Rita's Unseen Destiny.

Rita took a deep breath and handed her mother the newspaper. Naome's eyes scanned the headlines, and her expression changed to one of understanding.

 "Oh, Rita," Naome said, pulling her daughter into a hug, "I am sorry you still have feelings for him, don't you?" 

 Rita nodded, feeling a lump firm in her throat. She had been so sure that Carlson felt the same way about her. But now it seemed like he was already taken.

 Naome held her daughter tightly, letting her cry out her emotions. She knew that Rita needed to process her feelings, and she was there to support her every step of the way.

 As they sat there, Naome couldn't help but wonder what had really happened between Carlson and Laura. Was their relationship serious, or was it just a fling? And how would Rita recover from this heartbreak?

 Naome looked at Rita with a determined expression. "Rita, if you truly love Carlson, you need to fight for him. Go back to him and tell him how you feel. Do not let Laura take him away from you." 

 Rita's face contorted in anger and frustration. "How can I do that, mum, he had already moved on. He is with Laura now, and I am just a memory to him." 

 Naome's expression softened, and she reached out to take Rita's hand. Rita, you can't give up. You need to try and win him back." 

 Rita shook her head, feeling aware of despair washing over her. " No mum, I have had time to think, and I realized that I was the one who pushed him away. I have his space, and he filled it with someone else. It's my fault, mum."

 Naome's eyes filled with compassion, and she pulled Rita into a hug. "Rita, don't blame yourself. Relationships are complicated, and people make mistakes. But if you truly love Carlson, you need to try and make things right." 

 Rita pulled back, wiping away her tears. " I appreciate your advice, mum, but I think it's too late for me and Carlson, I need to move on and focus on myself."

 Naome nodded, understanding in her eyes, okay, Rita, I am here for you, no matter what. We will get through this together.

 It was a bustling evening in town, with people rushing to and from enjoying the cool evening breeze. Rita, dressed in her delivery uniform, walked briskly towards her car, parked by the sidewalk. She had just finished delivering a pizza to a customer and was about to head back to the pizza shop for her next assignment.

 As she approached her car, she suddenly felt a jolt of surprise. Her eyes met with the eyes of Carlson, her husband, standing across the streets, staring at her with an intense gaze. Rita's heart skipped a beat as she felt a rush of emotions, shock, anger and a hint of sadness.

 For a moment, they just stared at each other, the world around them melting away. Rita's mind flashed back to the memories they had shared, the laughter, the tears, and the heartbreak. She thought about the newspaper article that had exposed his relationship with Laura, and her anger flared up again.

 Carlson, sensing Rita's emotions, took a step forward, his eyes locked on hers. He looked handsome, a young man in his early thirties and energetic, his eyes still held the same spark, the same intensity that had drawn her to him in the first place.

 Rita felt a pang of uncertainty, her emotions warning within her part of her wanted to turn away, to ignore him and to pretend that she didn't care. But another part of her, apart that she couldn't ignore, wanted to know what he was doing there. Why was he staring at her with such intensity?

 As they stood there looking in silent stand-off, the world around them slowly came back into focus, people walked by, cars drove past, and the sounds of the town created a distant hum. But for Rita and Carlson, time stood still and all that mattered was the space between them, charged with emotions, memories and unresolved questions.

 Rita quickly opened the car door and slid into the driver's seat, trying to escape the awkward encounter. But before she could even start the engine, Carlson called out to her.

 "Rita wait! We need to talk!" He shouted, his voice going across the street.

 Rita's heart skipped a beat as she hesitated for a moment. She looked in the rearview mirror and saw Carlson running towards her, his face contorted in a mixture of desperation and longing.

 But Rita's mind was made up. She couldn't bear the thought of talking to him, of hearing his excuses and justifications for what he had done. She put the car in gear and stepped on the gas, feeling a sense of relief wash over her as she pulled away from the curb.

 Carlson ran after the car, his eyes fixed on Rita's retreating figure. He shouted again, his voice hoarse with emotion." Rita, please! What you saw in the newspaper is not what you think! I can explain!" 

 But Rita didn't look back, she kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead, feeling a sense of determination and independence wash over her. She was done with Carlson, done with the heartache and the pain. She was moving on, and she wasn't looking back. 

 As the car disappeared into the distance, Carlson slowed to a stop, his chest heavy with exertion. He stood there, alone and defeated, the sound of his own ragged breathing the only sound in the stillness of the evening.

 For a long moment, he just stood there, his eyes fixed on the empty space where Rita's car had been. Then, slowly, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness, his heart heavy with sorrow and regret.

 As Carlson walked away, he couldn't shake off the feeling of emptiness and loneliness that had settled in his chest. He had never felt so defeated, so lost.

 He thought about Rita, about the way she had looked at him with such anger and hurt in her eyes. He thought about the way she had driven away, leaving him standing alone on the sidewalk.

 Carlson sighed, feeling aware of regret washing over him. He had messed up, big time. He had hurt the one person he loved, the one person who had ever truly loved him.

 As he walked, the streets seemed to grow darker and more deserted. The lights of the town seemed to fade into the distance. Leaving only the sound of his own footsteps echoing through the night.

Carlson eventually found himself at his house. As he opened the door and stepped inside, he was greeted by the silence of the room. The only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioner, a reminder that even in his darkest moments, life went on.

 Carlson collapsed on to the bed, feeling like he had hit rock bottom. He buried his face in his hands and let out a deep sigh, wondering how things had gone wrong.