Amanda Johnson leads a comfortable life. She's married to a successful businessman and her daughter is grown and off blazing her own bright trail in the business world, leaving Amanda free to fill her days volunteering at the local charity thrift shop. It isn’t an exciting life but it's secure, and most days Amanda is content to accept the path that she has chosen.<br><br>But all of that changes one day when a woman walks in with a crate full of LP records to donate. As Amanda flips through the stack, there's one album in particular that drags her back to an alcohol-fueled senior year summer outing and a bonfire where she kissed a girl on a dare. She doesn't know it yet, but that very same girl is standing in front of her, all grown up now and peering into Amanda's eyes over a crate of vintage vinyl. <br><br>There's a flash of recognition and Amanda begins to wonder what her life would have been like if she had followed her heart instead of everyone's expectations. What if she had turned left instead of right, zigged instead of zagged? Would she be happier than she is now? And when given the chance to do it all again, will she have the courage to change her decision and follow her heart?

It's Been Such a Long Time

I keep digging, flipping the records faster. I’m on a mission now. I need that Boston album. I don’t care that I don’t own a record player, I need it. I want a reminder of that happier time in my life, even if it just sits on a shelf collecting dust. I sigh and lift my head from the bins. It’s not there.


The door chimes and I look over. A woman and a small child walk in and head to the kid’s clothing section. As I watch them pass, I notice that there is a line of three or four people at the front and Dave is just jawing away, completely oblivious.


“I can help the next person over here,” I say as I make my way to the counter. It’s another young mother wondering where the kid’s clothes are located. I point out the racks and she wanders of. The next person steps up while I’m still making sure the young mother is heading the right direction.


Chapter 7