Moments of Clarity Read Online Free PDF Page A

self-esteem are the cheating man’s dream. No matter what you might say about Abdul, he is handsome. I guess Pandora really thought that she was doing something by making him cheat on you with her,” Tiara finished.
    â€œShe didn’t make him cheat on me. She just made it easy for him to do so.”
    â€œWell, I guess it’s true what they say.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œA stiff dick has no conscience,” Tiara retorted, angry on her friend’s behalf. She continued, “And to be named Pandora. That name itself is a conversation piece. Abdul puts new meaning to the phrase ‘opening Pandora’s box.’ ”
    â€œI feel so humiliated.” Sasha began to weep quietly, wiping her tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand.
    Tiara moved over and sat close to her on the couch, putting her arm around her shoulders. She said consolingly, “You have nothing to feel embarrassed about. You didn’t know.”
    Again Sasha wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “I don’t know why I’m crying. I’ve known for some time that I’m not in love with Abdul, at least not the kind of love that makes a person want to marry someone and be with them forever.”
    Tiara very calmly got up and returned with a box of tissues. She handed it to Sasha. “You’re crying because you think that you’ve been duped. No one likes to be taken advantage of,” Tiara nodded her head in understanding.
    Sasha continued to cry. “To think that I wasted two years with that loser.”
    â€œDon’t think of it as a waste of two years. Think of it as a saving of many years to come.”
    â€œI know. But I thought that he was basically a good person. You don’t know the opportunities I’ve missed out on because of him. Everyone gets sick sooner or later. Working in the hospital I meet a lot of eligible men. Did I tell you that Abdul tried to excuse his behavior by saying that we weren’t exclusive?”
    â€œThat does take a lot of nerve,” Tiara agreed. Then she said, as a way to lighten the atmosphere, “Actually, the timing is perfect for you to find out about this. There’s a silver lining in this cloud. Now you can go out with Sexton with a clear conscience,” Tiara prompted with a note of encouragement in her voice.
    Sasha shook her head negatively from side to side. “Are you crazy? If a man like Abdul, with absolutely nothing going for him, could lead a double life, what do you think that Sexton is capable of?”
    â€œSo now you’re going to lump all men together because of what Abdul has done? Shame on you, Sasha.”
    â€œI don’t think all men are like Abdul,” she denied. “I just want to be by myself for awhile. No more drama.”
    â€œBut Sexton seems to really like you and he’s not going to be available forever. I say strike while the iron is hot. That’s why I snapped Peter up.”
    â€œBut Abdul has caused me to doubt myself. I’ve thought myself a good judge of character. Now I’ve lost confidence in my judgment.”
    â€œWell, I’m glad that I have Peter,” Tiara said with relief. “Being single these days is for the birds.”
    * * *
    For the second time that day, Sasha let herself into her apartment and walked to her bedroom. From the doorway she could see the red blinking light on her answering machine. She pressed the message button and heard a series of hang-ups before she heard Abdul’s voice which held an obvious sense of urgency, “Sasha, I’ve been calling you for hours. I’m sorry about what you found out, but there’s more to it than that. Give me a chance to explain. Call me.”
    â€œAbout what I found out?” She screwed up her face. “You’re not sorry about what you’ve been doing?” Sasha held down the delete button on her machine until she heard the automated voice,