The Great Escape

Wonderfully conceived. The one imbalance in the narrative was that he never had to fess up to his own detour from fidelity after learning of hers. She had gotten together with Mark for 2 hours once a week for 5 months. In turn, he bedded Lucinda from Long Island Sound to the Potomac. with regular sex almost daily and overnighting together for the duration. So he doubtless exceeded her number of sexual encounters get-togethers with Mark by multiples. Something worthy of factoring into any discussion of them getting back together as a couple.

Saved by the bell, a great story that looked to be falling off the tracks but was saved by the last chapter

Good story. Glad no marital reconciliation. Really tired of the wife serially apologizing and hoping to be forgiven and taken back. Irritated at the daughters for not accepting dad's new life and encouraging Mon to let him go.

He really doesn't need all the details of the affair. That she cheated, lied and had no regrets in the process, along with the complete violation of trust is enough to leave her. She didn't tell him about the third man and did not admit to a complete lack of guilt in the process. She clearly was on the fence of continue to cheat in the

future. She used lack of communication as an excuse to cheat because she got a thrill from it. I'd been married about 18 years when my wife dumped me for a guy she's been screwing for 6 months. I also found out she was a part time escort. NO CLUE. What I do know is that I was DEVASTATED. My trust was shattered. I never cared about her motivations. She was a lying whore and that's the long and the short of it.; I was 52 and she 41 and still a stunner. Also, later, a psychologist pointed out she was a closet narcissist,

He, in reality, would have put her off the boat immediately. Thus, I disagree with the authors point of view as he wrote below.

Medical. , CPR has to result in a viable BP in 5-7 min or brain damage is irreparable. Her CPR was uselessly ineffective. I've had LAD stenosis and, believe me, there are concerning symptoms before the chest pain.

Recovery from the stent is about 10 days.

I'm not a sailor but the aspects of boating were fascinating!!!!!

A lot of criticism to be sure but on the plus side THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD STORY ******5 STARS!!!

Sry. I hate questions as an ending..was looking good then..

Story was good for me but she is and will cheat again.

Great writing and good plot. Nice ending in that the lifesaving effort is appreciated but doesn't fix the broken trust.

What's the harm in telling us what happens after the phone call?

I did think this was your strongest story yet. Realized characters who fit in their environment. I bought in and got immersed in the story. I found some value in every person, which in turn, makes the story believable and relatable. Thanks for sharing!

To Anonymous who commented on my post. What I thought I made clear is that almost thirty years is a long time, and things that people may do in their early ‘20’s are likely the result of different motivations than what people do in their late ‘40’s, even when it comes to sex. Anyone who has been married for three or more decades can, I think, appreciate this. The husband did not know about the earlier affair, so there was no reason for him to conclude that his wife was a lifelong cheating slut. The earlier event may also have faded in memory for the wife. For almost three decades there was no problem. Who knows what motivated the later affair; Cora apparently had no clue. It is too easy to brand her as a cheating slut as if the only other option was a perfect angel. Cora knew she wasn’t an angel, but hoped that she was better than the alternative. Neither Cora nor Tim, in my reading, were really sure, but Tim’s misgivings were such that he could not live with her, at least for now, and perhaps forever. Both needed serious therapy. The lack of certainty is what I really liked about this ultimately sad story.

5 stars from Xluckylee for a realistic story. Sometimes we don't get a happy ending.

1. if someone is breating and their heart id beating DO NOT DO CPR

2. if someone need CPR to survive they wont last an hour getting it intermittently before receiving medical care without serious brain damage

Anon in previous post. The forgiveness trope is even worse than that. Authors use it as a kind of plot point that shows MC has truly gone through adversity and moved on. In reality, the two are completely irrelevant. You are perfectly able to move on without forgiving, or even talking again to the cheater. Time, distance and new relationships gradually fade that person from your mind. Anyone who has experienced it knows what I'm talking about. They literally never cross your mind unless someone brings them up. They are completely irrelevant to your life.

