Crossroads of the Heart - Mirage of Trust Ch 1
Sometimes, losing your way starts with believing you had a map.
Chapter 1; Part 1
Did I set myself up for this? Do I give my love too easily?
Quinn had returned to the Big Island a week ago. Having shed all her tears, she stood on the lanai of Robbie’s and her home, thoughts swirling with the recent upheaval in her relationship with Robbie.
Newly retired and ready to embrace her next chapter in life, Quinn had embarked on a journey to Japan to join Robbie and looked forward to the adventures they would share. However, Robbie’s work on a new resort development project was eating her alive. What was meant to be a shared experience quickly devolved into disappointment and discord.
As Quinn looked out over the tranquil Hawaiian landscape, her mind drifted back to the tumultuous month she had spent with Robbie. Despite her hopes for quality time together, their days were marred by unmet expectations, resulting in heated arguments.
Quinn reached her breaking point, realizing she was tired of navigating life’s adventures alone while Robbie remained consumed by work 24/7 and didn’t seem to care that Quinn was spending her days alone.
The lack of time together weighed on Quinn’s mind, making her feel unimportant and unloved. She finally mustered the courage to confront Robbie about it. She declared that if Robbie couldn’t make time for her as initially planned, she would return to their Hawaiian home, hoping to find solace in the familiar surroundings that had once brought them so much joy.
However, instead of receiving the reassurance and understanding she craved, Quinn was met with cold silence and indifference. This was utterly foreign to her and made her wonder if she could still call Robbie her partner, and without that, Hawaii her home. The thought of being unwelcome in a place that had once been so special to her hurt deeply. Quinn was left feeling confused, anxious, and alone.
Quinn stood at the lanai’s railing for the longest time. Her gaze lost in their lush tropical garden. As she pondered her next move, memories of past friendships and her relationship with Robbie flooded her mind, each leaving its mark on her heart.
“I have always given my love unconditionally, but what do I receive in return? Am I the selfish one? Are my expectations unrealistic?” Quinn wondered aloud, the weight of her words heavy in the stillness of her surroundings.
Reflecting on the path of her relationship with Robbie, Quinn couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment that lingered like a shadow. The initial years on the island had been filled with laughter and shared dreams, but distance and diverging paths had strained their bond.
“What happened here? I know our relationship had its challenges. We were good for the first three years on the island. Robbie’s project back then was on Oahu, and the trips between islands were easy. Later, I was reassigned to Vermont for my position with Homeland Security. We had many tearful discussions about my relocating. But Robbie also knew the writing was on the wall for a new development in Japan, so we thought we could weather this for a year or two. I would be able to retire soon and then look forward to traveling the world, potentially connected to Robbie’s projects.”
Feeling a rage rising within, Quinn raced out to the garden, screaming, “This was not my plan. I retired early to join Robbie on these adventures wherever her projects took us. I’ve always been in control of my life.”