John and Kristen had only been married for five months, but there were already having serious marital issues. John worked from 6am-9pm, and when he finally came home, he was in a terrible mood. 'You don't even care about me! Work is all you think about!' was the routine argument that Kristen started with her tired, uninterested husband that often led to screaming matches and even violence in a few instances. These feelings were eating Kristen away, but she was still in love with the amazing man she met four years ago. She wanted to do everything she could to get his attention and appreciation, so one Friday, after work, Kristen decided to make a romantic dinner to remind him how much he meant to her in hopes that he would remember how important she had once been to him.
She went to the local farmers' market and bought two grade A filet minions, fresh potatoes and greens, and a slice of chocolate cake - all his favorites. As the steak was marinating and the potatoes were baking, Kristen ran to the mall. I need something new, something that will make me stand out, she thought. As she was hurrying to Macy's, a little red dress caught her eye in one of the windows of a store she had never been in. Kristen was a reserved woman, but she wanted to make a statement. This was her marriage on the line after all! Well, it won't hurt to try it on, she convinced herself. She walked meekly into the store and looked around until an eager, middle aged woman with far too much make up on asked, "Is there anything I can do for you today?"
"Well...I saw that red dress in the window -" Kristen stated, but was cut off.
"Oh my! Isn't it beautiful?! It just arrived yesterday!" the saleswoman practically shouted.
"Yes, it is lovely. I was wondering if I could maybe try it on...size four."
"Go on back to the dressing rooms, and I'll meet you there, sweetheart," she said with an enormous smile.
Kristen slowly walked back to room number three and waited. The woman quickly arrived with the dress. Kristen slipped it on, and stepped outside of the dressing room for a better view in the store's three-way mirror. The woman gasped and let out an elated, "WOW!" Kristen just smiled bashfully and said, "I'll take it."
When she got back home, Kristen got right to work on the meal. In only and hour John would be home. Busy as a bee, she buzzed around the house cleaning and perfecting everything for him. Just before 9:00, she set the table with their best plates and lit candles to set the mood. Sitting patiently, she waited on the couch for John to arrive. 9:30...10:00...10:30 all passed, and soon Kristen fell asleep, curled up on the couch in front of the TV, still in her new red dress. On the TV flashed a terrible accident on Route 1 - the route that John takes to and from work. But Kristen never heard the report. The candle sticks had burned for so long they had melted to one side and fell over, starting a massive fire. The neighbors called the fire department, but it was too late. Kristen, who hadn't slept in weeks because of the stress caused by her failing marriage, finally got the rest she was yearning for.
As John pulled up after being stuck in traffic from the accident, the fire chief walked over and explained the situation, "...we were too late...it was too big...candle sticks."
John's vision went spotted and he could only hear certain phrases. "My home..." he started, but then realized something even more important. He frantically looked around and realized Kristen was nowhere. "Kristen? Kris? Kristen!" he yelled. He searched the faces of the crowd that had gathered, but none were Kristen's. He kept calling her name, and every set of eyes his gaze met immediately looked down - no one could bare looking as such a desperate, broken man. With tears streaming down his face, he fell to his knees uttering one last voice-cracking, "Krsiten!"
The fire chief gently placed his hand on John's sob-racked shoulder and whispered, "I'm sorry."
John uttered, "No. I'm sorry. It was my fault. If I had just called her to tell her that I was running late, she would have blown out the candles and went to bed safe and sound in my arms." He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, the smoke stinging the back of his throat and lungs. "Kristen, I'm sorry. I love you."
The fire chief gave him a sympathetic look and walked away to finish up business. John looked up to his home, but there was nothing left besides ashes and his regrets.
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