Salvaging My Senses

Every girl would love two suitors vying for her affections, wouldn’t she?

Unfortunately, despite the ego boost, it isn’t as romantic as it sounds. On one hand I had the dashing William: think Ferrari, candle-lit dinners at fine restaurants and huge bunches of roses.

On the other, sensible Ben, eco-friendly car, picnics on the beach or atop mountains with glorious views and posies from his garden containing flowers of every colour of the rainbow.

I was flattered at first, the envy of many of my friends. Foolishly, I didn’t dissuade either of them. They were each aware of the other; I wasn’t cheating but before long I began to feel uneasy. I had to choose.

I chose William. He could offer me everything a girl dreams of. Our children would have every advantage.

Ben just nodded when I told him. Kissed me softly on my forehead and wished me the very best. I did feel a strange pang but put it out of mind as soon as William arrived with another magnificent bouquet. And chocolates.

We continued the rounds of the best parties, restaurants and opening nights. I turned a blind eye when William flirted with other women and ignored his increasingly flippant attitude.

But I couldn’t look away when I saw William tossing all his glass bottles into the rubbish bin.

‘Honey, I think they should go into recycling,’ I told him.

‘Oh, that’s not important,’ he laughed. ‘It’s only a few bottles.’

What a fool I’d been! I didn’t waste my time explaining that those few bottles and all the other ‘few bottles’ across the world add up, that we all had to do our bit.

His laughter followed me as I fled.

I was too ashamed to contact Ben but fate stepped in.

Three weeks later our hands touched as we both bent to pick up litter for the annual city clean-up. A spark of electricity went right through me.

A true gentleman, Ben just grinned, took my grubby hand in his… and led me to the next litter-strewn street.