Dare

“Deirdre!” He calls my name out into the open air. I hesitate to turn around, not wanting to look into his eyes. He steps closer to me and puts his hand on my arm. I have no choice left, but to turn around and face him. “I dare you to kiss me Deirdre and tell me that you don’t feel something between us.” He says. I can see it all in his eyes, he loves me more than her.
“I can’t do that Will, and you know why.” I say, and it breaks my heart in half to do so. But If I know Will, he won’t give up a fight.
“That’s bullshit Deirdre and you know it.” He says. He takes my hand into his and looks in my eyes.
“Please, I dare you, I triple dog dare you.” He says and leans in close to kiss me. A lot happens in the seconds before a kiss. You wouldn’t believe what happens to your mind and your body when someone you love has their lips inches away from yours. It’s a crazy experience that I had only been through once in my life. But now here was Will standing in front of me and he made the seconds seem longer. When I was with Will It felt like a rush of cool air on a hot summer day. He made everything better. But deep down in my stomach I could feel that this wasn’t right.

Will had been married for four years now. He was married to his high school sweetheart Melissa Cambry. For years and years in high school I had admired Will from afar, but never did anything about it. Years later I ran into him at a Comic convention of all places. Turns out Will had been a closet geek like me, and from there on we clicked. One night Will had come over for dinner and half way through the meal we just started talking. It was a deep conversation that left our meals cold by the end of the night. Then Will kissed me and despite what my mind was telling me, my heart had taken over.
                Will and I had been having our affair for six months. I knew it was wrong, he knew it was wrong. But it didn’t stop us. Every day I would wake up and look in the mirror and at first I would smile thinking of him, but then I would think of Melissa. What if I were in her shoes? I would hate the women who took my man. That’s when I began to hate myself. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I called Will and I told him I don’t love him. I was only in it for the sex, and that I had found someone new.

I didn’t expect to see him again that morning. I had been avoiding him for weeks and weeks. I was afraid that if I saw him again that he would know the truth. I was still in love with him, and even though I hated myself for what I was doing I still wanted to be with him.
                I wanted so badly to kiss him now, but a lot could happen in the seconds before a kiss and I finally knew what I wanted. I pull away from Will and push him back some.
“Stop Will, first you have to listen to me.” I say. “Will, I love you. You know that I do. But you are married to Melissa, you know that right? Before this had ever happened-“ I gesture at myself and then at him.
“-before you and me were ever a thing, you loved Melissa. And you know what? She loves you Will. I don’t know her like I did in high school, but nobody deserves this and you know that’s true. So here’s the deal, if you love me then I dare you tell me you’re not still in love with her.” I say. My question is answered when Will stands there for a moment, hesitating. It hurts to do this, but I know it’s the right thing. I lean in and kiss Will on the cheek. “Goodbye Will.” I say and walk away. 

Video of Me Writing This Story