Chapter 1
I sighed listening to the sound of a dial tone for a moment before dialing the familiar number. Then I waited in anticipation for someone to pick up on the other end. When she picked up and answered it was like a breath of fresh air hearing her voice again, but it didn’t last long. “Maria” I said softly.
“Hi Taylor” I heard her say excitedly. I wished I felt as good as she sounded at that moment.
“Hi baby, how are you” I almost choked out, tears were beginning well in my eyes again.
“What’s wrong?” she asked me ignoring my question and immediately picking up on my troubles.
“Oh Maria, I miss you so much, it hurts so bad inside. We shouldn’t be living like this, apart from each other for so long” I told her, pouring my heart out.
“Taylor, I miss you too. But my parents need me. I’m their daughter, the only one there is to take care of them. You know that” she said.
“You’re also my wife, and I need you too” I insisted.
“I don’t see you doing anything about coming here to be with me. If you need me so bad, why can’t you come here?” she questioned me.
“You know why I can’t go visit you. We have meetings, and appearances, and shows scheduled like crazy. I can’t just walk out on everything” I tried to reason.
“Oh, so it’s your career over family. Is that your priorities?” she challenged.
“Well what are your priorities,” I yelled beginning to feel frustrated. There was a long pause, I knew she was beginning to cry. I immediately felt bad. “Baby, you know I didn’t mean that” I said suddenly soft again. “It’s just that my family is my career, and you are a part of that.”
“Taylor, I don’t know what to say. I miss you like crazy, but I don’t know what I can do about it. I don’t have all the answers. I feel like I’m obligated to be here” Maria told me.
“Well, maybe I could clear up a few days and fly out for a short trip” I offered.
“Maybe” she whispered.
“I’ll work on that okay” I told her.
“Okay, listen I need to go. My mother is calling me,” she said.
“Alright, bye baby,” I said.
“Bye” she whispered. I waited for her to say I love you, but all I heard was a soft click.
I buried my face in my heads and cried again. I wondered where my life had taken such an ugly turn. For a little over a year and a half Maria and I had had a happy marriage. It certainly wasn’t perfect, but we were happy. We managed to meet the demands of my career, and still have time left over for just us. Plus I knew how much Maria’s parents meant to her, so we made sure to see them as often as possible.
But then not long ago Maria’s father had become ill. Soon she had gone back home to help out on the ranch and with her father. But the short trip home had turned into a long trip, and before we knew it she had been gone for almost two months. I had only been able to see her once that whole time.
The situation took a great toll on us, and on our relationship. Pretty soon we were fighting all time. I knew it was just because I missed her, but I got so defensive about how little attention I seemed to be getting.
Then other aspects of my life hadn’t been going so well. My career didn’t seem to be going anywhere. I still had the same deep love for music, but it just didn’t thrill me like it used to anymore. I think my emotional side got shut down when Maria left. It was almost like I forgot how to feel.
Then my relationships with everyone else started going bad too. I couldn’t quite explain it, but I was becoming so distant, and it was killing me inside. I wish I knew how to fix it all, but I don’t have all the answers. All I knew is that I would give anything to set things back to normal, and I better come up with something fast, before its too late.
