Who Am I?

Happy birthday to you... the sound is filled with laughter. But, Kori's mind is far away from birthday celebrations. He has four billion questions and the people who can answer them are all deceased. Why did these people have so many secrets? They took things to their graves and then they left no clues. Kori just turned 33-years old and his entire left was built on what he thought he knew. Then six-months ago a private investogator showed up at his door and his world was turned upside down. Everythgin he had told people about himself was basically a lie. Yes, he was rich and successful. But the things he thouhgt he knew about his family, no one shred of it was what it seemed. Now he was trying to celebrate his birthday and couldn't drag himself out of bed. With his forearm draped over his eyes blocking the sunlight that shown through the curtain of the hotel room. He was at a loss. Was he going to explain his mood to his wife or just pretend nothing was wrong as he had been doing all these months?

To suppress the thoughts, feelings, question and confusion Kori began writing as a way to move past his deepest fears that one question that kept coming back in the middle of the night. Whiule he was out with friends,while driving to the grocery store, "who am I?"

"It's freaking after one in the morning , why the heck can't I sleep?"

Kori get's up and goes downstairs to his office . He opens his laptop and begins to type-

Michael answered her cell phone. A voice on the other end said, “sweet thing, where are you? I have a bed filled with me waiting for you.” Michael smiled as she shoved her papers into her briefcase. As she turned to close the conference room door, she felt a hand slip around her waist. Startled, she dropped her briefcase. Before she could turn around, she felt Edgar’s lips on her neck, shoulders, and breasts and then on her lips.

The conference room door flung open; the blinds were dropped. Edgar paused, pulled two candles from his pocket, and lit them. He placed one at each end of the cherry wood conference table. As he approached Michael, she began to sweat. She could not help but think of how hot he made her feel.

Edgar walked over to Michael. With one hand, he tore open her blue silk wrap dress. He eyed her standing there dressed in a bold and lacy black bra and matching G-string, garter belt, and stockings. Her legs seemed endless standing in her 6-inch black suede stiletto heels.

Edgar began to kiss and caress every inch of Michael’s body, leaving her breathless. He stopped long enough to pull her head back by her hair. With one hand, he unzipped his pants. He did not seem to notice that she had torn his shirt off during their passionate foreplay.

As Edgar loosened his grip on Michael’s hair, she peered down to see that he was naked. Edgar whispered, “You be the boss, take control of me and never let go”. She began to touch Edgar; it was now his turn to moan. Edgar gasped for breath as she gently bit his nipples between her teeth. Caught between pain and pleasure, he arched his back, as he whispered, “don’t stop”.

Hearing his moans only intensified her desire. Edgar lifted Michael onto the conference room table. The coolness of the table added to her passion. In one move, Edgar mounted Michael. They began a slow and purposeful dance of lovemaking that grew in intensity until they both exploded.

Weakened by the intensity of their passions, Michael could only lie there and wonder how she could allow herself to give in to these forbidden passions. How did all this happen…as she drifted into a light sleep, her mind begins to take her back to the beginning of it all?

Edgar Garcia was a gorgeous man, 33 years old, six feet three inches tall, with black curly hair that shimmered in the sun and a drop-dead pearly white smile. His eyes were like crystal amber glimmering beneath charcoal eyebrows. His voice was like the summoning tone of Buddhist drums, yet smooth, cool, and strong like Italian marble. Edgar was a member of a large Latin family. He knew that life was going to get easier but did not know when. He often thought of returning to school to earn a second degree. He had no idea that one day; very soon, his life would change, forever.

Edgar sat at his desk peering out of the window into the New York streets, looking at nothing. Every now and then, Edgar would glance at the family photo sitting on the nearby table. His five sisters and brother smiled back at him as if they knew his thoughts. As he sat, lost in his thoughts, the phone rang. “May I speak with Mr. Edgar Garcia?”

Edgar paused for a moment, then spoke, “this is Edgar”. “ Hello,” the voice on the other end of the phone said. “This is Michael Morgan with GRT Financial Services. I'm calling regarding a debt of $500.00 you owe to Cyber Visa.” Edgar sat calmly for a short time then said, “I'm sorry I don't have that kind of money. I can’t pay it all at once, I have other obligations.”

