Caught Between Two Worlds
of Then and Now
Another coda to Do You Believe In Always…….In 1971, Anna met Jason, her first true love. Thirty-three years later they began a long-distance correspondence which progressed rapidly as the relationship with Ben fell silent. Days before her first visit with Jason, Ben called. Anna kept her plans. But the next three visits she arranged in order to spend time with them both – first one – then the other – because she had to know. When she finally realized she was substituting the love Jason was ready to share, for the love Ben would (or could) not, Anna began distancing herself from Jason – knowing every moment she was hurting him, and hating herself for it. What Ben was doing to her, she was doing to Jason. It was time to tell him what he deserved to hear.
She did, and she never heard from him again.
Having just been told of the death of her first husband, Anna went searching for news of Jason. He died in July 31, 2021. A Saturday.
Another death knell ringing from the past into the present. So much love gone. Her first love from high school, her first husband, the first of the madly, passionately, happilyforeverafter made-for-TV Hallmark movie loves.
He was the first person I gave my whole heart to. And I will never forget how extraordinary it felt to love and be loved.