So this fabled forgiveness, serves no real purpose other than lessening the cheater's guilt, if they have that at all. And that will be fading with time too. Authors are so used to their tropes, that don't even care if they make sense in the context of their story. It's fine to Not Forgive. No righteous fire will come from the sky to burn you. You don't owe anything to people who have betrayed you. Presenting it some kind of moral obligation is one of the most baffling things I see in these stories.

Tim was a faithful partner and deserves the same.

She is a 304 who cheated on him to start their marriage and could have just told him and ended it then.

Having a full blown affair involves so much disrespect ,planning, lies

A lot of pages for so little closure but it's a method.

Of course Lucinda may want to sail with him again.

Ambul You don't make any sense. The reason cheating breaks trust is because the cheated can't get guarantees it won't happen again in the future. Not because they don't get guarantees it won't happen in the next couple years and everything after that is fine, knock yourself out slut. This wife fucked around as NEWLYWED. The definition of a slut who shouldn't be married for anyone with common sense without cuckold tendencies. And has a full blown affair years later confirming it. Newsflash. You don't need to be perfect in order to not betray your marriage vows. Twice. In full blown affairs that literally can't be called mistakes by definition. Unless you are inclined to count every single time she met her lover and fucked him as one.....

Bravo for a well-told story. But I liked even more that you ended the story realistically.

There is not a way I can write on and on about the good or bad of this story.

It seems to almost similar to "Island Bill" in Theme.

The lawyer "Tim" didn't seem to think like any lawyer I know.

The Wife "Cora" didn't seem to resemble the character of a Surgical crew's nurse.

Lucinda Otter's character does seem to be inline for that role and life history.

I do not have any problem with the way the story ended, it was told, captivating ones attention.

A Tug boat is one of great maneuverability and great force for it size. I do know in Florida a Captains license Is necessary for hiring out services, The license requires passage of written test and also show many hours of experience.

I dare say a man that runs regular almost daily.; Then has D1 coronary artery get an obstruction is unlikely to occur behind the Helm of a Tug Boat "low physical stress".

I feel the author wrote this with limited experience, knowledge and input from a expert.

It just seemed a little lame. grade weak 4.

Aside from some truly glaring flaws -- the ending, in particular -- this is a good, well written story.

One common trope in LW stories is 'forgiveness' as the answer to a cheating spouse; to me, this is a completely false moral equivalence. 'Betrayal' of a spouse with another lover has to with 'death' -- death of trust, of the emotional basis of a relationship and, ultimately, death of the relationship itself. What is the correct antonym for betrayal/death? Resurrection -- no, not 'life' but resurrection, bringing something 'dead' back to life. But how to bring an emotionally dead relationship back to life? Why even try with someone who was capable of such egotistical treachery? On what basis to re-establish trust in someone capable of such deceit?

I truly wish LW writers would drop 'forgiveness' as a counterpoint to betrayal/cheating -- these two concepts exist in separate universes and are in no way 'paired' as moral counterparts.

Thanks for this storey. I mostly enjoyed it. I found I was getting fed up with Tim after a while. I was wanting him to do something positive - ANYTHING positive! Instead, there was a constant circle of pain which did neither of them any good and left me feeling rather depressed. Yes you are right - real life does it's own thing, but even half way through I simply couldn't see them getting back together other than some smart device. but it took several pages to prove me right.

So, constructive criticism?

It was too long - It read well, just too much of it.

The character of Tim was (intentionaly?) weak. This is a lawyer for crying out loud.

And a personal request - if you are going to put us through that much gloom and depression, please let us have a little light at the end of it - it is a storey after all.

I hope my comments are recieved as constructive, and may I also thank you for the time and effort you have so obviously put into this.

I liked this story hence 5 * but would have loved to see them reunite... A 20 year younger woman is not the answer. Been there

I'm puzzled,

by the bad ratings this story gets.

Some comments mentioned the story was unfinished.

I agree.

Some lowered their ratings because of it.

I strongly disagree.

Shawshank Redemption has been voted by many movie fans,

as best movie ever.

Those who have seen it, remember well the final scene

where two friends meet on a beach.

First time in years and first time as free men.

Did their story end there?

Of course not.

We don't know if their friendship survived

years apart and as free men.

But it was a perfect way to stop telling their story.

