Fan Fiction
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The Secret of Kew Garden Hills
The SECRET
It got to the point where every kind of female touch gave Rina goose bumps. An accidental brush against another woman’s hand at the supermarket, a hand on her shoulder at the gym, and even, inexplicably, shaking the nursery school teacher’s hand. She kept thinking what would a longer touch be like, if even these milli seconds made her feel so alive. Then she hated herself for thinking that way. Sometimes it felt like she was going crazy, wondering if a friend might be looking at her differently, or just concentrating intently on what she was saying. And there would never really be a time when that type of talk would happen organically. Bringing the subject could cause major problems for Rina’s family. How much longer could this go on.
Then, as if another being was doing the deciding for her, Rina started looking for a woman online. Rina chose the women carefully. The ones that looked crazy, or couldn’t spell, or ranted in their profiles, were automatically removed. Plus, Rina didn’t have a picture, so few women would reach out, or email back. Rina realized she had to say she had pictures to send if she was going to get anywhere.
All this brought her to today, and meeting Ashley. Rina considered leaving. While she hated herself for doing this, betraying her husband, her family, her religion, Rina knew she would hate herself more if she left. It really felt like her last, and first, chance at something different.
There were other women Rina emailed, but it all kind of petered out due to Rina’s schedule. Also, the few she told were married did not write back. But some of these women also said they were in open marriages, in committed relationships. When the orthodox thing came up, that was usually the last nail in the coffin too.
Except Ashley.
Rina sat in the small café, nervous. The emails and texts she exchanged with Ashley were long, and as frequent as Rina could manage. Usually at night, while everyone slept, the anticipation of the day building to when she could be alone and free. The return emails were so filled with compliments. “You handle everything so gracefully,” Ashley said regularly. She didn’t write like someone that just wanted to jump into bed. Ashley’s tone had a different style. Still, Rina couldn’t imagine that in person things wouldn’t be awkward. They were from such different worlds. It had been so long since Rina had even talked to someone not Jewish, and to someone not religious. It had to be in college. It couldn’t have been more than a few words exchanged in a class. Married so young and kids followed. When would there even be time to worry about conversations with strangers? Rina knows the rest of the world finds religious Jews awkward. But she doesn’t really blame them. It is kind of rude to break into Hebrew or Yiddish around English speakers. But ever the nice girl, she complied with the unwritten rules. Until now.
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Martha3128 says
Very sweet story. Now will Rina and Ashley become a couple? Or is this just a short term dallance? A married woman with two children in a religiously conservative family and community is going to be a hard environment to escape. Its a wonder she has computer access.
Thank you for writing this story….