Travelling Alone: How I Got My Start

by Danielle Courtier

Draft 1

Ever since I was little, I can remember always being with someone. Going somewhere with someone. I was never alone. In some ways it was good, and in some ways, it was bad.

My parents loved me, and I loved them, but they had never let me go off by myself. I was always accompanied by one of my friends or one of my brothers, which was wonderful, since they just about scared every guy that tried to approach me.

Which is why it was such a miracle that I found Nicholas. One of my best friends and I had been out and she introduced me to him then disappeared until it was time to go. By that time, we had talked and found that we had a few things in common. When it was time to go, he said he'd like to see me again and asked for my number. So, stupidly, I gave it to him.

Two days later we went out on our first date, and two and a half years later we got engaged. We had set the wedding date to be the day that we first kissed, September the twelfth. Which was in 6 months.

Fast forward to two weeks before the wedding. It was the day of our three year anniversary since we started dating. I had decided to do something special for him. I took the day off of work, faking the flu to do so. I arrived at his house an hour after he left for work, cooking and decorating supplies in the car, ready to surprise him when he got home.

I hid my car around the block so he wouldn't know I was there until he got in the house and saw me standing in the doorway of the kitchen in my new red velvet dress that I had bought especially for this occasion.

Everything was set up an hour before he was to arrive. I was fixing the plates and utensils on the dining table when I heard his car come into the driveway. I turned off the stove light, the only light on in the house and fixed myself in the kitchen doorway so that he wouldn't see me right as he came in, but so that he had to walk in a bit before he could spot me.

Then the most shocking thing happened.

He comes crashing through the door, tangled up in a woman's arms. She's wearing this slinky red dress that barely covers her butt and her hair is a red mess.

They don't notice me and they crash onto the couch, groping each other. She rips his shirt off and he unzips her dress and drops to her waist. She isn't wearing a bra.

He pauses and takes them in. Then she starts undoing his pants and I can't take it anymore. I flip the light switch beside me to turn on the living room lights.

They startle, blinking a few times, blinded by the sudden light. I clear my throat.

The girl freezes and Nicholas whips his head towards me like the end of a bull whip.

He opens his mouth but nothing comes out.

Tears form in my eyes. I shake my head,"Not even an explanation? Figures, I'd be scared stupid if I did something like this too. Well, at least I found out before the wedding."

I grab my keys from the counter and run out of the house. Nicholas quickly follows me into the lawn.

"Wait! Danny, wait! Danielle!" he calls after me.

I stop and turn around. He stops a few feet before me. "I'll be taking the tickets to our honeymoon. I hope you understand."

I turn and keep walking.

"Danny! Don't leave, please! Danny, I love you!"

I pause again and turn halfway. "I guess you should have thought of that before you brought her home." I hesitate and take a breath. "I loved you, too."

I turned and this time I didn't look back.

Two weeks later, I took one of those tickets to Hawaii, boarded the plane, and here I am going to my would-be honeymoon. What joy.

I'm going away to clear my head, get a tan, and have fun. I think I've had my fare share of serious relationships gone bad, so I'm just going to let loose and enjoy life until reality calls me back.