As if it were an afterthought, Edgar said, “Michael Morgan, you don't sound like a guy”. Michael replied, “I have my father's first name, I am an only child and my father wanted a boy”. She continued in a business-like tone.“ I have several options that you can use to repay this debt. Usually payment plans are beneficial to my clients.”

“Well, what can you offer me,” said Edgar?“ Your choices are as follow”, Michael proceeded.“ Well…there is payment in full, but I am sure this is not your choice. Then there are weekly payments, bi-weekly payments, or monthly payments with all penalties accessed.” Edgar paused once again and said firmly,“ will you be the only agent that I deal with?” “Is this what you would prefer?” Michael replied, without so much as a breath of extra thought. “Yes”, said Edgar. “It’s settled,” said Michael. “I will note that I will be the only agent to handle your account”.

Without further thought to what Michael was saying, Edgar, asked a question that took her by surprise. “Can I talk to you after work? Michael’s eyes widened, for a few seconds, she held her breath. The silence was deafening to Edgar. “Hello, hello, are you still there”, Edgar asked loudly. “I don’t mix business with pleasure”, Michael muttered loudly. Everyone in the office heard her reply. “Is there anything else I can help you with?” Call me regarding your account only Mr. Garcia. Will there be anything else I can help you with, Mr. Garcia?” As Michael waited for a reply, she wondered why he had asked such questions. Then the conversation was over.

Edgar called Michael’s office in the late evenings and the middle of the night to hear her voice on her answering machine. He was drawn by a lyrical voice and an unusual name. He imagined being with a woman that he had never seen. Interestingly, he wanted to keep her safe, but from what? It was the tone of her voice. She had not shared anything personal, yet she sounded so fragile, as if she needed protecting or comfort…but from what or whom?

He was falling in love with a voice, not a body or face. That voice had become a part of Edgar’s daily wake-up routine. He would get up every morning, uncover the cage that held Chico, his nightingale, and call to hear Michael’s voice mail message.

The client-agent relationship that Edgar and Michael had was about to cross the point of no return.

Michael Morgan Santiago, 42 years old and mother of three is beauty in motion. She has velvety cocoa skin and sensuous hazel brown eyes filled with ambition. She is married to Miguel. Miguel is handsome, successful, and a great provider. Looking from the outside in, he appears to be the perfect husband. No one knows the secrets that Michael holds inside. No one knows the betrayal she feels and lives with daily.

Renee is Michael’s best friend. She is a bitter divorcee with an insatiable appetite for men and mischief. Although she and Michael are quite different people, their differences seem to make their friendship stronger. Renee is volatile and craves attention; Michael is steady and reliable. Renee is flashy; Michael is elegant and serene. Michael married her first love and only lover, Renee changes men as if she changes her clothes. Though Renee was living in Rhode Island, the long-distance friendship still thrived.

Michael and Renee first met when they were in high school. They both graduated in the top ten percent of their class and as a result, won a trip to Cancun, Mexico. While in Mexico, they met many people, but the ones that swept them away and taught them to enjoy life without the fear of having sex were Juan and Chico. From then on, whenever they wanted to talk to each other about something important, those were the names they used, Juan for Michael and Chico for Renee.

As Michael and Edgar continued to communicate, she found herself beginning to think about him increasingly. She toyed with the idea of meeting him face-to-face. Washington, D.C. was not that far away. She could return home quickly if she needed to. However, she needed help getting away. She decided to call Renee.

Michael dialed Renee’s phone number as she sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic. She knew that she had to make this call while away from home so that Miguel would not overhear her. Renee’s phone rang four times before her answering machine answered the call, “Bonjour, you have reached me in the middle of my playtime or I’m out for the day. If you are someone that I need to talk to, leave a brief message at the sound of the beep, and I do mean brief. Bye. Beep.”

Michael knew that Renee always screened her calls. She decided to leave a message that she could not resist. “Hey Chico, it’s Juan, make an effort to count to ten in Spanish and see where it leads you.” Renee would know that count to ten meant for her to call back in ten minutes.

