After she had finally divorced him, and was moving to Orlando to start a new life, she was requiring a place to stay for a short period until she could find a place to live. During this week or two time, she stayed at my parent's house. My mother knowing the situation was all to happy to give her the guest room, and make her breakfast and talk to her. Dom has always spoken kindly of my mother from that point, and loved going back for dinner, or whatever when invited.
Now Christmas had come around, and by then Dom had found her own place by Millenia Mall with a roomate from her school. My mother being the always thoughtful one knew her parents didn't live in the country, and didn't want her to be alone for Christmas. Knowing that Dom and I were close, my mother invited her to spend Christmas at the beach condo with us. After Dom had accepted, and said many times how delighted she was to attend, my mother went forth to prepare a proper German Christmas meal among other niceties specifically for her. This included a very long process of helping me select many gifts to put under the tree, that included several trips to the local art shows, to buy signed pieces and other such unique items as so she was not left out of the festivities when the big day arrived. We spent almost two months preparing for what was supposed to be a fabulous Christmas day, and the first Christmas that I had ever had a female friend invited to.
My aunt and uncle hearing that I would have a special guest also invited us to visit them, as they were having a huge party. My aunt prepared a small gift, as everyone at the part would receive a small token. The guests would include extended family of all sorts, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even twice removed relatives and family friends from near and far. Around 30 people in total.
Well Christmas Eve came, and I had called Dom to tell her I was ready to pick her up, and make the drive down to Cocoa Beach. When she answered the phone she told me that her father had flown in from Germany last minute unannounced and she would spend Christmas with him. This of course came as a surprise as we had talked about this since Thanksgiving, and she had confirmed many times that she would attend with me. I told her she could have given further notice that she would not be going than when I was heading out the door to get her. She said she said she was very sorry, and left it at that.
The rest of the day I had to explain to everyone embarrassingly that Dom would not be attending, and that I would be traveling alone. My parents were rather confused by the whole situation. For years I had to endure the remarks of aunts, uncles and cousins about how I was stood up on Christmas, and the girl who never showed.
I took myself to the movie theater on Christmas day to watch Chronicles of Narnia alone, the best way to get away from everything. I simply did not want to be around anyone that day. I had serious doubts as to if her father really came in to town..or if Dom had decided to make other plans. These doubts were realized when I came home and went to Ibar in a foul mood and attempt to drown out my holiday misery with booze and dancing. When I arrived there was Dom, with a guy named Joe, who I had known as a "friend" of hers. She had always had a propensity to go for guys with no real future, no class, and long hair. The ultimate bottom feeders, who generally only had looks going for them, and a tendency to use girls for free stuff.
She approached me, and I asked where her father was, and she said she already saw him and now was with Joe for some evening fun. So I then calmly told her that I would have nothing more to do with her, where she then pleaded for forgiveness, and how sorry she was that she missed the holiday with my family. Embarrassed and ashamed, I knew that I could no so easily take her word for anything, nor let her off so easily. She had made a fool of me in front of my parents, and family, and now I see her at a bar with another guy, who she obviously had spent Christmas with instead of holding up to her plans she had made months in advance. I could not help but be cold. I said nothing more, and walked away. The friend I was with was impressed with how steady I kept my emotions, and how calmly I spoke to her.
This was the last time I spoke to Dom in over 6 years. In the following days, I had a concert even where I gave the main portion of Doms gifts away as prizes at one of the concerts that I had promoted. I felt it was a way to emotionally let go of the situation, and let other people enjoy the hundreds of dollars wort of stuff that I had bought for her. In the time after I had several relationships, including one that lasted a while with Angie, who I lived with for 4 years. Angie was aware of Dom, as my mother had spoken of the incident, and other family as well, as not to be escaped. What I did not tell Angie was that I had kept the best of the gifts unopend, and unwrapped for years. When Dom and I finally met up again, I gave them to her, for Valentines day. My way of showing that I had cared for so long, even when I was absent, she never left my mind. I knew though it was best to be away for a few years, to grow and mature as person. The hope was one day I would meet up with her a new man, and things would be different I did get my second chance, or so I thought, and no things were not different. I find myself a second time walking away, knowing that she is toxic to my soul, and the pain she caused will simply be recreated, time after time. Who knows, maybe it will be another 6 years...maybe forever.
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