Unfinished, but perfect.

Same goes for the story here.

Lucinda returns to the story, with a cute 'I miss you'.

Tim's rough journey ends with a possibility

of sunny days ahead.

Unfinished story, great ending.

And that's how I see this whole story;

Great. From start to end!

We got all of the emotions, struggles and pain.

We got a scenic journey

so descriptive you almost felt

you were a part of it.

This is one of the best stories I've read here.

To me it stands side by side with gems

from Todd172, qhml1, laptopwriter

and the greatly missed Rehnquist

(Sorry HDK, PAPATOAD, moreandmore and more and more.

I had to stop my list somewhere).

Absolutely top ratings from me.

Cora’s first adultery was 27 years before the present adultery. For those who lump the two together, consider that we are looking at an almost three decade elapsed time period, and I find it difficult to equate the two: a young newlywed and a much older middle-aged woman. So, for those who think “once a slut, always a slut,” why couldn’t it be “once a good wife always a good wife”? Cora is old enough to be a grandmother, and obviously made a huge mistake, and is paying for it. Branding her character forever more as a “slut” is a cheap shot, but common in the LW category. I guess most of the readers who seem to think this way are men, and all are perfect in their own lives.

A rare five star rating!

Well done. I admit that I was hoping for a reconciliation of some sort but you're right, real life doesn't alway have a story like ending.

5*.

Captivating, well written and very entertaining.

If it had reconciliation ending it would have been the definition of RAAC. She is actually living proof of "a cheater is always a cheater". She was fucking around one month into the marriage. And then had a full blown affair years later. He doesn't need to assume it might happen again in the future, because she has already proven to him it will. Only a willing cuck who gets off from that shit would reconcile. And only people who enjoy cuck stories would ever ask for a reconciliation in this one.

Thank God he didn't end up with that whore!!! At least she knows he's to good for her

Geez, what comments to leave? Well, first I enjoyed your writing and flow of the story. For most readers the deciding factor will probably be ~ should he have reunited with his wife or not. I am sure there are factors on both sides. I see both sides. Thus i will take the cowards way out and say I enjoyed your tale with a 5* rating. Thanks for sharing it.

You sneaking SOB! Very clever ending!

Thanks for writing. A good story well told, like others, I would love more and if I’m honest a reconciliation. I too think all ways should be tried to save a relationship before ending it. 5 stars

Interesting if frustrating.

So who sent the CD? I also don't understand her argument of him giving up, she gave up first, hence the affair, there's no point in trying to fight for something that has already been gone. Even worse is that she had an affair, a month into their marriage, meaning all those years, he didn't have a faithful wife. If she confessed about that one then and then they move past it, having the kids and so forth, then it's possibly a stronger marriage. However, she proved once a cheater, always a cheater, she's only fighting for the marriage after she got caught, but she had stopped fighting for it, when she started the affair. Sure, he saved his life, but two wrongs don't equate to one right. It was for the best.

The nitpickers will find something to pick on. It was a story. It worked for the most part. Not perfect but very entertaining. Lucinda at the end was a mystery. What’s up with that? Next chapter to follow. You can forgive a wife for a short affair but 6 months and the only reason t ended was the lovers wife intervened.

would have gotten a 5 from me, till you fuck with the whore again. It seems like most writers here have a very low opinion of men. All you have to due is fuck or get them back into her bed and all will be well. Why would I want to fuck a used slut? she out on the streets, so why touch her again. 3.5******

Well it you were truthful that it doesn't have a RAAC or a BTB ending. Because it didn't have an ending at all. It was a well written story. At some points you had to extremely suspend your disbelief. Like when she finds him and their meeting not only confirms her long term affair but also revealed it wasn't even the first time. She had been a cheating slut from the start. And also gave her APs her shithole, something she always denied. What was his reaction? To kick her off the boat like any red-blooded male would? No. To indulge her and keep being conflicted. I know it's a trope to present males as indecisive, over-emotional pussies in LW. But it's jarring to see it even in generally well written stories like this.

You said it at the beginning: it's a long story, not necessarily a BTB or RAAC..