Michael could hardly wait for Renee to call her back. She had had a rough day. Everyone in her office thought she was too nice to the clients. Angela, the agent that sat next to Michael at the office, warned her that Margie, their manager was monitoring everyone’s calls.

Michael thought that Margie was the biggest bitch this side of Texas. She was always firing whoever stood in her way. Michael was fast becoming an obstacle. She kept offering payment plans more often than the aggressive threat tactic. Margie preferred to threaten to pursue lawsuits or to place federal liens against their property.

The car phone in Michael’s lap rang loudly, piercing the silence and thoughts that continued to run through her head. She answered, “GRT Financial, Michael Morgan, May I help you?” “Damn, you must really love your job. What is that?” Renee chuckled as she settled into her sofa.

Michael started, “Hey Chico, where have you been? I have a major problem.” “What could it be? You have a perfect life, three children, and a nice job. Renee said sarcastically. On the other hand, you have that lazy husband that you could walk all over if you wanted to.”

“Shut up Chico”, Michael said almost in tears. “What’s the matter? You sound upset. What did that bastard do now?” Renee continued to ramble. Michael’s demeanor changed. She flashed back to the day that she came home from work and found Renee and Miguel in her bed. She did not know why but decided to videotape them. They never saw her. She never said a word.

Michael began to speak again. “Renee shut up and listen to me, please. I have met a younger man. We have been spending a lot of time talking on the phone. I want to be with him,” Michael said softly. “What do you mean?” Renee asked. “He wants me to visit him in New York. My problem is getting away for the weekend. How do I explain why I’m leaving?”

Renee thought for a while. “I know, I’ll meet you in New York!” “Thanks, I knew you would be good at this shit”, Michael said, still not sure she was doing the right thing. Her other line rang. “Chico, hold on.” Michael clicked over to her other phone line. “GRT Financial, Michael Morgan, can I help you.”

After a long pause, a strong and sexy yet soothing voice reached through the phone. “Hi sweetie, I miss you. It’s Edgar.” “Edgar, hold on.” Michael’s voice quivered with the joy of knowing that she would soon be with Edgar.

Michael clicked back to the phone line where Renee was waiting. “Renee, it’s him, its … Michael stopped in mid-sentence. Fear shot through her like a sharp arrowhead. “Hello, Michael, can you hear me. Why aren’t you answering me?” Michael was silent and then finally as if she had been hit on the head said with a rush in her voice, “Renee, shut up. I’ll talk to you tonight.”

Michael was oblivious to anything that was happening around her except the traffic and Edgar. She clicked back to the line where Edgar was waiting. She cleared her throat and then spoke. “I can meet you this weekend.” “Great, replied Edgar, but why are you bringing your work with you to New York?” “What does that mean”, Michael said as she crinkled her nose. “Hey, did you hear how you answered your own cell phone?” Edgar said with laughter in his voice. Michael did not find Edgar funny. “I’ll send you my train itinerary”, Michael said with a second-guessing tone in her voice. “I can’t wait to meet you,” Edgar said.

On October 27, the train left the station at precisely 7:00 p.m. As the train left the station, Michael thought about her children and the lie that she had to tell to be on this train.

The train pulled into the New York station at 11:00 p.m. Michael sat in mortal fear. She had not thought until now about two things. What did Edgar look like? He had not mailed her a photograph and she could not remember what he said he would be wearing. Suppose he did not like the close-up and in-person view of her. Fear continued to run through her. Her palms were sweating, and her ears were getting hot. As she stepped off the train, the platform seemed to swirl around her. She heard voices, “why are you just standing there?” “Come here.” Michael turned around to see Renee. A second familiar voice spoke, “Hey sweetie”. It was Edgar. Michael did not turn immediately. She watched Renee’s face for a signal that everything was okay. Slowly, she made a complete about-face to see a gorgeous man standing before her. She gave Edgar a hug, then turned to Renee. “What are you doing here, Renee?” Michael said with surprise written all over her face. “I told you that we could meet here. After you gave me your train itinerary, I jumped on the next plane to meet you. You would know that if you had listened to me when we spoke on the phone the other day.” Michael introduced Renee and Edgar, and then told Renee that she would see her on Sunday. Edgar wanted Michael to feel safe. He gave Renee his home phone number in case she needed to contact Michael.

