The love he lost was a sweet love.

Let’s talk about it…

Mark, a twenty-nine-year-old single muscular built person who stands six feet, two inches tall; took a couple of courses in music while in college getting his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. As a child, he had a natural talent for instruments. No instrument was off limit to his talent. He would watch and listen to someone play an instrument then mimic what he saw and hear without ever taking a lesson. The two music courses were to perfect his self-taught skills. Mark is most skilled with using the keyboard, drums, and bass guitar. However, like most young boys, he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps by getting a degree in Engineering. All of Mark’s life his father worked as an Electrical Engineer, in the construction industry. After graduating college, Mark’s friends threw him a surprise graduating party at a jazz club. Mark’s friends knowing how much he loves music invited him to the club to hear one of his favorite jazz musicians. Little did Mark know his friends were setting him up for his surprise party. He did not suspect anything other than what he was told.

As Mark and his friends enter the club, he could see some type of celebration was taking place in the back area of the club. He could see it was roped off with many small round tables as well as many small round ottomans for seating. He could see bronze and black balloons with a huge balloon with the word “Congratulations” printed on it. As Mark’s friend walks in the direction of the celebration, Mark’s shouts out; “hey, you all, we are about to crash someone’s party. We should check on the other side for seats” As they reached the area that was roped off, everyone inside the roped area, turns around in unison and shouts “Congratulations” to Mark. At that moment he received the surprised of his life. He could see that everyone inside the roped area is someone he knows. The party is for me shouts Mark. Everyone shouts “Yes” as they laughed out loud. Mark turns to his boys; “I take it that you all put this together.” They all nodded their heads up and down. Then he asked, “what is the occasion?” “You graduated college man; you graduated college they shouted.”

Among the guest at Mark’s party was two of his band members. While in college, Mark and his two college friends formed a band. They would make money playing for parties and anniversaries within the town where he lived. Mark goes around the party hugging people and thanking them personally for coming. When he made it back around to the five guys he grew up with, he asked them; “so is it safe to say that one of my favorite jazz musicians will be here tonight was used as an excuse to get me here.” “Yes, that is correct”, replied one of Mark’s friends. Another one of his friends tells him, “This is the reason we choose to use the words, one of your favorite jazz musicians rather than give you a specific name of a jazz musician; we did not want you to look up anyone’s itinerary then question the lie we were telling to get you here. Well actually; tonight is a showcase for up-and-coming jazz singers and bands.” “Okay, cool,” states Mark; “I love to hear new artist showcase their skills.” The night was going well. Everyone was enjoying the music, drinks, and finger foods when an artist gets on the stage to apologize to the crowd for not being able to sing because his band did not show up; also, his manager who is stuck in traffic with his band has the music track. One of Mark’s band members shouts out to ask the guy, “was he planning to sing a self-wrote song or a song from another artist playlist.” The artist stated that he was going to sing Will Downing song “Stop, Look, Listen to your heart.” The bandmember volunteer himself before asking Mark and the other band member to back up the artist. The club had instruments on the stage that they were able to us. Mark and one band member both played jazz guitars as the other band member played the saxophone. Little did they know there were scouts presence. After the performance, the scouts offer to meet with Mark and his two band members to discuss joint adventures. Two weeks after Mark’s surprised party, him and his band members meet with a scout and his production company. Mark and his band signed a contract with the label to tour with various jazz singers as their band.

Mark was so excited about the good news, he could not wait to tell his longtime girlfriend Jasmine, who is the mother of his three-year-old son. Jasmine and Mark met in junior high-school. They always had a crush on each other. They would sneak and hold hands in junior high school with an occasional kiss on the lips. They officially called each other girlfriend and boyfriend when they were both sophomores in high school. Mark loved Jasmine with all his heart. He never ever thought about dating another person other than Jasmine. He never cheated on her or allowed anyone to convince him otherwise. Jasmine was happy for Mark and his band. She knew music is his first love; however, she accepted his decision to follow in his father’s footsteps. Jasmine could not help but think that Mark chose to get his degree in Engineering to have a strong financial foundation like his father. Mark looked up to his father and he marble at how well he took care of their family. Mark’s mother was a stay-at-home mother and housewife. She kept their home clean, supported her kids with their school and when they participated in after school activities. Mark’s father put all four of his kids through college and kept their household financially stable. Mark would often promise Jasmine; he will do the same for their household once he finishes school and gets a job as an Electrical Engineer. He also promises Jasmine that they would get marry once he gets a job. It did not matter to Jasmine which profession Mark chose, as long as, they were together and he was happy with what he did for a living.

Things begin to take off at a fast pace, for Mark’s band, shortly after signing the contract. They were scheduled to start a six-month tour with only a two-week layover to come home after three months of touring. Mark had a month before the tour starts. Him and Jasmine used the time to rent a house together. Because their plans to marry had to be placed on hold, they did not want to put off living together. Jasmine helped Mark pack and prepared for his tour. On tour, the days were moving swiftly to Mark; but to Jasmine the days were moving very slow. She missed Mark. Not being able to communicate with him by phone made it very difficult for her. Because of the time difference, when Mark was awake, Jasmine and their son would be sleep. Jasmine could count the number of times her and Mark talked on the phone in the last three months on one hand with fingers left over. They would text each other a lot. She was happy when he came home for the two weeks layover before going back to complete the remaining three months on their tour. The two weeks layover went so fast; it felt like two days to Jasmine. After the remaining three months were over, Jasmine planned a three day stay vacation for her and Mark. She had her mother watched their son. She bought a sexy negligee and swimsuit. Mark was home a full day when he had to pack for the three days stay vacation Jasmine had planned. Mark spent the 3 days with Jasmine sleeping. He was so tired from the tour and had jet lag that it was difficult for him to keep his eyes open whenever he was sitting still. Jasmine was trying to be understanding and be patience with him, but she was frustrated. She missed his affections and his attention. They used to talk about any and everything. They used to always be together. Mark was a hands-on father and now his son is not getting any one-on-one time with his father. After returning home from their stay cation, Mark receives a call stating that a new tour is scheduled to start in two months. It will be another six-month tour with a two-week layover.

Jasmine begins to complain. She asked Mark why does the band appears to be touring more than the artist. Mark explains, to Jasmine, they are the band for various jazz singers and each time they go on tour it is with different artists. Mark’s explanation answers Jasmine question but it did not bring her peace. As Mark enter the second half of the tour, Jasmine begins to see blogs with Mark and his band members engaging in explicit activities with women in the different countries. Jasmine could not believe what she was reading and seeing. Mark was allowing women to sit on his lap in the clubs as well as lay in his lap. She was mortified. She printed out the articles with the pictures. She tapes them on their personal bathroom wall. She did not want her son to see them. The day Mark was to return home she took their son to her mother’s house. She had moved all her and Mark Jr’s clothes out the house and into an apartment for her and Mark Jr. When Mark returned home from tour the pictures were the first thing he saw when he went into their bathroom. He turns to face Jasmine crying “baby I can explain. You know I would never do anything to hurt you or jeopardized our family. I love you more than life itself. Please baby give me a chance to explain.” Little did Mark know, Jasmine had moved. She did not want to hear another one of Mark’s explanations that did not comfort her spirit. Jasmine looks at Mark as he cries out for her forgiveness. Without saying anything she toss her keys on the bed then walked out their home forever.  

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