My book is loosely based on some truths in my life .. with that said...sneak peaks from my book "lost love files" is the draft version. "YES" you will find mistakes and "YES" I will be found guilty of butchering the english language however....As an amateur/first time writer/story teller, (with no previous experience) I humbly ask that you look past that and enjoy the read. (Editing will be done in the final stages.)
THE STRANGER
Frustrated, Emily looked around searching frantically for her house keys. She always left them on her microwave; but they were not there. She was late for work and hated the thought of rush hour traffic. She emptied her purse with no luck and grabbed her jacket she had worn the night before and hurriedly searched the pockets. Emily scanned her dining room table where she set down her briefcase and laptop the night before and began to shuffle through a host of miscellaneous papers and files. “Oh where did I put those stupid keys?” She groaned. Running her fingers through her hair she checked the microwave again with no luck. Scanning the kitchen quickly, Emily dropped her arms to her side in defeat. Taking a deep breathe she continued the search when she heard a knock on the front door. She noticed through her front window, a young man standing at the door. “Great, just what I don’t need right now”, she mumbled under her breathe. Emily swung open the door, “So, what are you selling me today?” She asked. The words were rushed; not paying attention to the stranger, her eyes studying the table beside the door for a chance she might find her missing keys. The young man handed her a newspaper and said in a soft voice, “I also have this for you.” Emily working hard at hiding her irritation quickly folded the paper and tucked it under her arm and leaned hard against the door frame. The young man then reached in his jacket pocket and handed her an envelope he reasoned that he also had to collect on her overdue account. Running her fingers through her hair she groaned, “Sorry...hasn’t been a great morning for me.” Opening the invoice she cast a quick glance at the stranger. Emily was astounded by this strangers disarming good looks and for a moment rendered speechless. “Um, listen I’m late for work can you come back on Saturday and I will square up with you? The young man looked at her with a curious smile “Today “IS” Saturday?” Emily responded stunned, “What?” “Really?” With a chuckle the young man explained, “I only deliver the weekend paper.” She quickly checked the date on the newspaper. “Saturday?” Emily said abruptly. Somewhat relieved she let out a sigh, “I work too much?” Overwhelmed by her own truth, Emily had overinvolved herself into her parents Travel Agency which did not afford her much time for a personal life. Her parents were happy she was taking over the business as they were nearing retirement however; they were concerned that she was taking on much more responsibility than necessary. Her parents still insisted on an active role and worked weekends to which Emily agreed. Her well-intended parents thought this would help her to meet people and give her a chance to get out and socialize more; however, Emily preferred the office to the outside world. She tucked the paper back under her arm, grabbed the invoice, and studied it quickly, with an awkward smile she said softly... “Well I can take care of this today, sorry about that?” Had she been so distracted that she hadn’t noticed the strange gleam in his eyes? ”I haven’t seen you around here before, did you take over for Sam? She asked curiously. The young man just stared at her, meeting her eyes with a strange expression on his face - like he was somehow amused by her frustration. “I’m Michael.” He held his hand out in a friendly gesture. “Sam is on vacation with his family, I’m just helping out.” Gently placing her hand in his, she smiled... “It’s nice to meet you Michael.” He gazed deeply into her eyes and a slight smile lifted the corner of his mouth and she could feel the pull of those eyes. Michael’s features were striking and she was taken aback by his stunning good looks. She quickly studied his face and figured he was about her age. A strange sensation came over her that if she wasn’t careful she would fall into those black depths. “Um...”I’m Emily”...“just hang on a second and I’ll grab my wallet.” Drawing her hand back from his grip she turned and walked down the hallway into her kitchen, she could feel his eyes following her every step. Returning with the envelope she handed it to Michael being careful not to gaze too long into his powerful dark eyes, she dipped her head and awkwardly apologized...”Sorry I’m usually more friendly, this is just one of those days”... “If things can go wrong?” Rolling her eyes and shaking her head she continued, “You get the picture?”... “Misplaced my keys”... “Running late”...”Here you show up in the middle of my chaos.” “Good thing I did!” He quickly offered ...”You would be on your way to work right now.” He said amusingly. “Yes!” Shaking her head in friendly agreement, “Maybe it’s a good thing I lost my keys.” Grateful he didn’t catch on to her false enthusiasm. He tucked the envelope in his jacket without breaking eye contact and with a deliberate voice said “Yes”, “things happen for a reason?” With a deep breath, she forced herself to meet that dark gaze. A strange feeling swept over her like a tide of relief and anxiety. She cleared her throat nervously; she didn’t know how to respond to him so she changed the subject. “I...I...better get back to searching for those stupid keys,” she said hastily in a voice barely audible. “Yes, the keys, of course.” His tone implied more like he knew something? She turned and gently closed the door, propping herself up against the door, she tried to shake off the impression that this stranger left her with. Moments passed and a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. It was Michael; she stared at him trying to disguise her admiration with curiosity. “Emily.” He stepped towards her and paused. Still clutching her newspaper Emily gave Michael a soft smile. “Yes?” She gazed into his dark eyes, seeing such wisdom, strangely feeling like she belonged there. She would never have guessed in a million years that she would feel this strangely intrigued for someone, especially since she had just met him briefly. He handed her a flyer and explained he had forgotten it. She slipped it into her newspaper and thanked him and once again they said their goodbyes. This time she watched him turn and walk away. Moments later he glanced over his shoulder and with a playful grin shouted, “I guess I’ll be seeing you then?” She felt the pull once again when she locked eyes. Quickly turning on her heels she slipped inside and closed the door. In a daze she placed her newspaper on her kitchen counter and decided that she would slip into some comfortable clothes. Not easily shaking off the mornings events she made afresh pot of coffee and her gaze moved instantly to her keys sitting in there familiar spot on top of the microwave. “No!” Emily said aloud. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Grabbing the keys she held them in disbelief. She stood frozen for a moment and then dropped herself on the kitchen chair and just stared blankly at the keys. “How could this be?” She whispered bewildered. Emily took a deep breathe, calming her mind, trying to make sense of her morning. With no logical answers she just put the keys back on the microwave. With her coffee in hand she grabbed her newspaper and headed outside to enjoy the sun. Staring out over the lake she watched the sun dance across the water like millions of shimmering diamonds. The sun was warm on her skin, Emily closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun, taking in a deep breathe opened her eyes and began to feel that familiar longing in her soul...a dull ache that seemed to be clawing it’s way to the surface with more intensity these days. Not understanding this ache that haunted her, she tried to forget about it once again. Emily turned her attention to the newspaper, knowing that she would find it almost impossible to concentrate; she tried to think of anything else but this stranger. Setting her coffee down on the patio table Emily settled into her cushioned chair and began to thumb through the pages of her newspaper. The flyer she had tucked inside the paper slid down onto her lap. Picking it up she quickly gave it a once over. The flyer that Michael had returned to deliver was an invitation to attend a grand opening to a nearby book store. “You are cordially invited blah, blah, blah, book store. She said aloud her eyes jumping over the page. “Knowledge is the key”, she paused, “Prepare yourself.” Her voice trailing… uninterested. “You returned to hand me junk mail,” she thought sarcastically, “Great.” Not placing too much importance on it she gently tossed it on the table and continued reading her paper. Now the questions started to bombard her brain. Who was Michael? Why was she so drawn to this stranger at her door? What was this dull aching in her soul? As she pondered these thoughts and many more, she flung her head back against the cushioned headrest and let out a sigh. Staring up into the beautiful blue sky she was startled by a figure appearing over her right shoulder. Emily jerked her head to see what it was and standing there from out of nowhere was Michael. Emily’s heart skipped a beat and began racing, “Shit Michael you startled me?” Shock turned quickly to embarrassment as she caught her reaction, spilling her coffee in an attempt to get up she only added to her tension. Michael quickly slipped the flyer that lay on the table under the spill. She sat twining her fingers together on her lap and with a voice somewhat calm but strained, “I’m sorry I just...” her attempt to apologize was cut short when Michael gently placed a finger over her mouth and with a soft hush strangely calmed her unsettled nerves. Emily looked into Michael’s eyes, unable to cover her awkwardness she attempted again to explain, but found herself unable to speak. Michael held a large leather bound book close to his chest, as he slowly leaned toward her. Emily found herself as once before lost in his deep smoldering eyes. Something stirred deep within her, a hunger, a need of the soul. He bent over her and she could feel his love through his gaze. She supposed he knew what she was truly feeling, what was stirring in her heart. He placed the book on her lap, she lowered her head wondering what the book was, and at the same time Michael placed his fingers under her chin and gently lifted her face to meet his. With a passionate hunger he covered her mouth with his and gave her a slow, soft kiss, a smile slowly swept over his face and he whispered against her lips “Prepare yourself.” With a light touch of his hand he caressed her cheek; Emily closed her eyes as she surrendered to his touch. Moments later Emily jerked awake and let out a gasp...her heart pounding like a drum she looked around in a panic, “Jesus, I was dreaming?” She said still dazed, yet thankful it was a dream. Confusion now replacing curiosity, Emily was now looking all around her for Michael. Did she imagine him there? Did she drift off to sleep and imagine the whole thing? Was it really a dream? She had to admit to herself that she felt attractions before but she had never had a dream so vivid...so intense. Emily’s mind was racing, rubbing her forehead, like that would erase any thoughts, she jumped up and the newspaper fell from her lap. Reaching for the paper she really questioned if she was losing her mind at this point. Emily remembered the leather bound book Michael placed on her lap. “This is ludicrous.” Emily said with irritation...yet somewhat relieved. Satisfied it was a dream she gathered the paper with intention to throw it in with the recycling. She remembers the spilled coffee as she studied the table to find her coffee cup still full and no spillage. She studied the flyer under her cup. “Did I actually put that there?” she mused. Not trusting her memory she played it all back in her mind, Michael - The book - The kiss. After what seemed like an eternity she surrendered it to fantasy and concluded - what the hell- it wasn’t such a bad thing, after all, the dream was quite pleasant in nature...Or was it? She never felt an urge to discern her dreams before, believing they are just that, dreams. She left the analyzing to Paula, her best friend of many years, who always tried to get her to look deeper into things, which she shrugged off as silly, or so she tried to believe. Collecting the paper and lifting her cup she picked up the flyer underneath it. She then had a flash of Michael placing it under the spill. A small circular coffee stain framed the words ‘PREPARE YOURSELF’. Her eyes widened with disbelief. 