The writing was very good, the story was very good, the characters were very good, all together, five stars worth.

I can't say I loved the ending, but you certainly could do another part of it to actually come to a final resolution for all of the characters... obviously your choice to do or not do.

While you said Tim's story has ended, maybe Lucinda's has just begun ?

Still have to say nicely done.

Enjoyed the yarn, which worked well - and rang fairly true. I enjoy your prose style.

Great story! Probably could use a follow up.

5

To the author: If you write a sequel, I urge you to continue with Cora and Tim’s efforts to come to grips with their situation, even if Lucinda is added to the mix. I am not of the black and white crowd, and do enjoy reading about couples to don’t toss in the towel before trying everything else. Life rarely accommodates simplistic “solutions” and stories are much more realistic and indeed interesting when the main characters struggle with their own feelings, and emotions over situations that are almost never clear cut and still are able to show some empathy for the other. This is particularly true of long term relationships. Lucinda may add an additional complication, and that could be fun, depending on how the Cora/Tim relationship evolves.

He needed to have anal sex with her on the last night. Close the gestalt.

It's a good story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Real life. Loved it.

1st, thank you for a great story. Look forward to a whole lot more from you.

2nd, the whole story bring up a question for the real world that is, and it is a simple; why do we humans hurt each other so much, at every level we do it, physical, emotional, and worst of all psychologically [it is different to emotional in my experience]

3rdly there is a story on here that is a very similar plot, but hey it was still good.

Decent story until the truncated ending. And u knew it was a crap ending, thatbis why you mentioned it. Do better

I love this story. IMO the story is not finished, this needs another long detailed chapter. I hope you'll consider writing it.

This comment is from the author, Tanglosax. First, I apologize, completely and unreservedly (Picture John Cleese in Fish Called Wanda making his apology to Kevin Kline; google if you need to), for confusing the football Gators and Seminoles. I do enjoy college football and should never have made that mistake. Second, yes, reptilian crocs and alligators do both exist in south Florida, particularly in the Everglades National Park. My bad. I will refund all the payments I received for my story.

On the positive side, I am blown away by the number and thoughtfulness of the many comments, the complimentary ones as well as the ones that are not so complimentary. Your enjoyment (by most, anyway), has prompted me to start a sequel, and I promise not to take so long to publish it.

Thank you for reading, Tanglosax

What a very good story, I enjoyed reading this, the hanging ending is something that I hope you explore with a second part. Overall I’ll give this story a 4.5 rounded up to 5*

His never giving in to a reconciliation seemed very appropriate to me because she offered no evidence that it would never happen again. Cora's explanation that uncontrollable chemistry led to her bedding the doctor was not followed up with any confidence that it couldn't happen again, not to forget that first slip was followed by 5 months of Thursday Committee meetings. AND she cheated when they were only married a month!!! So, adios to "cheating Cora" and hello to a new life - with Lucinda? Why not.

Not a great fan of long stories, but this was unique. Little redundancy and always something happening. However you wrote concerning an epilogue that it's not needed due to the nature of life. OK, but WHY did you put in Luciana's phone call? Definitely wasn't needed. And going with your ending note, yes, our lives are filled with various stories.

But one like this, that phone call, wouldn't have been left hanging. Tim would've either ignored it completely or, more likely, called her. Maybe you're thinking of a 2nd part to explain?

I was expecting them to work on reconciling, as long as Cora went to her therapy session, yes, sometimes including Tim. I can't say I'm surprised that it didn't work out that way. Maybe it will in a year or so when they inevitably meet again. Having said that, I'm not sure that would've been my favorite ending; Cora cheated for 5 months or so & only stopped when Tim found out. Otherwise....

Back to that phone call; Lucinda said she had either good or bad news, depending on Tim's viewpoint. My thinking was never she's pregnant, like some commenters wrote, but that she left her then husband after either being mistreated or catching him cheating. She wanted to see if she could return to Tim & "The Great Escape", this time for good. Well, that's my 2 cents.

