn’t like, the other I did. However, after months on the phone and two dates, he wasn’t looking for a relationship yet. Then came along Dion and at the end of ten months I had the worse taste in my mouth about online dating because of Dion.
We matched amid the vast sea of profiles, and his charm, witty banter, and shared interests quickly drew me in. Those initial conversations were like a captivating prologue, laying the foundation for what I hoped would be a beautiful love story. He owned his own business, and he was a Dom. He was everything I had been looking for and prayed for in a man. God had given me the man I prayed for. God gave me my completion and my better half.
* * *
Our connection deepened over weeks of exchanging messages and calls. Dion seemed to understand the intricacies of my thoughts, finishing my sentences, and expressing a genuine interest in my passions. As we progressed from texting to video calls, the virtual barrier started to dissolve, creating the illusion that we were side by side despite the physical distance between us.
The first date, a pivotal moment in any love story, was filled with anticipation and excitement. We chose a charming local coffee shop, our shared laughter resonating through the cozy atmosphere. Dion’s presence felt warm and comforting, and for a while, it seemed like the plot was unfolding exactly as I had envisioned.
The months that followed were a blend of highs and lows, much like the rising action of a novel. We celebrated milestones, exchanged thoughtful gifts, and navigated through disagreements that strengthened our bond. Yet, beneath the surface, subtle cracks were forming in the narrative of our relationship. He had talked to my girls on the phone, introduced himself, told them he was going to be their new stepdad, and made family trips with us. It was immediate love. We knew God had given us both to each other. I started working for him in his business to help him and he was in turn, helping me build mine. We had planned our futures out. We were building and growing together.
We talked on the phone all day every day. We spent time working side by side in his home and his office. Us working together on each other’s businesses and us working separately on our businesses. We would have dinner dates and movie dates. He was my air. I had never been happier in my entire life. I never thought I would find my soulmate; the man that met me in my sexual desires, that understood my grind and hustle to build my business and who understood how many hours I work a day because he works just as hard as I do.
* * *
The turning point arrived around the ten-month mark, and it felt like the climax of a story approaching its peak. Dion’s once-frequent messages became sporadic, and our calls began to dwindle. The emotional distance between us grew, leaving me grasping for the friendship we had meticulously crafted together, and a piece of my heart started dying.
Confusion and doubt set in as I tried to decipher the reasons behind the unraveling storyline. I replayed our shared moments, searching for clues in the nuances of our interactions. Was it something I said or did? Was there something that I had overlooked?
The realization hit me like an unexpected plot twist, I was no longer the protagonist in Dion’s story. The love that once bound us together began to fray, and the pages of our romance started to scatter in different directions. As my emotions started to spiral me into a dark place, I grappled with the conflicting feelings of sadness, frustration, and a profound sense of loss.
The denouement unfolded with a heart-wrenching conversation; the kind that leaves relationships forever changed. Dion confessed to feeling unsure about our future, citing personal struggles and uncertainties that had become insurmountable obstacles in our shared dreams and goals. The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of an impending resolution.
Our love story, once filled with promise and potential, reached its conclusion. The epilogue consisted of tearful goodbyes and the echoes of what could have been. As my relationship with Dion crumbled into pieces. It was like someone ignited blocks of C4 and my whole life went up in smoke. I couldn’t breathe. Dion owned me, my body, my mind, and my heart.
In the aftermath, I find myself grappling with the aftermath of our failed romance and grieving the love, the relationship and the future we were building. The echoes of what was and what could have been lingered in the corners of my heart. I was devastated and gave up on love and dating.
* * *
The calendar pages flutter like the aftermath of a storm. Seven months after the end of my relationship with Dion, I find myself standing at the crossroads. Vulnerability and hesitation. My heart, still nursing the wounds of a fractured love, is cautious about embracing the tumultuous world of online dating again. It’s as if the online platform bears the scars of my past, each profile representing a chapter that unfolded and crumbled.
In this delicate moment, my best friend Marlie, with her unwavering support and infectious enthusiasm, takes center stage in my life. As we sit in the comfort of my living room, surrounded by the warmth of shared memories and the faint echoes of laughter, Marlie senses the struggle brewing within me.
“Come on, Sheri,” Marlie urges, her eyes sparkling with a blend of empathy and determination. “You can’t let one bad online dating relationship keep you from finding love. There are plenty of great guys out there, just waiting for a chance to get to know you. One day, you will find your soulmate. He will love you unconditionally and he be everything you need and want. Dion really wasn’t that man. If he was, he’d still be here. You deserve the best and the best is out there. But he can’t find you if you don’t make yourself available.”
I glance at the dating app icon on my phone, its mere presence triggering a swirl of emotions. The scars left by Dion’s departure still throb with pain, a testament to the vulnerability that comes with opening one’s heart to love. Yet, Marlie’s words, like a beacon of encouragement, guides me toward the possibility of a new beginning.
“But Marlie, what if it’s all just a repetition of the same heartbreak? What if I end up reliving those painful moments?” I express my fears, my voice a fragile melody seeking reassurance.
Marlie leans forward, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that mirrors the strength of our friendship. “Sheri, love is a chance and a chance worth taking. Yes, you’ve had a setback, but that doesn’t mean you should stop looking for love altogether. Every love story is unique, and you deserve to find someone who appreciates you and deserves you.”
Her words hang in the air, a gentle persuasion that nudges me towards the edge of my comfort zone. As if sensing my reluctance, Marlie continues, “Just remember that you are a child of God, a daughter of the Most High and He wants what and who is best for you. Don’t give Dion the satisfaction of taking away you finding the man that is going to treat you like a queen.”
There’s a thoughtful pause as I reflect on Marlie’s words. The dating app on my phone seems to beckon with the promise of uncharted territories, and a hesitant smile creeps onto my face. “Okay, Marlie. Maybe I can try again. But my walls have never been this thick and it will take someone a long time to get through them, if anyone can.”
Marlie’s face lights up with joy, and she claps her hands together. “That’s the spirit! Embrace the uncertainty, Sheri. You never know what kind of adventure awaits you. And if you don’t lower the walls or thin them out, no one will ever get through them.”
I heard every word Marlie said, and I opened the dating app a digital gateway to possibilities. As I begin navigating through profiles, I feel a subtle shift within me, a blend of nervous excitement and a renewed sense of hope. The journey ahead is uncertain, but armed with Marlie’s unwavering support, I embark on this dating phase of my life with the belief that maybe, just maybe I can find true love.
Chapter Two
Josh
In the quiet corners of my life, where echoes of a once-happy marriage lingered like ghostly whispers, I found myself standing at the crossroads of heartbreak and hopeful beginnings. It’s been fifteen months since my divorce, fifteen months of rebuilding and rediscovering who I am as an individual outside the confinements of a broken marriage. It has taking me this long to learn who I am and to learn how to love me again.
