Terrence Jacob Taylor, 32 years old with a baby face and appealing personality. Standing 5’6” with a chunky but not sloppy 180lb frame, Terrence was loved by many and hurt by more. He tried to be everyone’s friend but often felt all alone. His event planning business allowed him to meet and interact with a lot of people. Many of them were only interested in the connections he could facilitate for them. After the lights came on, a few “let’s do this again” handshakes from people he knew he would not see again. But he smiled anyway. It was part of the game. Now he was tired of the game.

As he sat in his car, Terrence thought about Suzette sitting there on the floor crying. He didn’t want to leave her. He didn’t want to hurt her. He never like seeing her cry. But he had to get away from her too.

Suzette Bonaparte, a 30 year old temptress with a heart of gold. She was sweet but not innocent. She would share what she owns without trusting you enough to come close to her heart. With so much love to give, her wounded spirit wanted to travel alone.

He was the only man her heart desired, but pains from the past were too hard for her to let go. Terrence understood this and tried to love her the best way he could. He tried to be patient. He tried to be kind. He tried to make her happy. But sometimes all the love you give is still not enough to remove someone’s pain.

“Anyone Who Had a Heart” by Luther Vandross started playing on the CD. He turned up the volume. He heard the song thousands of times but it took on more meaning today. He started singing the chorus. Anyone who had a heart, would take me in their arms and love me too. There were plenty of people in his life to love him. Just not the one he wanted.

He blended in with the traffic heading west on the beltway. With a tank full of gas, a case with 200 CDs, two cans of Pringles and a 2 liter Sprite in the front seat, his journey to somewhere was now beginning.

Terrence drove for about fifteen minutes with his mind aimlessly wandering from one thought to another. He would sing a few lyrics to a song then his mind would drift away again.

“What am I doing? I left my job. I gave up my apartment. I let Suzette sell all my stuff. I left my family and friends.” There was very little traffic around him. “Now I’m driving off to nowhere. What was I thinking?” He looked at a sign for an upcoming exit. “No, I’m not turning around. I have to get away from here. I need a new place to start a new life. It’s the right thing to do. I have to trust my heart. Trust my heart? My heart is what got me into this mess. God why did you do this to me? My life was not supposed to be this complex. You go to school, get a job, find someone to love, get married, have a family, retire to Georgia. That was the plan. Where did all this other stuff come from?

TO BE CONTINUED...