Overall, good, believable story. Even with this ending, which I didn't care for, 5 stars. Bob

I was really enjoying this story up until the heart attack. #1 - There's a branch of the military in the US called the Coast Guard. Based on the boat position described in the story, the CG would have had a rescue chopper over the boat in 15-20 minutes. Must better solution than a 30 minute (each way) speed boat ride and THEN a rescue chopper ride. The story could have still had Harris coming out to help her get the boat back so you could have had the Mary conversation with Cora. #2 - Performing CPR is hard work. Even the most fit person can't do it more than 15 minutes without a good break to recover. Here his wife is performing CPR for an hour? Not going to happen. And the ending - Yes, it was bad. Are you hoping for a "February Sucks" story so other authors will finish the story for you? 4 stars just because of the ending.

Horrible ending and trite explanation. Story was pretty solid otherwise.

One point for author, if your writing from two peopkec(or more)s perspective including their thoughts and feelings etc. you create a problem.

Cora tried to sell to hubby that she couldn’t explain why she cheated, why she did it, why it carried on for five months. She also kept quite about giving Mark anal, thinking it was okay but not at one thing Syed want to do often.

But because we have already heard from Cora how she felt, how she had little or no guilt at all about cheating. That in fact she enjoyed having the best of both works - perfect life happy marriage, a little excitement in the form of a lover who gives her hot sec while she uses hubby for cuddling and safety. When we hear her talk to her husband we only see her has a lying bitch who’s trying to manipulate hubby and get him back home so she can have her cuddles and a little extra financially simply by getting baked and giving him some humdrum pity sex to make him forget.

Glad he didn’t fall for it - I’m guessing the younger woman’s either pregnant or has realised she doesn’t love Roy but loves the MC

Story was engaging and 8’ glad there was no RAAC, yes the wife repeatedly said she was sorry for hitting him and betraying him but she also held on to the little forbidden adventure her affair was.

Granted, one could say she planned on ending it has it was becoming Mundane but working with the guy each day and the ‘chemistry’ they had would that have happened if she hadn’t been caught?

She reflected early after being caught that only a couple of weeks ago she had it al, loving husband, great life and family and some decree fun with her lover. But now she’s lost it all. She was enjoying having her cake and eating it until age was caught and she suddenly decided age couldn’t live without the husband.

Like a lot of women, maybe not all? She thoughy she could manipulate him into Judy forgetting the hurt Ava taking her back.

She thought a simple apology, showing herself off naked, a bit of sex ( the same old, same old age gave her husband routinely) and taking her clothes off and jumping in the sea would make it all better. Really?

I read the old chestnut of doing everything to make it up to tge cheated spouse and wonder has always how a cheater thinks they can ‘make it up? By not cheating in future? Like she promised at the start of the marriage. By cooking him his favourite meal? Doing his washing (not that us guys actually need a woman for those things. Doing things in bed ages always refused him? (But has already done with her lover)? I’d like a cheater or psychologist to explain examples of making up for betraying someone and cheating with another person.

The old, dick size is a guy thing and women actually don’t care?? Really? There quite a lot of stories posted all over the internet and on YouTube and social media that seem to show a lot of women (maybe not all) think size is important, and anyway, a cheated on wife will have similiar insecurities (is this fragile female ego) was she younger than me, prettier, better in bed, bigger breasts, bigger/smaller sss etc etc.if anything women are even more insecure about their bodies than men.

Despite coming clean she still lied,,offered him her (second hand ass) and thinking anal with Karc was okay but not something she was all that bothered about which flies against her thoughts on snap on page one. Author forgot his/her own story?

She saved him from his heart attack true but one could also point out has he should that the stress and s as train and emotional hurt of the affair and even their heated debate the day before May have pushed him over the edge resulting in the actual heart attack.

Wife was regretful but insisting on talking about how magical the attraction was, berating the husband for calling her lover ‘asshole’ rather than by his name and not actually giving him a reason to trust her going forward. After all if she jumped into bed straight away with one guy she felt an immediate physical attraction too, totally forgetting her husband and shy thought of consequences she’s just had capable of doing it again once she has him back at home and feels bored again.

Strange way to end it though.

good story i do think it needed another chapter may a sequel would be good very good job

Great to get the whole story in one go! Too many of the highly esteemed writers here chop even modest length submissions into one-two page 'chapters'. Presumably to collect more stars for their rating position, sad really!

