The Broken Heart Script

Amanda waits for the man she loves, refusing to accept the truth. For there she sits in her favorite red dress anxiously awaiting for his arrival, but just like many nights before. The only comforts she will find will be at the bottom of her wine glass. She slowly traces the rim of her glass with her finger, causing a ripple within its contents. The movement catches her attention, but the wine was no longer there; instead it became a portal or gateway to her past.

There she is in the same red dress many years earlier. She remembers that night. It was the night she met her husband. She sat alone at a local club when he walked in. He instantly caught her attention, for she thought he was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. She also gained his attention as well, and there was an instant attraction. It wasn’t long before the two of them were lost in conversation and laughter. He seemed to hold the key to her happiness. For, Amanda was more of a loner and didn’t normally connect with anyone this easily. Still, she didn’t question it. She gave into the emotion that was captivating her. Perhaps she shouldn’t have, for the portal has also began displaying his level of deceit.

She wasn’t the only one he was misleading. Numerous faces began to descend from the bottom of her wine glass, as she sat alone night after night, being betrayed by the man she loved so much. She could recite word for word the exact lines he was speaking to countless different women. He must have had them memorized she thought, for he always knew the precise thing to say.

Countless lonely nights she spent alone, only to be awakened by the scent of strange perfume upon his arrival. Still, she loved him so significantly that she would rather believe a lie than accept the truth. Many times she remembers doing the laundry and disregarding the lipstick stains upon his clothing. He is the only man she has ever loved and she fears losing something she has merely experienced once.

Suddenly the portal begins to bubble and reveals her image of now, sitting there alone with the imprint of her tears outlining the make-up on her face. Then it changes and there her husband sits with yet another stranger at this very minute. Wearing the same outfit she just seen him in earlier, when they made plans to share a romantic evening together. The only thing missing is his wedding ring, and just like every other time. He begins reciting that memorized script of his. She recognizes the background. It was the very place he purposed. The pain is too unbearable. Overwhelmed by emotion, Amanda throws the wine glass across the room, causing it to shatter and begins to cry.

After a few moments of silence, she glanced over at the wet red stain surrounding the shattered glass shards; it too had begun to transform. Only this time, it was all the strength she needed. Within the shattered glass, flashcards began to appear, of all the obstacles she overcame before her husband came into her life. Suddenly she remembered that she is only as weak as she allowed herself to be.

Amanda cleaned herself up, leaving the exact red dress on that she wore the night they met, and departed with only one goal in mind; evening the score. She instructed the cab driver to her destination, and her husband was shocked when he witnessed her walking in, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of watching her fall apart. She walked straight to the bar as if she didn’t notice him at all. He quickly excused himself from his guest and slipped his wedding ring back on his finger, while making his way to her. Amanda had her back turned when he approached her from behind.

“Honey, I was just finishing up with a client. What are you doing here?” He asked.

Amanda however held a look of confusion on her face, as she turned to face him.

“I’m sorry, have we met?” She said.

Her husband simply chuckled a bit before responding.

“Amanda don’t be silly. I am your husband. Now if you’ll give me just a few minutes, we can go out for our romantic evening as planned. You look amazing by the way.” He said.

Still, she was not to be detoured.

“My name is Amanda and thank you for the compliment, but you are not my husband. The man I vowed to love, honor and cherish wouldn’t be at the very spot where he purposed with a stranger, nor would he reek of strange perfume. I love my husband, but you are not him. I see you have found your wedding ring. In that case, I suggest you find your wife and let me be.” She said without the reveal of a single tear.

“Amanda this is silly. I have no idea what you are talking about, just give me a few minutes and we can leave alright?” He replied.

The more he spoke, the angrier she became. She was filled with rage as she turned and said.

“Oh I think you have a very good idea as to what I’m referring to.”

He had never been called out before, and the room was filled with people that he knew. He was a well-known business man and highly respected by his peers. Paranoia set in as he grabbed her by the arm and said.

“Honey, it is clear you have had a little too much to drink. I don’t want to make a scene. I think it’s best if we just leave now.”

Amanda stood from her sitting position, snatching her arm away and instantly replied in a stern manner, gaining everyone’s attention.

“Do not touch me! You threw that privilege away a long time ago!”

The room grew quiet, and both Amanda and her husband were the center of attention. She glanced over at the woman sitting at the very same table where he purposed and anger took over. Although, she did not blame her; she sympathized with her. She could no longer contain her emotions and began to speak out.

“My apologies go out to everyone here for having to witness such behavior. Although I am not apologizing on the behalf of myself. I am apologizing on the behalf of my husband.”

She seen that familiar look of confusion on the face of her replacement. Her husband tried to walk away, but she slowly entangled her hand within his and held onto it tightly, pointing in the woman’s direction as she continued to speak.

“You see a broken heart can cause a person to react in ways you never dreamed you would. It was in that very spot, where he purposed to me, and how ironic is it; that the same place where our love flourished is the very same place where it will disintegrate.”

The woman filling her chair looks at the wedding ring now upon his finger and also begins to cry. Witnessing such actions by the crowd, makes them sympathetic and they begin to turn on Amanda’s husband.

“I do apologize for this everyone, but apparently she has had too much to drink.” He said.

Amanda jerks away once more, approaches the woman’s table and as she is doing so. She begins reciting the very same memorized script that came from her husband’s lips. It is a speech she has heard far too many times and as a result, she has memorized it as well. She begins narrating it louder and over, time and time again. Both her husband and his guest were in disbelief. The strange woman wasn’t sure what Amanda was going to do next as she stood merely footsteps away from her. Amanda was so distraught by the level of emotion she was experiencing, she just stood there for a few seconds staring back into the strangers tear filled eyes, before finally finding the strength to say.

“I do not know you, but I don’t have to, for we are the same. We have both been deceived by someone we thought we knew. Those were the very same words he said to me the night we met, and the same words he has said to countless others since that day. I have been blinded by my love for him, but it ends tonight, where it first began.”

The room was still quiet when Amanda left that night. She is unaware of what transpired later that evening, for she never returned. She suffered from a broken heart, due to the only man she ever loved, but she refused to allow his betrayal to go unknown. And even though she is alone, she knows herself well; and as long as her heart is tucked away safely within herself. There is no risk of her suffering from yet another broken heart.

THE END