Easy come, but no easy goPerspiration presented itself on Sam's forehead as he tossed and turned in his sleep. It was one of those moments where one falls asleep, but it somewhat awake and you can't figure out if what you're experiencing is real or a dream. He could've sworn he was hearing Al's voice...even thought he saw him standing in front of him for a moment.
Sam?
Al? Is that you?
Sam??
Yes!
Can you hear me?
I can hear you... (he whispered)
Can you hear me??(Head throbbing)
Another man: (faintly)
I don't think this is working.Al?:
We have to keep trying!Sam:
Al? Please tell me it's really you.Al?
Sam...I can't understand you...Woman:
Oh Sam...please hear us!It was the woman's voice that shot Sam upright and panting heavily. It pierced deep into his soul...made his heart stop.
That voice, Sam thought, I know that voice! "But how?" he asked aloud, "I've never heard it before, but...I just know that I
KNOW it!" For a few minutes he continued sitting up, trying to catch his breath with a blank expression on his face.
What just happened?******************
The next day after work, some of Sam's co-workers offered him a fish leftover from their experiments. Sam agreed and figured he would be having a tasty dinner that evening as they went to go fetch it, but when he turned around they handed him a
live Coi fish in a bag of water.
Ok then, Sam thought,
my first pet. He was never much into having fish as pets, but he couldn't just kill and eat the poor thing, now that he'd seen it alive. Plus, Coi didn't taste good anyway. When he got home, it didn't take long for him to come up with a name for the colorful guy: Al.
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"There ya go Al," he said, feeding it. "The name suits you, especially with your markings." He chuckled and thought about his dream, or was it, from last night again. That really was strange...
As the evening rolled around, Edelaine was free from work so she and Sam had dinner together at his place and watched a movie in the dark, with the fire crackling nearby. They snuggled throughout the whole movie and it felt so nice, but at the same time...Sam kept feeling uneasy. He hated it. He wasn't sure why. He just wanted everything to be ok. To be perfect.
God I know you work in mysterious ways, Sam thought, while looking up at the ceiling,
but c'mon...she's wonderful! What could possibly be the problem? When the two cuddled in bed, getting ready for sleep Sam just had to share with Edelaine his half-dream from the night before. He mentioned Al to her a couple of times since they'd been together, but Edelaine didn't realize just how close he was to him until tonight.
If only I could tell her the truth about my past, Sam thought.
No...she'd never believe me. I don't know if anyone would. "I think it's perfectly normal to have strange dreams about a person when you miss them," Edelaine said, stroking his hand.
Sam quickly snapped out of his other thoughts. "Yeah," he said, "Al was always like...my family away from family you know?"
Edelaine pressed her cheek against his. "Where does your family live anyway?"
Indiana. "Uhh," Sam stalled, thinking. He realized he hadn't studied the geography in this new world yet.
Darn it! SEE! This is why I need to tell my girlfriend the TRUTH about me!"Sam?"
"Oh, sorry."
"Are you ok?"
Sam pressed his cheek against hers as well. "Yes honey, I'm fine. Let's not talk about family right now ok? I just want to spend time with you."
Edelaine smiled and gave him a light kiss. "Sam Beckett," she sighed, "you really are just full of surprises."
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Sam wasn't sure what she meant by that...or if she was trying to make that an inside joke, but he didn't care. He just wanted to hold her and never let go.
******************
The next morning, Sam cooked breakfast for Edelaine...
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...which she ate quickly because she had to hurry out the door. "I wish you didn't have to go," Sam said as she stood in the doorway.
"I know," Edelaine said frowning, "I wish I didn't either, but there's so much going on this week and," she shrugged, "duty calls."
"Yeah," Sam said, looking down. "When will you be done?"
"I don't know. I'll call or text you like I always do."
"I just wish I knew
when you would be off."
"I know Sam and I'm sorry to put you through that." Then her phone rang.
