This is what she thinks she knows: the policeman was with, was married to, A Woman, not his ideal match, for more than twenty years.
The only way out was to have an affair.
However, he then falls for the Other Woman because he secretly loved her since high school, but was too shy to ask her out those many years before.
The Other Woman keeps hurting him with other men. The policeman endures a heart attack, and stays nonetheless. She then dumps him too many times and he doesn't go back—at least, not for a while. Not until last summer, he says.
Instead, he goes to therapy for six months. When he first mentions this, it appears that it was in order to get over his divorce. But later, he says: it was to try to get over the Other Woman.
In doing so, he gains weight, he smokes, overeats, overworks, and conducts late nights with More Women. Then, last summer, the Other Woman places a call to him. Emergency! The policeman goes back to her—back to the rescue.
The summer goes by. At first, he states that it was just for the summer; later, it comes out that it was more like mid-fall. Anyway, she dumps him again.
A month and a half later, during an emergency call, he is on the doorstep of the Next Woman. He looks at the Next Woman. He says hello.
The Next Woman does not learn this whole story, or at least this much of the truth, if that is what it is, until much later—not until after she herself has fallen in love with him, the policeman.
The only way out was to have an affair.
However, he then falls for the Other Woman because he secretly loved her since high school, but was too shy to ask her out those many years before.
The Other Woman keeps hurting him with other men. The policeman endures a heart attack, and stays nonetheless. She then dumps him too many times and he doesn't go back—at least, not for a while. Not until last summer, he says.
Instead, he goes to therapy for six months. When he first mentions this, it appears that it was in order to get over his divorce. But later, he says: it was to try to get over the Other Woman.
In doing so, he gains weight, he smokes, overeats, overworks, and conducts late nights with More Women. Then, last summer, the Other Woman places a call to him. Emergency! The policeman goes back to her—back to the rescue.
The summer goes by. At first, he states that it was just for the summer; later, it comes out that it was more like mid-fall. Anyway, she dumps him again.
A month and a half later, during an emergency call, he is on the doorstep of the Next Woman. He looks at the Next Woman. He says hello.
The Next Woman does not learn this whole story, or at least this much of the truth, if that is what it is, until much later—not until after she herself has fallen in love with him, the policeman.
Header art by T. Guzzio.
CONNECT WITH LIZ:
Liz Ciampa worked as an attorney before becoming a high school English (and, sometimes,) law teacher. Her publications include two collections of poems and work appearing in journals such as Wilderness House Literary Review and Boston Literary Magazine. Currently, she coaches writers, scribbles poems and songs, and works on a novel. You may follow her on Twitter at @lizciampa.
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