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| Follow Your Dreams |
| By: Jo Smith |
| She was sitting at a table starring out the window when he came in the coffee shop. He got his coffee and sat down. He couldn't see her face, her back was to him, but he could see that something was wrong by the way her shoulders slumped. Like she had the weight of the world on them. He knew that felling well! He also sensed a gentleness about her. He could see that she had started to cry. He got up and walked over to her and asked if there was anything he could do for her. She shook her head no, but thanked him anyway. She offered to buy him a coffee, sensing that she wanted company, he sat down. She apologized for crying like that but, she had just left husband. She started talking to him, telling him that no matter what she did, it was never good or fast enough. There were other issues as well. And he could see them on her arms and face in the form of a fading black eye. Yesterday, she told him, was the last straw. In the middle of the supermarket he started on her again! She walked out, got into her car and drove to their apartment and packed her clothes. She didn't care if he showed up or not. She didn't know or care where she was going, but it certainly wasn't back there. She had enough. After 10 years of hoping and praying that things would change, that he would change. It hadn't, but she did. She knew now, that this was the time for her to leave. He told her that he felt the same. That his wife was good as long as the money, and important people were there, so was she. It had been about 8 or 9 months since he had any work. About the same time he stopped having a wife. As depressed as he felt, he knew that this woman's situation was far worse than his. They talked long into the early hours of the morning. She made him realize that no matter how bad you think your life situation is, there is always someone worse off than you. She got up and paid the bill and thanked him for listening, and told him that he had helped her more than he would ever know. She told him that from now on, she would follow her heart and dreams, and he should do the same, because then and only then would they be happy within themselves. Then she went outside, got in her car and drove away. Somehow he knew, as he watched her drive down the highway, that she would do exactly as she said, and she would be fine. He had gotten tired and weary of his lfe and wife, (now ex!)and the other people around him telling him what he should be doing and what was good for him. As he looked around his office, he felt, in his heart and soul, the happiness that she had talked about that night in a coffee shop, six tear ago. He offtended wondered, where she was and how she was doing. He had worked hard, and now was content with his life. He was meeting with some new people about the new project he will be starting, he always liked to met with them before the actual start date. As he walked out of his office and down the hall he felt that this was going to be the best project he had done in years. Everyone else was there when he walked in. And so was she! She looked great. Not the sad, troubled woman he had met six years ago in a coffee shop. She recognized him at once. She came over to him and said hello, and told him that he look as happy with his life as she was with hers. Her name was Dede Wilson, one of the most sought after interior designers in the state. He introduced himself, Karl Benson, and he was one of the most sought after Architects in the south. What started out as a causal meeting turned in to one of the best business meetings of their careers. He was right, this project they had would be one of the best hotels in the state. One that did not not cater to the rich. This one would be affordable to the everyday working people. It would be one of many in the Wilson / Benson hotel chain. |
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