Figures.******************
Once he got showered and dressed, Sam couldn't shake off the feeling that things were most likely going nowhere for him and Edelaine. It pained his heart and he just couldn't dwell on it. He got on his piano and played love songs.
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Work was a drag. Normally he enjoyed it, but today...not so much. When he left work that afternoon, he ran into a tourist sitting on the benches outside and they got to chatting. She taught him one of their local songs, at Sam's request.
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He picked it up pretty quickly.
Maybe I will serenade it to Edelaine later, he thought.
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Remembering he needed to pick up some groceries from the store that was the next place he headed. He met a new town local. Emma Simself.
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"That's an interesting last name you have," Sam couldn't help saying to her. "Where's it from?"
"Oh nowhere," Emma replied, "it's just an odd one."
They chuckled.
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She was a pleasant gal and they had a lot in common. He hoped to see her again.
After getting his groceries, his phone rang and when he saw that it was Edelaine he answered it faster than the speed of light. "Hey!" Sam greeted.
"Hey babe," came the response. Then there was a sigh. Sam's stomach sank and he knew this wasn't good. "My boss is sending me to Bridgeport," she said, "I'm replacing a lady who's fallen ill and she said if I do this job well I might get a raise! Isn't that great?"
"Yeah..."
"Of course it means that we won't see each other for another week."
Now Sam sighed.
"I'm SO sorry Sam! Really, I am, but...I could use the extra money. You know I've been scraping by as it is."
"I do."
"So...are you ok with this?"
It had been a long time since Sam had to hold back this many emotions. "I'll be fine," he lied.
Edelaine knew it. "I
promise to take some time off when I return ok?"
Sam just shook his head. "Ok."
"Ok...well, goodnight sweetie. I'll call you when I'm off again."
"Goodnight." He hung up.
Why is it that I always have to expect a call from HER? Why can't I call her whenever I feel like it and she'll answer? God...why are you doing this? He knew why God was doing it. He and Edelaine weren't meant to be. The reality of that was killing him. Holding back tears Sam practically threw his grocery bags into the backseat and took off for home.
******************
Ah, forget home, he thought, continuing down the road towards the trail that led to the Redwood Peak Viewing Area. The city looked beautiful tonight, but that didn't make his aching heart feel any better.
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He sat by the fire pit for a couple of hours, lost in his thoughts.
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Suddenly his lowered head shot up and he thought about the Unicorn!
I haven't visited her in weeks! he cried out in his mind. Seeing the Unicorn again was sure to lift his spirits. He rushed to Louie Falls which is where he normally checked first before heading to Meadow Beach.
Sure enough, the Unicorn was there and Sam ran as fast as he could to meet her.
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(Sorry, I had to include this Gif of how he runs in Quantum Leap! It's so goofy! :lol: Very fitting for this moment though. Ok, back to seriousness now...)
But as soon as he approached her, a soft musical tune played and light surrounded her. She was vanishing...into the heavens above.
"WAIT!" Sam cried out to her, "I
NEED YOU! DON'T GO!"
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******************
A week passed. Sam and Edelaine only got to talk once on the phone. He watched all the happenings in Bridgeport on the news and hoped he would see her in one of the shots, but...of course not. His heart ached and ached. He couldn't do it anymore. He had to be honest with her.
That afternoon Edelaine called to tell him she was home and would be coming over. Thank goodness it was Sam's day off because he wasn't sure if he'd be able to make it to work after this.
The doorbell rang and Sam braced himself as he opened the door. There she stood, in all her beauty, with that gorgeous smile on her face. He wanted to leap into her arms and kiss her, but...he just couldn't. They greeted each other and Sam invited her in. He could sense she was surprised he hadn't kissed her yet and it troubled her. The awkward silence was evident between them both. "Thank goodness this week is over," Edelaine simply said to him.
"Yeah," Sam said, "Edelaine," he paused, "we need to talk."
Edelaine's lips pursed as she nodded. "Yeah...we do."