Edgar thought that Michael was more beautiful than her photograph. She was everything that he envisioned and much more. It was love at first sight or was it lust? Edgar’s smile reminded Michael of a mischievous child at play. His eyes were filled with curiosity and love. It made her nervous to realize that she could fall so hard and so fast.

Edgar walked to the curb to hail a taxi. On the ride to his place, the two sat in silence. For the first time, Michael realized that it was raining. The sound of the car’s wipers cleaning away the rain from the windshield created a hypnotic rhythm. The taxi pulled in front of Edgar’s apartment building. He held the door open for Michael, and then grabbed her bag. The two entered the building, and then boarded its elevator. Edgar selected two for the second floor. Once on the second floor, they walked down the hall to his apartment. Edgar inserted his key in the door’s lock and turned it slowly, while watching the expression on Michael’s face. He placed her bag inside the door and extended his hands to Michael to guide her across the threshold of no return. She hesitated briefly then entered in. She could smell the scent of peaches wafting through the air. Then she noticed rose petals of various colors strewn about the floor, going in many directions. On the table, she noticed a vase of sunflowers. Michael walked over to the table, and then noticed that attached to the vase was a note with her name on it. The note read: For every flower that sits in this vase, know that I have waited for someone like you. These sunflowers represent the sun you have brought into my life that will never be blocked from my view. Edgar walked into the kitchen and returned with two glasses of wine. Michael took a glass then took a sip of the wine. Edgar gently kissed her lips.

Michael stood in the center of the room taking in all the flowers, smelling the aroma of the peach candles, tasting the wine, and listening to the sound of the rain and thunder. Edgar whispered into her ear. “Choose a path and see where it leads.” Michael looked around and began to walk slowly towards a closed door. Slowly, she opened the door. Candles and flashes of lightning lighted the room. The raindrops that beat on the window serenaded them. The rose petals led to Edgar’s bed then covered it. Michael continued standing in the bedroom doorway. Tears began to fill her eyes. It was so beautiful and so romantic.

Edgar walked up behind Michael and placed his arms around her waist. She turned to face him and they kissed. They slowly undressed each other as they listened to the sounds of nature.

The weekend was filled with long walks, long conversations, and long hours of lovemaking. Then it was time to return home. Michael awoke to the sound of water running and the smell of eggs and toast. Edgar entered the room dressed in his bathrobe and holding a tray. As he got closer, Michael sat up in bed. She could only smile as she thought of their wonderful weekend. The spontaneity and peace that swept over them both made everything seem so right. Their long phone call was nothing in comparison to the emotions that flowed that weekend.

Michael and Edgar arrived at Grand Central Station feeling totally at ease. Renee was waiting on the platform. They walked to greet each other. Renee hugged Michael and whispered, “I want to know all the juicy details”. Then she hugged Edgar and said, “I hope you treated my friend as a lady”. Without hesitation she added, “Michael, we need to go. I’m riding the train back with you.” While Michael was kissing Edgar goodbye, her cell phone rang. As she lifted the phone, Renee read its display and placed her hand on the phone. “Don’t answer that, it will ruin your weekend.” Michael shoved the phone deep into her purse and kissed Edgar one last time.

Michael rode home in silence. She thought of nothing but Edgar and their weekend. The new passion that she felt gave her sexy thoughts. Things were so different. Nothing like at home where she was not a willing participant. Miguel thought that if the sex was good, then everything was all right. What he did not realize was that without the other factors, sex meant nothing to Michael. He did not notice how easy it was for Michael to ignore his advances.

