The Beautiful “Stranger”

I had left my girlfriends house around 9. I sat on the cold hard bench waiting for the bus to take me home. For some reason I had an unshakable feeling of guilt brewing deep within me. I had no clue what was causing it I only knew the uncomfortableness of it. I was alone for the majority of the wait until I noticed the warm and sultry smell of a woman's perfume begin to linger near my nose. I stole a casual glance towards the stranger. She was very beautiful which made it difficult to look away. She must have thought I was a creep as I couldn't help but continue to take glances over at her. As I turned to look at her once more I notice the bus in the distance. I stood up to gather my things as well as mentally prepared myself to end my internal fling with whomever this gorgeous woman was. The bus halted to a stop and opened its doors allowing us to step on. I let the belle step ahead of me and load first in hopes of snagging a seat near her. Fate was definitely on my side that night because she took a seat with a vacancy directly across from her. Although I was nervous as hell and thought she'd think even less of me and be put off, I made my way to the seat and sat down using all of the confidence that was still residing inside of me. I looked across at her and only then did I notice the breathtaking smile she seemed to hold. I studied it and imagined the voice it was paired with speaking to me with a sweet melody. Next, I looked around her face not yet prepared to examine her eyes. I noticed a delicate beauty mark right below her left eye which eventually led me to muster up the courage to look at them. I was shocked to see the emptiness in her eyes. I analyzed the rest of her body only to see that it too held a heartbreakingly sad posture. She looked like she was trying to hide her misery all while giving up at the same time. She used the glorious smile as a mask to cover it up. It made me wonde what happens to her to upset her so deeply. I wanted to fight whoever made her feel like this. I studied her more thoroughly and sensed a familiarity within her the more I stared. She reminded me of someone. Only then did o realize she was staring back. Tears were welling in her eyes and I hoped I wasn't the cause for them. I hadn't even spoke two words to her. The harder I looked I began to piece facial features together. Of course she had a familiar sense to her- it was my wife! Why had it taken so long to realize? I don't think I had ever in our six years of marriage looked at her the way I did tonight. My reality came crashing down on me once I realizes the reasons for her tears. She had to have seen me coming out of my girlfriends apartment which means she knows about the affair. No way would the enchanting goddess ever forgive me - nor should she have too! I was ashamed. Her mouth opened and she managed to utter out only five words to me but those five were enough to break me apart completely, "Was I not pretty enough?" If only she knew.