So she's in agreement? That might make this easier...https://s20.postimg.cc/xncvdh9hp/SB_Post_6_2.jpg
Sam carefully and gently shared his innermost feelings with her about their relationship and how he felt it wasn't working out. "I never see you," he expressed to her, "and whenever we
do get a moment together ninety percent of the time we're interrupted by a phone call from your boss or you're being called back into work."
"I'm sorry," Edelaine said, brushing her hair behind her ear, "What do you want me to do Sam?"
"I don't know...I realize there isn't much you can do."
"You're right, there isn't. And I've always made an effort to spend time with you. Have I not shown you that?"
"No, you have," Sam paused, caressing her arm, "it's just...I need you more in my life. I need the companionship more than I realized."
"Sam, I'm trying! You know I can't just quit my job. It means a lot to me."
With a straight face Sam said, "It feels like you care more about your job than you do me."
Looking away, Edelaine answered, "Sam, you know that's not true. I care about you a great deal but...I have responsibilities to my job. Commitments I made before we even met."
"And I get that," Sam said, "I've been there, but sometimes you have to stop and take a look around in your life and figure out what's really important to you."
"You don't think I've done that?"
"I didn't say you haven't, but what about us? Are
we important to you?"
"YES!" Edelaine cried emphatically, then her face fell. "But..."
That "But," hit Sam like a ton of bricks. "But what?" he hesitated to ask.
Tears began to well up in Edelaine's eyes. "It's just...you've been so good to me and...I can't give you as much in return. I guess," she cried harder, "this relationship really isn't going to work out. My boss gave me that raise along with a promotion and...I took it."
Wiping a tear from her eye Sam said, "Congratulations."
"It's going to require a lot more work from me and that means...less time with you."
"Yeah."
"I'm SO sorry Sam! I wanted this to work out I...I
really did!"
"Me too..."
They hugged.
For a few moments they just held each other and Sam sniffed while saying, "Gosh I hate this...it wasn't supposed to be like this."
Edelaine removed herself from him. "No," she agreed.
"Do you love me?" Sam asked. He wasn't completely sure why he did and he feared it wasn't a good idea.
Lightly gulping Edelaine admitted, "No...I don't." Another tear rolled down her cheek.
Sam nodded and stroked her cheek. "Gosh I wish I could say it to you right now."
That told Edelaine that he didn't feel the same either. "Let's just make this easier on the both of us ok," Edelaine said, pulling her purse strap back up on her shoulder, "I'll go now."
"Edelaine, don't--"
"Sam, please don't make this any harder than it is," she begged, removing his grip on her arm. "Goodbye Sam."
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And with that she turned and left the house. When the door closed, Sam fell down to his knees and finally allowed his emotions to take over. His shoulders shook as he buried his face in his hand while tears still managed to rain onto the floor. Would he ever be able to have a real relationship again? It pained him having to say goodbye to so many people over the years. People who had a significant impact on him and stole his heart. He was honestly sick of leaping and just wanted to go
home.
To be continued.
***I gotta share: I was near tears while writing this. :cry: It really hit home to me since I had a similar experience with a good man I dated before meeting my husband. It's hard having a great relationship with someone and then the two of you realize (and feel) that it just isn't the right thing to be together... I never regret breaking up with this guy, we ended it on such good terms, but I'll never forget the way it made me feel.
I kept playing
this song while writing this post. It just seemed fitting; exactly how Sam was feeling. Go listen to it. ;)
I get the feeling a few of you will be disappointed that I broke him and Edelaine up. In all honesty, trying to have a relationship with a Paparazzi sim is the pain in the butt! Seriously! I know many of you understand. They take off after like three or four interactions with your sim and you can't stop them and your sim just sits there waiting for them to respond as they drive off in their car. It was bugging me and I couldn't do it anymore. I had the hardest time getting him and Edelaine together, even for pictures. Sam deserves better.
Anyway, I hope you all will continue to read Sam's story regardless. ;) I've still got plenty of other things in store for him up my sleeve. Stay tuned!***
:)