Red Light

[asphaltcowgrrl]

Just a bit of fluff for today... can't quite post this yet to my regular fiction blog because, well, I haven't gotten it up to date with this tragic mess of a story yet.  So, since none of my supposed friends are interested in my drivel any longer, I thought I'd post it here... to torture my one reader... LOL  Just need to get it out and move on.  :)

Enjoy or not... *G*

--

Red Light

Inspired by David Nial’s song, “Red Light”.

She’d been making good time getting across the city. Usually it was a chore and a half to drive this distance on a Saturday morning, but she had no choice, she absolutely, positively had to get the hell out of Dodge this morning before she lost her cool.

And that was just so not cool. 

The kids were tucked safely away with her adopted mother, and currently that was the best place for them; she didn’t need to be answering innocent questions regarding the placement of their father and when he was likely to return.

The answer to that question was possibly never.

Sighing, Ali reached forward and flipped radio stations, not liking what was currently playing on the hair band station she’d been listening to more and more lately. Not finding anything on the 80’s channel or the ‘soft rock’ channel, she finally flipped back to her old standby – the new country station. 

So this is how it ends
This is where it all goes down
This is what I don't love you feels like

“Great,” she muttered, frowning at the radio, “just what I don’t need, a song about love gone bad.”

She had had enough of that in her life so far. Her first husband gone to the dark side and ending up dead. Her second husband lured by the enchantments of a woman ten years younger than his wife… No, she refused to think about it, she reminded herself, pulling up short as the light changed to red.

At a red light in the sunshine
On a Sunday nothing to say
Don't even try

Well, it wasn’t Sunday quite yet, but she couldn’t deny the rest. After the life changing phone call she’d gotten earlier that morning, she agreed, there wasn’t anything left to say. Her devotion to her marriage, her husband, her children, none of it seemed to matter to him. He was happier with his ex than with his wife. And he was leaving. So long, good-bye. 

Some are coming home
Some are leaving town
While my world’s crashing down
On a Sunday in the sunshine at a red light

Funny how a single song could so aptly describe her life at any moment in time. Here she was, sitting at a red light, debating whether to break her marriage vows and go meet a complete stranger tonight for ‘dinner’. She saw plates from all over the country and many local ones as well, so like the song, some were coming, some were leaving, all while she sat in limbo at this red light. The sun shone brightly overhead, giving her the hope that eventually things would settle down and be right again, but for now, everything was falling apart before her eyes and she couldn’t stop any of it. She couldn’t even manage to slow it down. All she could do was sit and watch it crumble. 

The light turned green. She released the clutch, started forward and made a decision. She’d go to dinner, she’d have fun, she’d forget for the moment that her husband was due to have a child with another woman. Just for one night, she’d ignore the pain, the heartache, and the betrayal swirling all around her. Screw her brother who was up in arms and swearing Blake had a ‘damn good reason’ for doing what he did. Screw Blake, for that matter, because ‘good damn reason’ or no, he had no right to do this to her, to their family. How could he break her so completely and just walk away? She’d taken a big damn risk on him in the first place and he only proved her friends right, the ones that had warned her against getting involved with him in the first place. And yet…

And yet, she can’t say she regretted any of it. Not even right now, in the heat of the moment, and the heart of all the pain. 

Slowing, her thoughts raced as she came to yet another red light.

They’d had a few really good years, and she had two amazing kids to show for it all. She also had one very broken heart, one she’d hoped to begin mending later tonight over a few drinks with a pair of chocolately brown eyes.   Her new friend had the most amazing smile and the sweetest laugh, if only he could help her forget… just for tonight… she’d get past this…

Yeah, she thought, with a little love and a lot of support, I can get past this… if I only take it one red light at a time…

Comments

Re: Oh wow!

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Awww, thanks! That means a lot. :) And thanks for reading, too. :)

[skyesurfer12.livejournal.com]

So, I made my way over to your journal to take a peak at some original work, and this is one I stumbled upon. One thing that struck me right away was the way it was relatable; I mean, even if someone had never been in a situation like this, who hasn't had that epiphany moment, even at the weirdest time? When you realize you are at one of those critical decision points in your life?
I also like the fact that she has gumption!

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

LOL! Yeah, Ali has something about her, that's for sure. Thank you so much for reading and the comment. And my gods, I'm so sorry for never replying - I never did get the e-mail notification!

[skyesurfer12.livejournal.com]

Oh, no apologies necessary - sometimes the notifications get so screwed up. I've had it happen before. Anyway, I loved this little piece, and wanted to make sure you knew.