I first met Thomas at work. He was handsome, flirtatious and oozed charisma. He was also married. My friendship with Thomas started innocently enough. We’d have coffee or a drink together after work. Sometimes we went out with work colleagues, sometimes alone. I enjoyed our conversations and his casual flirting but figured he was married and so it was all harmless fun. Slowly however, I felt myself becoming more and more attracted to Thomas, so I went to great lengths to hide my feelings from him.
One day Thomas said that he wanted me to meet his wife. I was both nervous and relieved at the same time. I was nervous that she would see my true feelings for Thomas. Yet I was relieved because I wanted her to know that I had no intention of having an affair with her husband. Sara was a slender, attractive woman with a beautiful personality. I thought that she would be suspicious of me and my intentions but to my surprise we got along famously. We became best friends. We would go out for long lunches, swim at the beach or have a casual dinner together. I still met up with Thomas after work for a drink and we would then have dinner together with Sara. On weekends we often went on outings together. I was ecstatic to have such wonderful new friends in my life.
One evening after dinner Sara looked me in the eyes as she slowly traced her fingers over my hand and told me that she had deeper feelings for me. I looked away, startled and confused. Thomas was sitting opposite me watching my reaction. He reached across the table and held my hand in his. He said that they both had feelings for me. He asked if I would consider becoming more involved with them. I was completely out of my depth, confused and yet excited. “Could I really date a married couple?” I wondered to myself. Logically it seemed unnatural yet emotionally it made perfect sense as I cared for them both very deeply.
Dating took our friendship to a whole new level. We were flushed with the rosy glow of new love. Everything we did took on a magical air and I was euphoric to be loved by not one but two people. It was as though nothing could shatter the delight and joy we felt and shared with one another. We were caught up in our own little bubble of love and oblivious to the outside world.
Then the cracks started appearing. I noticed that my friends were having problems in their marriage. Only instead of talking to each other to solve their problems, they were talking to me. I became their confidante and they asked that I did not tell the other what we had discussed. I wasn’t comfortable with these secrets. I myself was struggling with the fact that I had fallen in love with Thomas. It was a doomed love. He was married and I had no intention of breaking up a marriage. To make matters worse Thomas confided that he had deeper feelings for me. This confession both overjoyed and dismayed me. I wanted so badly to have a relationship with Thomas. I could not, however, betray Sara.
I decided that it was time to end our intimate relationship. My friends’ marriage was at stake and regardless of my love for Thomas, I couldn’t destroy their relationship. We became platonic friends once more. I found it increasingly difficult as my emotions toward Thomas continued to plague me. I decided to move to a new town. I needed a fresh beginning and to forget my love for a married man.
Time has passed and I have since lost contact with my beloved friends. I look back at our relationship with a deep fondness and have no regrets. Although others had expressed disapproval at our unusual relationship, we shared a love that made our lives shine. I will never forget my summer of love that I shared with two beautiful friends.
Picture posed by models.