Michael took a hot shower to relax her already peaceful body. She climbed into bed thinking that Miguel was working. The bed seemed larger than usual. She drifted off into such a deep sleep that she barely heard the telephone ringing. She answered on the third ring, barely able to hide her exhaustion. “Hello,” Michael said. The voice on the other end of the phone asked, “How are you?” Michael responded, “I’m fine, but groggy”. The voice asked, “What’s the matter?” Michael began to awaken, at least enough to ask questions. She asked, “Who is this?” “It’s Edgar said the voice.” Michael sat up then realized that she was talking to Renee. “Not funny,” Michael said sounding a bit agitated. “What do you need?” “He called and wants to marry you,” Renee said softly. “He feels that he is the better man for you. Michael only responded, “I have to go back to sleep.” “Okay, but do not say I did not warn you,” Renee said before hanging up.

Michael hung up the phone and began to melt under her covers. Suddenly, she felt movement on the other side of the body pillow. Miguel was still half asleep as he asked, “what’s Renee’s problem, doesn’t she know that it’s three o’clock in the morning. Michael was shocked to hear Miguel’s voice. She did not think she was sleeping that long or so deeply.

Sadness grew over Michael as she realized that she could not see Edgar again. How could she tell Edgar, she was too afraid? She laid awake for the rest of the night.

The next morning as Michael grabbed a cup of tea on her way out of the house; Miguel asked how her weekend with Renee had gone. She pretended not to hear him as she rushed to get in her car and drive away. The day seemed longer than usual. She finally decided that she would leave Edgar a voicemail and quit her job. It was lunchtime and most of the office workers were out. Michael walked over to her desk and looked at the phone. She entered her recording code and began to speak. “You have reached GRT Financial Services and the desk of Michael Morgan. Edgar, if you are hearing this message, know that I enjoyed this weekend more than you will ever know. I am sorry but we can no longer see each other. The stress would be too much for me and I am married and must act like a responsible adult. Please do not try to contact me. It is over. Good luck in the future, there is someone out there for you, and I know you will find her…beep.”

Michael clutched her chest as tears ran down her cheeks like fire. Her voice faded into the nothingness of her low sobbing. She prayed that the pain would go away as she packed up her things and told her supervisor that she was quitting effective immediately. On the way home, she continued to wish that the pain would go away, but it never did.

One year later…

Michael has moved on with her life. Alternatively, so she thinks. It is a cool spring morning. The sun is shining on Michael’s face as she kisses her children and husband goodbye before heading to the airport. “I’ll miss you all and I will call you when I get to Puerto Rico,” Michael said. “Mom how are you getting to the airport?” her daughter asked. “The company driver will be picking me up shortly”, answered Michael.

Michael was full of energy. She had a new career as CEO of one of the top fashion home design companies in the country and her secret was intact. She did not think of the past but rather focused on her family and career and her overwhelming desire to provide her family with the life that she did not have as a child. However, she needed to tell Miguel that she knew about his secret his infidelity with her best friend. “As long as I keep busy, I’ll be okay. Boredom causes me too many problems. It lets my mind wander, “ Michael thought.

A smooth black limo pulled up in the front of the house. A tall thin man stepped out and approached the front door. “I’m here to take Mrs. Morgan-Santiago to the airport,” the limo driver said. Michael yelled back to her family, “I love you all, I’ll call you and I’ll see you in three months”.

The children smiled, but Miguel’s face said something that words could not. He wanted to tell Michael his secret before she could find out from someone else. He did not want to lose her. He never imagined that she already knew.

It was hard for Miguel to say goodbye. He and Michael had spent the day before arguing about her being away for so long. Michael kissed Miguel on the cheek and whispered, “don’t worry, I’ll come back to you my love”. She walked towards the limo that awaited her. The driver opened the door for Michael, and then placed her bags in the trunk of the car. Michael put her window down and waved goodbye to her family. As the limo pulled away, she blew everyone kisses.

When no one was left in sight, she settled back into her seat and began to talk to her driver. “What time will I arrive in Puerto Rico? In approximately twelve hours I have a briefing to attend.” “Sit back and enjoy the music madam, I assure you we will be on time.” Michael began to drift into a light sleep. As she closed her eyes, she could hear rain and thunder in the background, not music. She wondered, “Am I dreaming?” She continued to drift in and out of sleep until she heard the driver announce that they had arrived at the airport.

