Flickr love story

Stewart and Mary are together since high school. They are the kind of couple everyone is jealous of and would bet that they will stay always together. And actually the only reason they haven't got married yet was that Stewart couldn't find a stable job (he is a photographer). But this was about to change. Thanks to Mary he now works for Playboy and he earns enough money for them to get married and build the house of their dream.

She was very happy. At last all her sacrifices were about to yield fruit. She spent many years working day and night to support both herself and the expensive art of Stewart. And she required a lot of effort to ask her uncle who had behaved very bad to her in the past to hire Stewart for this open photographer position in Playboy. Of course, she had hesitated a little thinking of all these beautiful and famous women that would get naked in front of Stewart. She had heard many stories about the relationships between photographers and their models. But she was so sure about their love. And she could even accept a small infidelity as long as he returned to her and always loved her. He was a man in any case.

Nevertheless, she couldn't believe she would actually live the nightmare of every woman whose partner works as a model photographer. But yes, when she returned home that day she saw Stewart and Pamela in her new bed just after what was obviously not a friendly conversation. But it was not this that hurt her the most (she had already accepted this possibility in her mind anyway). What she couldn't understand was Stewart who was smoking calm his cigar and was smiling to her. She lost the world under her feet.

Stewart knew that this would happen. But it was almost a month that he was trying to tell her that he didn't want to continue their relationship. He felt very guilty but the truth was that he was not in love with her anymore. And they both always praised the importance of truth in a healthy relationship. So, what he could do? This was the truth. His new life was so promising and Mary couldn't be part of it. He couldn't stand her reminding him of all the things she had done for him and all the things he had said in the past (but now regretted for them). He wanted to enter "clean" and fresh in this new glamorous world. He was so grateful but not in love. This was the truth. And although it was very difficult for him, he did his best to make Mary understand. It couldn't be more clear than this. He wanted her to leave him alone to enjoy his new life.

So, he was surprised when Mary started to ask weird questions:
"Why did you make me see this? I told you I don't care about small infidelities. You could explain to me and I would accept it. I just want you to love me. This is all I ask. But this ... in our bed ... the time of day you knew I would return from my work. Why?? I have done so many things for you! How can you treat me like this?"

This was more difficult than he expected. He should actually spell out the truth. And this was something he wasn't prepared to do. But he made an effort:
"Look Mary. I love you. But I am not in love with you. I need to enjoy my life. Our relationship gives me a lot of pressure. I cannot stand it."

He felt very proud of his courage and relieved that now Mary couldn't do anything else but leave. But when he saw the first tear coming out of her eyes he added: "Of course, if you can accept a free relationship we could continue to see each other. I will always love you."

Mary hugged him and said "I love you so much! I can do anything you ask me! I just want you to love me! Nothing more"

Stewart hugged her also. But his mind was elsewhere ... he just made a big mistake.

(to be continued)