Hello everyone who has taken the time to stop and give this story a read. Thank you for choosing to do so. I would like to state that I am not a professional writer or editor. I write these stories from my own imagination and time. Right now it's just a hobby.
I have no problem with comments and feedback, however, please do not be rude. Other than that, please enjoy this short story between Sage and Jameson.
Sage, utterly drained from her night shift as a hospital nurse, was in dire need of rest. However, the responsibilities of adulthood beckoned, forcing her to embark on a grocery shopping expedition before she could find solace in sleep. Straight from work, she mustered the energy to grab a shopping cart and a weekly ad before stepping into the grocery store.
Food shopping had never bothered Sage. Hell, she was named after a spice. People would joke with her that she should have been a chef or that she became a nurse to 'sage off the evil spirits.' Both jokes made her cringe. Pulling out her paper list, she jotted down in between checking on patients. She quickly scanned the ad's front page to see if any of them matched with one another. Pleasantly, the berries were finally coming into season, which meant Sage could buy them without feeling too bad about the price.
As Sage strolled down each aisle, ticking off items from her list, she couldn't help but add a few things to her cart that she didn't necessarily need. In her exhausted state, these impulsive purchases seemed to make perfect sense. Before she reached the frozen section, her final stop, she found herself turning into the wine and alcohol aisle. There was no particular need for more at home, but the thought of having an extra bottle or two of wine was a comforting one.
Stepping into the corner block that housed the store's wine selection, Sage's curiosity was piqued. A wine drinker, yes, but did she understand the intricacies of a wine's body or legs? Not really. For her, the enjoyment of the flavors was what truly mattered. And she had a knack for picking the right ones. Sure, there were a few misses, but they were never undrinkable.
She was scanning the top shelf first as her eyes moved from shelf to shelf, checking off bottles that she had already sampled or had at home. As her footsteps progressed out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that another was looking at the bottles. Getting recommendations from people, just out of curiosity was a favorite pass time of hers.
While still having her head straight Sage spoke. "Nothing like picking out wine at 11 am?"
A deep voice filled her ear. "Well, you could peruse the store until noon to make it a bit more morally right."
At that moment, Sage was happy that she was not holding a wine bottle in her hand. There was no doubt that she would of dropped it, liquid going everywhere. That voice belonged to the man she was still healing a heartbreak from. Jameson. They had met over a year ago at one of the local bars. She had happened to be there that night with a group of friends; this was a regular haunt for him.
Jameson was unlike any man she had ever been with. Well not in the fairytale sense, at least at first. He was married, in fact he told her so the night they met. Jameson then explained that it was an open marriage between himself and his wife. That his wife was actually currently with her then boyfriend. Sage couldn't believe what she was hearing. These relationships didn't happen, and if they did was, she the woman that said yes?
After many text messages, phone calls, and a meeting with all three of them, Sage set onto the path of Jameson's girlfriend. It was mostly like every other relationship she had had in the past. He would be at her place on the days she had off, and on the days she worked, he would be at his place with his wife. Sage never wanted the details of the marriage, though, unless necessary. Things like what laundry detergent they used or if he had slept with his wife that same morning, he would be sleeping at Sage's place were not something that was needed.
Even though the relationship was not categorized as expected in what she was brought up. All she knew was she was happy. A feeling she wasn't willing to give up. Jameson made her laugh and knew how she took her coffee; if she was having a stressful day, he was there with ice cream and a comfort show of hers. How he knew which one to put on every time, it didn't matter. What mattered was he was there, which meant she could breathe.
Jameson got her outside of her box in the best way. She started painting again after she hadn't touched it for years. He even got her to set up at a craft show to sell her paintings, which did decently. This was a high she rode for a good week. Sage also began dressing more femininely when around Jameson. This got her out of her scrubs and sweats, though there were plenty of days that were spent without clothes between them.
As always, when you ask for something, the reaper always comes to collect. Eight months is what she got with him before Hell came looking for them. It happened about a month after his wife had ended things with her boyfriend. Jameson showed up at her door with no bag in hand. Sage didn't think much of it at the time, he had some things here, maybe he didn't need anything this time. When they entered the living room with his jacket and shoes still on, the back hairs on her neck peaked. He always took those things off when he came over.
"Would you mind if we sat? There is something I need to say. It would be better if we sat," Jameson said without looking at her.
Was he nervous, Sage thought.
Both sitting, he ran his fingers through his black hair, letting out the breath he was holding. Still not able to look at me. "Shannon decided to close our marriage. I tried to change her mind. Let her know how much I need you in my life. There was no changing her mind."
I sat there speechless, waiting for this to be a cruel joke he never meant to play on me. Tears welling up in my eyes, all I could say was, "What?"
"We have to end things. I love you, Sage, but Shannon is my wife," he says, defeated.
Pulling his keys from his pocket, he removed my house key from the ring, which is his life. The sound of the key hitting the coffee table digs deep into my mind. "Look at me," she asks him.
"No, I can't, if I do,.....no." Those were the last words she heard from him until today in the middle of the wine corner at the grocery store.
For months, she cried herself to sleep or drank it away. Now, after finally coming out on the other side, healing the wounds, Jameson is standing right here in front of her. Why couldn't he have shown up in her life when she was happy again, had her life together? Heck, she would have settled for being showered and in non-work clothes. Instead, her hair was in a messy bun, with no makeup, and she had Crocs on her feet.
Jameson, on the other hand, looked just as handsome as she remembered him. He was wearing his signature black, which oddly brought out his green eyes. His black jeans always pointed out his long, beautiful legs. The only change would be his black hair. He changed it, cutting it shorter now. It didn't look bad, just different. If she had to choose, though, she would have had him keep it longer.
Jameson couldn't believe who he was seeing today. Of all people, Sage. He hated himself for leaving her. He couldn't even be a man and look at her the day he ended things. The truth was, if he did, he wouldn't have left. Kept the relationship going. Since things have ended with Sage his marriage with Shannon has not gotten better. They have been going to couples counseling, but neither of them wants to admit it's over. Seeing Sage, was that a sign they could start over fresh? His luck couldn't be that good.
Sage was the first to break the silence. "Hi."
"Hi."