Michael felt disoriented, but why? She had been on many trips and taken many naps before her flights. What had she been dreaming or was it a dream? She only knew that she had a plane to catch, a presentation to give, and a seminar to attend. Those things did not leave her much room for errors or jet lag.

The smell of peaches filled the room. Why was she thinking of the past? Her body relaxed and her breathing became shallow. As she approached the boarding gate, the desire to make love by candlelight crept into her mind, body, and soul. What was happening to her and why now? Where was that smell coming from? She needed to pull herself together and focus on her business in Puerto Rico.

Michael could not relax. She desperately wanted to relieve the pressures within her that she had kept so neatly tucked away. She thought of how unfulfilled she felt with Miguel and remembered that she never felt that way with Edgar.

As Michael nestled in her seat, a flight attendant offered her a glass of champagne. She smiled and thanked her. Listening to the hum of the engine and staring at the clouds, Michael began to drift off to sleep again. Thoughts of the past came rushing back to her. She saw the Manhattan skyline at night, lights, and cars crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. She could smell fresh rain and hotdogs. Everything seemed surreal. Michael could hear the traffic passing by and the hooves the horses pulling carriages and taxis whizzing by. She saw couples holding hands and kissing on park benches. The scent of peaches wafted through the air, then as quickly as the dream began, it ended. Michael was startled by the dream and the smell. She felt some relief as the flight attendant finally handed her the promised glass of champagne.

As Michael sipped the champagne and studied her notes for the board meeting, she began to hum. She felt a tap on her shoulder and heard a male voice with a very thick accent. “Buenos dias, senora”, the man said. Michael did not answer right away. The man moved into the seat next to her. He had bronze skin with a salt and pepper beard and mustache, yet his hair was jet black. Again, he said, “Buenos dias, senora”. Michael responded, “Buenos dias senor”. Como Estas?” “Muy Bien gracious,” Michael responded, this time with a smile. “Como te llamas?” the man said. Without so much as a tilt of her head Michael said, “Do you speak English sir?” The man smiled and gave out a hearty laugh, “of course, perfectly”. “That tune you were humming, is that you’re favorite?” the man asked. Michael looked out toward the dusk and answered, “si”. Silence lingered in the air for a moment, then laughter. “Have you been to Puerto Rico before? My name is Manuel Herrera, but you can call me Mannie. Are you traveling to Puerto Rico for business or pleasure?” Michael looked at Mannie over her shoulder and said, “business”. She began to put her notes away so she would not show disrespect.

Mannie continued to talk, “I’m meeting my wife there. We are celebrating our 50th anniversary by taking a second honeymoon. In addition, you, what business are you doing there? I think you are too beautiful to be doing business this time of year in Puerto Rico. The sun, the beach, the museums, and even the stars are fantastic.”

As Mannie spoke of the food and the shorelines of Puerto Rico, Michael remembered when she and Miguel first met. It was spring break and she and Renee were visiting friends in Miami. Renee flirted, while Michael lay on the beach reading and daydreaming. The sounds of the waves crashing on the shore and the seagulls crying were music to her. The emerald ocean shimmered as diamonds were tossed into the sea. As Michael looked up from her book to glance down the beach, she saw Miguel.

Miguel was the son of two deans. They both worked at the university where they attended. Michael never thought that Miguel noticed her. It was not exceptionally long before the two were inseparable. As they walked along the beach on the last night of their spring vacation, Miguel said, “Michael, I have an important question to ask you. Are you still a virgin?” Michael paused and closed her eyes and whispered in Miguel’s ear, “yes, are you?” Miguel was afraid to tell Michael the truth. He did not want her to think less of him. He began to form a lie in his head, only the truth flowed from him, “yes.” Miguel took her face in his hands and softly kissed her lips. Michael moved his hands to her waist. Miguel responded by kissing her more passionately. With a low melodic voice, he whispered in her ear, “come with me.” They walked together across the sand to an open cabana. Miguel closed the rattan doors and began to light many melon-scented candles of various sizes. Their aroma caused Michael to relax even more than the kisses on the beach. They slowly undressed each other. With music playing in the background and the scent of the candles taking them to another level, they began to kiss each other all over with butterfly gentle kisses.