Totally enjoyed this story. Would like to see more, the rest of his sabbatical year, does Lucinda return? etc.

Hoping there isn't as long a gap between your submissions.

That was too much boating stuff for me. The story itself was way too long. The plot was moving very slowly. 3*

Well, I really enjoyed it and give it five stars. I expected them to part ways after her nursing gig ended. I thought the possibility of a reconciiation would be left to the readers imagination. The return of Lucinda surprised me..

Good story. Cliffhanger at end. Cool. Thanks

I agree with a lot of the comments and most were well thought out for a change. I didn't like the "cliff hanger" ending with the phone call. I think that could have been deleted, unless you are contemplating another story. A very strong 4 for me. Thank you.

“He would continue to miss the Cora he thought he had known, but not the cheating Cora she actually was”

I liked the story a lot. Very believable characters acting in a very believable way. I thought the author created a more three-dimensional character in Cora. Tim came across as a bit too self-righteous throughout the story and I saw no significant change in his character no matter what Cora said or did or how they interacted on the boat. I thought the ending was a bit weak: “Life was open to him” tells of a man without empathy or compassion. I couldn’t figure out the call from Lucinda, who is probably pregnant with his or her fiancée’s child. That was a complete irrelevancy in my opinion, unless the author wanted to throw some mud on Tim’s sense of his own virtue. I thought the ending could have gone either way, as the memory of past events, horrible as they were, do recede further into the past as time moves on.

In the end, in Tim’s eyes, Cora’s betrayal branded her forevermore as the cheating slut “she actually was.” Her years as a good and loyal wife and her remorse for what she did and subsequent actions apparently were no indication of who “she actually was” and seem to have counted for little. How to judge?

Fr me a bit of a disappointment at the end, but a life decision under the circumstances is had to make. You never know unless you face it. Thanks for your writing.

lucinda is pregnant

I liked it, didn't love it, but I did like it. The ending very much reminded me of an old MASH 4077 episode where Charles received a mystery book "The Rooster Crowed at Midnight" or something like that. As I recall the whole camp wanted to read the book, so it was torn apart and each chapter was passed around so everyone could read it ASAP. The last chapter was lost so they wound up calling the author to find out how it ended. That started a whole new round of arguments that it couldn't have ended that way because ... and that started everyone explaining why there ending was the right one. Everyone believes that any and every story should end differently from the way it did. I'm certain a lot of people have valid reasons why there ending are the right ones for the story. The truth is, at least to them, there ending is better. That's why February Sucks and Just Once plus a few other stories that have been allowed to have different endings get so much attention. They are all right, they are all valid and all interesting. This ending was right for the author but not for me. Someday maybe I will subject myself to the critics and publish a story to see if I can do half as good a job. Probable not but who knows. 4-stars.

You had an ending, with Tim thinking that life was open to him. Then you added two more paragraphs and created a cliffhanger.

Well written, a bit long, but very good. Thank you!

Nice price tag on that boat

Yeah, the ending was weak. I was actually hoping they would find a way through it. I would have been okay with them continuing Tim's trek together and getting closer than ever before, becoming a team and making the great escape together. Good memories tend to replace bad over time. Lucinda was just dumb! Well written story.

The heart attack was pretty predictable. I figured the next step would be a boat issue that threatened both lives, but the heart attack was close enough. In either event it was obvious something would happen to impact the unhappy couple’s relationship.

Lucinda’s message made her sound fairly doltish. Tim wasn’t very insightful. Altogether, an okay story, just none of the characters resonated for this reader, which may be my own issue, and not the author’s.

Good stuff. 5*

It’s a good read, but I think before the stories converge we spend too much of Tim’s story dealing with unimportant and uninteresting filler on the boat, like making pasta with red sauce, and a bunch of details of sailing south that don’t add to the story. I found the subplot with Lucinda to be rather superficial though overly drawn out. So I think that aspect could be edited down a bit.

Thanks for sharing...

