One Heart, Two Paths Ch. 01

Diana looked at herself in the mirror.

Forty-five years old today.

"When the fuck did that happen?" she sighed aloud to herself.

She ran her blue eyes down her body. Her breasts were no longer perky, but they had always been supple, affixed with small oval nipples that sat perfectly in their center.

She continued to study her body. She glanced at the fading butterfly tattoo above her right hip, the once vibrant ink was now a tender shade of blue. She ran her fingers over the wings, feeling a warm surge of a distant, sweet memory.

She had gotten the tattoo on vacation with her first love, Alana. Diana remembered smiling proudly as the two women dodged hateful glances from strangers, holding hands and kissing on the boardwalk. Blissful, carefree love.

That seemed like ages ago.

Alana got a job in Europe, Diana chose not to go with her. She sometimes wonders what her life might have been like if she'd gone. She surely wouldn't be in this tiny one bedroom condo, scrutinizing every wrinkle on her body before yet another first date.

Diana took a deep breath, exhaling the memory of Alana.

She had a date tonight with a woman named Carly. She was a few years older than Diana, and owned her own jewelry making business. Their profiles matched on a dating app, so Diana sent her message. She was too old, and too tired, to play the waiting game. She wanted someone to share her life, and her body, with.

The nights were growing increasingly lonely. Her collection of vibrators brought her body the pleasure it craved, but not her soul. After the ten seconds of bliss, she was somehow left even more empty than before.

Diana stepped away from the mirror and began to get dressed.

The restaurant Carly had chosen was an intimate, expensive Italian bistro. Diana had researched the menu, and the reviews, for days leading up to tonight. She'd been dreaming of homemade linguine, warm crunchy bread, and the possibility of bring Carly home.

She had chosen a simple black dress and delicate gold sandals.

The Georgia air was suffocating this time of year, there was no point in trying to tame her thick, black curls. As soon as Diana stepped outside, she knew the heat would wreak havoc on her hair.

Once she was dressed, she returned to the mirror armed with a gold claw clip. Grabbing handfuls of her curls, she twisted and clamped, affixing them to the back of her head. She delicately pulled out a few stray pieces to frame her face.

Giving herself the once-over, Diana smiled. She practiced outstretching her hand, she checked her teeth for remnants of the spinach salad she had for lunch, and she smoothed out any visible wrinkles in her dress.

She was ready.

She was hopeful.

Before walking out of her bedroom, she glanced at her neatly assembled queen size bed. The crisp white comforter was tucked in. The cream and brown throw pillows were aligned perfectly in the center. The fringed throw blanket was folded immaculately, and placed in the bottom corner.

It looked inviting.

Diana felt her heart flutter.

She hoped to show Carly this bed. She hoped the two of them would roll around in her freshly laundered sheets, freeing her pristine tower of pillows, and hopefully her inhibitions.

---

Carly was lovely.

Diana shifted in her seat, fingers nervously toying with the stem of her red wine glass while Carly talked. She looked just like her photographs, and her personality was warm and kind. She appeared to be a normal, genuine woman.

Diana could feel butterflies flittering around in her stomach. She had been on so many bad dates lately, this meal had been a breath of fresh air.

They had talked about it all. Past relationships, families, jobs, and the future. Carly was currently discussing her affinity for cappuccino.

Diana had started to let herself believe that this just might work out.

This just might led to something.

"Am I talking too much?," Carly laughed, interrupting her thoughts.

Diana nodded profusely, "No! I was actually just thinking to myself how much I enjoy this. How much I enjoy you."

Carly's cheeks flushed, "I like you too."

Diana smiled warmly at Carly and crawled her hand across the white linen tablecloth. She gently placed her fingertips on top of Carly's hand.

The two women sat there for a few moments, quietly gazing at one another, feeling the connection through their touching hands.

"I don't want to be too bold," Diana began, swallowing nervously, "but would you like to come home with me?"