Michael could hear Mannie’s voice still talking. She noticed that the flight attendant was also trying to get her attention. “Madam, madam, would you like something to eat?” Michael was still in a faraway place, lost in her thoughts. This flight and this man had sparked a look at her past. Things that she had forgotten…the reason she and Miguel fell in love and got married…the reason for real love.

It is seven o’clock in the morning. The plane is making its final approach. Michael has agreed to meet Mannie and his wife for lunch after her meeting ends. Michael and Miguel had planned to go to Puerto Rico for their honeymoon, but never did.

After her meeting, Michael returned to her hotel suite exhausted and hungry. As she showered, she hummed a familiar tune. She dressed and went downstairs to get a taxi to meet Mannie. “Please take me to the Ojo la salchicha”, she said. The driver laughed loudly and in perfect English said, “madam, if you need to go to the red sausage, I have to get a map, if you want to go to the cebolla roja (red onion), I know where that is. They both laughed.

As the taxi stopped in front of the restaurant, Michael thought out loud of how much it looked like a museum. The driver agreed then added that Mannie was also his friend and had a habit of always visiting the museum before he and his lovely wife dine at the little café down the street.

The air was filled with wonderful smells, beautiful music, and laughter. Michael smiled as she walked through the museum. There were children all around looking at the artwork and talking excitedly. Then she heard a familiar voice, “okay you guys, it’s time to go. Let us get back on the bus and head back to the hotel so that we can get ready to leave in the morning.” Could it be, it is not possible she thought. I need rest and something to eat. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as if there was electricity in the air.

Michael heard the voice again. But this time it was closer. Her heart began to race as if it would explode in her chest. She nerved herself and turned slowly to look on the other side of the wall. She heard a second familiar voice calling her name, “Michael, Michael.” As she turned back, she saw Mannie and his wife. “Hello Michael, have you been waiting long?” Mannie said with a laugh in his voice. “No, I’ve been roaming around the museum. It is beautiful here. Even the children like it.”

“This is my wife, Laura,” Mannie said. Michael reached forward to shake Laura’s hand only to be pulled towards into a large, long, warm hug. “I hate shaking hands, it implies that you are not an inviting, open person,” Laura said with a smile.

Michael heard the familiar voice again. She needed to find out. Was it Edgar? Was she feeling guilty for how she ended their relationship? Was she just longing for Edgar?

“What’s wrong Michael? You look like you’ve seen a ghost” Laura said. Michael took a deep breath and said, “I need to check something in the museum.” “What’s that?” Mannie asked with his head cocked to the side and his eyes fixed on Michael. Michael’s voice was quivering, “I keep hearing a familiar voice and need to check it out or I won’t be able to get it out of my head.” She walked in the direction of the voice. Laura and Mannie walked opposite of Michael, curious to see what or who Michael thought she heard. Though they moved after Michael did, Laura and Mannie’s pace was much quicker. They reached the opposite side of the museum before Michael.

As Michael turned the final corner, she saw that Laura and Mannie were talking to a man. As she drew closer, she heard their laughter. Then she stopped. As if by instinct, Edgar turns around. Michael is frozen in place. Why was this happening now? She tried to do the right thing. She had run away from the person that made her feel passion again. How had this chance meeting happened? Did she have the strength to run away again?

Her eyes fixed on his warm brown eyes and her feet stuck in place, her heart seem to stop beating in her chest to take a journey to her throat and ears, though she was not holding her breath. Time seemed to stand still. Flashes of the nights they spent together swirled around her like leaves in a brisk Autumn breeze. The room begin to spin uncontrollably.

Then she felt herself falling and she had no control. Michael had seen a ghost, and this was the ghost she was in love with. A ghost that caused theheart to hear to skip beeps and your palms to perspire and her mouth to be rendered speechless. Then Edgar raced over to catch Michael as she fainted.