I really enjoyed the fact you tried to make a it realistic (in your minds-eye). For me this story is a strong 4* & a possible 5* for effort. But to be honest this story didn't bring anything new or challenging, in fact its pretty impartial so if that's what you where going for you succeeded

I liked the beginning, but the ending was very weak. I have absolutely no problem reading a 10 page story, but you must finish it properly, otherwise the reader feels like you wasted their time.

-

This needed at least another couple of pages. You still had to wrap up the divorce, and resolve the situation with the obviously pregnant Lucinda. Cora's reaction to finding out that her soon-to-be-ex-husband was about to become a father again, with a woman their daughter's age, would have been priceless. It's a real shame we were robbed of those dramatic scenes.

-

One other point: "she's been a good wife and mother for almost thirty years"

Umm wtf? Did Tim conveniently forget that Cora also cheated on him as a newlywed? Cora was a piece of shit for the entirety of their marriage.

This should have ended with Tim celebrating at jettisoning the deceitful whore, and trading her in for a woman half her age.

Well done !

Overall, I enjoyed this story quite a lot. Good characters, believable plot, etc. I was disappointed that the husband apologized for anything. The end of the marriage was all her fault. He should have recognized that when she hesitated to call her lover an asshole. Also, I would have liked to hear about some negative consequences for the lover. Overall though, this is a good story.

Almost quit reading after seeing "sleep that knits the raveled sleave of care" in the first sentence. I understood the meaning from the individual words, but wondered why someone would state something in such a way. Turns out, Shakespeare did, as 2 minutes of searching revealed it as a quote from Macbeth. This created a dichotomy for me, since I enjoy a good turn of phrase (good enough for Bill S) almost as much as I appreciate brevity and clarity in stories (get to the point, using everyday words).

There were some errors, but not a lot considering the story is 10 Literotica pages long. Overall the writing was fine. The story was pretty standard for the type. The author did a nice fake on the reconciliation angle by having the wife returning to save his life, countering her earlier transgressions. It probably resembles what real life is like more than a snappy BTB or RAAC ending would, but real life can be boring to watch.

I normally scoff at those clamoring for more at the end of the story, but this time I would agree with the horde. You don't have to like the author's choice of ending, but this one doesn't even seem to have that. Really, what was the point?

Instead you are left with the hint that he possibly knocked up Lucinda while she was temporarily broken up with her boyfriend. What would her pregnancy from another man do to her engagement? Why would the author drop a mess like this on the end of the story, unless sequels or continuations are planned? All I can say is; for the author's next story, I am skipping ahead to the last page before I commit to reading another 10 Lit pages.

Great story! I thought you were heading toward a RAAC ending, but this was much more realistic. 5*

Entertaining story. Glad the author shared. For as long as the story was there's a whole lot more left to Tim & Cora's story. Kinda disappointed the author chose to stop when he did. This doesn't need an epilogue. It needs another full chapter.

If you're going to delve into college football please get the cities and teams right. The college football team in Tallahassee is the Seminoles. The Gators are in Gainesville.

Story is ok as it stands, and the ending is just fine as well. Readers need to be able to deal with plots that aren’t always gift wrapped with every question answered. What I find hilarious is that these typical Anonymous comments that are more distraught over mixing up Gainesville and Tallahassee than the plot of the story. Typical red neck American response! Story? What story? They got our football team wrong! I guess the people up there in Albany NY, aren’t as fixated on your Gators or Seminoles as you’d like to believe. May you should get De Santa to send more folks north on his charter service so they’d be better informed.

I agree with that the Cora's description of why the sex was different deserves 5 stars on it's own!

I don't have any problem with a story ending that makes the readers think (and of course leave the story open to another part if the author wants to go there).

But the one thing I did have a problem with is the daughters. Did Cora never think to call them about the heart attack, did they really not fly out to see their dad either immediately while he was in hospital or during his recovery phase? The only thing that I can think of is that the author didn't want the family all together as that would have changed the dynamic significantly

Great story. Brought tears to my eyes, which is unusual. It was a big betrayal, for sure, but I think at his age I would have been inclined to give her a bit more time. The marriage would never be the same but it could still be good.

