This time around

With a bit more hesitation in her voice and less animosity, Laila asked Jake the question that had remained unanswered in his elaborate explanation. "Fine. Let's say I believe your explanation for the pictures. How do you explain the scent I smelled on you last night?"

Jake grabbed his jacket off the bed as he prepared to storm out of the room but not before shouting out, "Really?! I tell you all this and all I get is another damn accusation. It is as if you are looking for reasons not to believe me. In your eyes I have already been convicted, haven't I? So, does it really still matter what explanation I give?" With those words Jake walked out of the room, leaving a hurt and flabbergasted Laila behind, only to return not even two seconds later.

With a heated voice and a pointing finger he yelled out, "You want to know why I had her scent on me?! You really want to know?! It was because yesterday it wasn't just her and me. The president and his wife had joined us to go over the final details and she was seated next to me at the table instead of across from me. EXCUSE ME, that the president wanted to sit next to his wife! EXCUSE ME, that the woman insist on wearing so much perfume that even sitting next to her made her scent rub off on me. And EXCUSE ME, that the only thing I wanted to do after getting good news at that meeting was to go home to my loving wife and make love to her. You are right, that does make me an unforgivable villain. Good to know that my own wife doesn't trust me enough to allow me to explain, before being convinced I have committed the crime that I am being accused of. And this after being together for over a decade. I will sleep at Josh's for tonight and I hope you will have come to your senses by tomorrow." With that he exited the room once more and this time he didn't return.

Laila let out a deep sigh as she let herself fall onto her back on the soft, large bed. She stared at the ceiling with her hand resting on her forehead. "I just don't know what to believe anymore." She whispered into the air. After a few seconds of staring, she got up and headed into the bathroom. She washed up and as she wiped the steam off the bathroom mirrors, she stared at her reflection as if she was hoping to find the answer to her problems in the person staring back at her. After letting out another sigh, she headed back into the room and grabbed the chained golden ring and opened the doors to the balcony. Wearing her soft pink night gown along with a towel around her wet hair, she stood on the warm tiles and let the gentle breeze touch her flushed skin, which had turned this tone of red from her overly warm shower.

Laila stared at the ring under the light of the full moon and the shimmers from the reflected light danced in her eyes. "What am I supposed to do? I was so sure when I left Maria's house but now I am back to how I was feeling before I left this morning. Damn that man and his way with words. He could even sell water to the sea." The words Jake said started rushing through her mind along with the memories of all the times before where she had heard those words. In her mind she was going back and forth on what to do and what decision to make on a choice she was offered only hours before. Never in her wildest dreams did she think this morning that this was where her day would end. Laila let out another deep sigh as she let out the words, "Boy, what a crazy day it has been."

As she stared at the starlit sky, one thought after another entered her mind. She asked herself if anything would change if he had indeed not cheated. Hadn't the damage already been done? Was she okay with Jake putting himself in situations that are so easy to misunderstand and not tell her about it? How many times will she be able to take it? How many times does she have to doubt him and feel heartbroken only to doubt herself once he gives another one of his 'perfect' explanations? His lack of communication and shifting the blame onto her when she confronts him about the results of his choices, has been something she has been dealing with since the start of their relationship. Clearly that isn't working and she sure doesn't feel treasured by Jake. She knows all of this, but the decision to end a relationship she has been in for so long, wasn't an easy one to make.

That night Laila went to bed late. After staring at the starlit sky for the longest time, she headed inside and started staring at the gold chained ring once more as she sat on the corner of her bed. As the minutes passed by, she felt herself become more drowsy and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep with the ring tightly grasped inside her hand. As she moved and turned in her bed, Laila's hand ended up underneath her soft pillow, along with the golden ring. While Laila entered dreamland, the elderly man she had met earlier that day, entered her room. He had been watching her from the balcony and when he saw that she had fallen asleep, he came closer to look inside her mind. When he saw what she was dreaming about, he said "You are making the right decision dear. I hope you can be happy this time around.", before he left the same way he got in and disappeared into the night.