When Michael opened her eyes, she saw Laura sitting by her bedside. “ Honey, you gave us a scare,” Laura said looking down at Michael with a warm smile. Then she heard Mannie,” Edgar, my friend we did not know you would be here . Had we known we could have flown together?” Well, Amy got sick so I took her place on this field trip,” said Edgar. “ Puerto Rico is so beautiful this time of the year”, said Mannie. Edgar turn to look at Michael still lying on the bed with a cool towel over her forehead. So, Mannie said with a smile,” are you married yet?” Edgar took a deep breath, then he answered the question. “ No the woman I wanted to marry was married to someone else and then she left me with only a voice message and no way to get in touch with her.” Michael heard Edgar loud and clear. Her heart almost leaped from her chest. She felt guilty and exhilarated all at once.

Without warning, Michael began to sit up in bed. Laura smiled quietly .

“I’m ok now, I want to get up,” Michael said softly to Laura so Edgar would not hear her. “Are you sure my dear, you fainted rather suddenly,” Laura's eyes were filled with concern?

“ Yes, yes, I just need some food and some fresh air.” Edgar and Michael now resumed the same eye contact they had in the museum. Only this time there would be no fainting, running away, or voice mails to leave. As Michael swung her feet to the floor, she finally realized she was in her own hotel room and so was Edgar. “ Laura how did you know where my room was”, Michael said turning to look at Laura, before she could answer, Edgar began to speak ever so sexy and caringly to Michael,” when you fainted your hotel key card fell from your hand, you were manipulating it when we saw each other at the museum. “ “ Oh! well, thank you,” Michael said timidly. Laura and Mannie smiled at each other. Mannie gently took Michael by the hand, looked at Edgar then at Michael, and began to speak in Spanish,

“Michael Morgan-Santiago I would like you to meet Senor Edgar Garcia,” Mannie said with a smile and a wink to Edgar. Michael’s face said everything Edgar did not care to hear. Yet, she handled the situation with style and grace.” Mr. Garcia it is genuinely nice to meet you”, Michael said with a halfhearted smile. “ It is nice meeting you, is it Ms. or Mrs. Morgan-Santiago?”, Edgar said. As they looked into each other’s eyes all the old feelings from that weekend came rushing back like a huge foamy wave crashing on the endless shore of a warm sandy beach. “ It’s Mrs. Morgan-Santiago,” said Michael looking away.

Mannie smiled, “such a beautiful woman does not deserve to be alone in such a beautiful city”.

Laura just smiled and hugged Mannie tightly. “Well, maybe we can have dinner or something

when you get back to New York” , Laura said to Edgar. Michael wondered what that meant. Her curiosity got the best of her and she went fishing for answers.

“ Are you going back with the children to New York tomorrow,” Michael managed to say to Edgar. Edgar glanced at Michael long enough for his eyes to speak volumes.

His mere body language had answered her question before he verbally replied.

“I have unfinished business here in Puerto Rico so I will be here for a little while”, said Edgar. How long will you be here Mrs. Morgan-Santiago? Michael and Edgar had walked out on the balcony. The air was clean and cool. Mannie looked at Laura and smiled, “we should go I think this is their time.” Laura agreed and they made their exit without being heard. Leaving a note on the dresser for Michael and Edgar. As Laura and Mannie walked to the elevator, they both agreed that Michael and Edgar seem to have familiar chemistry between them. Though they were never told that these two knew each other. They knew Edgar was a good man and that Michael seemed lonely. One could only hope for a good friendship to develop.

It was now 8:30 in the morning . Kori had been typing for hours. He had immersed himself in this writing therapy and time seemed to fade away.

Lynn walked through the house calling Kori's name and finally, she looked in his office, and there he was still typing. He finally looked up when she stood next to him. " Did you get any sleep last night," Lynn said as she handed Kori a mug of coffee mixed with chocolate. Kori smiled after the first sip and shook his head no. Now this story was in him and he wanted to finish it. But for now, he had to get ready to travel to the office . As Kori drove to the office he felt somehow less than. He wondered if everything was a lie. His entire background, was it a fictitious life he had somehow made up as a child or even worse as an adult?