Mark is a man on the horns of a dilemma. He's in the midst of a five-year affair with a married man and he wants out ... but isn’t sure he can give up his lover.<br><br>Austin, who lives in the apartment building across the street from Mark, has his own problems. Two years earlier, the man he loved died in a horrible auto accident. Austin is still trying to come to terms with seeing it happen, and dealing with the aftermath.<br><br>After watching Mark from his balcony, making up stories about what he sees, Austin decides to meet him. Will the meeting help the two come to grips with their problems? And if it does, can they move on to something more than possible friendship?

The Man on the Balcony

“What’s wrong,” Austin asked. He had the feeling he knew. “If it’s what I think…” He held up a finger to stop Mark from saying anything. “I suspect, no I knowyou must have loved Todd, once upon a time. I don’t think you’d have put up with him if you didn’t. It wasn’t until you finally understood he’d never leave his wife for you, that you started to fall out of love.”


“I was still stupid enough to believe he would, until the end. I hoped I was as important to him as she was, as his kids were. I should have seen a long time ago he was using me. But then I’ve said that before. No sense beating a dead horse.”


Chapter 19