What a piece of shit is this HDK. The only thing he likes is wimpy men behaving like the cocksucker he is

You done good. Well written, plot line is unbroken, characters well developed and true to themselves. The ending is just fine for most experienced adults. Good stuff. Thank you.

Jesus fucking Christ. Do a little research if you're going to go in to details about a real place.

"And by the way, no crocodiles in Florida, just alligators."

Yeah, no, Florida not only has crocs, they're salt water tolerant crocs & they live in the brackish areas between the sea & the swamps in SoFla. You ABSOLUTELY can get crocs in the Inter Coastal that far south, in fact they like to hang around marinas to eat boat trash. Proof: />

More to the point gators can & do tolerate salt water briefly and have shown up in the Intracoastal, but usually further north.

"Honey, the University of Florida, way up in Tallahassee, has a football team they call the Gators"

No. No they do NOT, and I say that speaking as a University of Florida alumnus. The University of Florida is in GAINESVILLE. Tallahassee is home to the Florida State Seminoles, our die hard rivals. It's one of the oldest and ugliest rivalries in collegiate football, there are places in Florida where someone would shank you for a mix up like that.

Very realistic and well written story. *5*

Well done. And mostly logical and believable. One major metaphysical flaw is when an author has a character claim that the character doesn't know why they did something. Person A can claim to person B that they don't know why they did something. And since person B can't read person A's mind person B has no choice but to accept that person A is really that self ignorant, or is lying to person B, or is lying to themself. So it makes sense that despite what person A claims, person B can't prove otherwise, but also can assume whatever B wants about person A's claim: incredibly dense, lying to herself, lying to me.

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But you created Cora, her thoughts and her actions. So when you have her tell Tim she doesn't know why she fucked the asshole, regularly, with enthusiasm and excitement and adventure, it comes out as phony, deceitful, unbelievable. Because you Did reveal some of her thoughts and actions early in the story when she was reveling in fucking the asshole. And there was no confusion on her part, no hesitation, no regret, and little or no guilt. No fog of lust or temporary insanity. When Cora met the asshole doctor she immediately wanted and decided to fuck him, because she thought it might be an exciting and satisfying adventure. And she was right, so she continued to fuck him and experiment with her special new sex partner. And she would have kept on fucking him until She was tired of it. That was why she did it. You as much told us what she was thinking early in the story. She new exactly why she did it, no therapy needed. She did it, and kept doing it, because she valued the new sex and her new sex partner MORE than she valued her self respect, her virtue, and her conscience. She had no conscience. And Tim realized that her remorse and contrition were entirely driven Not by what she had done to him and their family, it was driven by what her betrayal and deceit Had Cost Her. And the Only reason the whore might not cheat again is not because it is her personal failure of virtue and character. No, the reason she might not cheat again is because she just can't be certain she can get away with it again. She explained to Tim with great clarity how sex with somebody you have no connections and commitment to allows you to focus entirely on the sex, and thereby have the best sex possible. And Tim knew he would never be able to compete with that kind of sexual abandon. Tim knew he could never be Cora's no holds barred unlimited sex partner; that would always be somebody strange and new, for Cora.

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So it was perfectly logical, inescapable, that Tim divorce Cora. Cora is damaged goods. And there is no indication that Cora could ever be a loyal faithful wife to Any man, not over the long haul. Another chemical reaction with another new handsome guy, and Cora is back on her knees and taking a new thrilling cock up her ass. Tim knows that too.

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So the sequel with Lucinda will be exciting. Of course she's pregnant, but 20 years is a huge age gap. I vote that Tim reunites with Lucinda, helps her with the child, then helps her find a man her own age to have a future with. That could take a few years. Then Tim will find a boating and a life partner, see Cora on the occasions of their daughters' big events, and will live happily and healthy without the cheating whore who abandoned him and herself for some strange cock. Lots of options how that unfolds. If Cora ends up in a long term stable relationship then that would be complete bullshit, unless it happens when she can no longer enjoy sex. Cora has been to the mountain top, and no husband can go there with her.

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Thanks again. Very thought provoking and enjoyable.

I want the 30 minutes of my life I just wasted reading this. The Ranger 31 is nice, their new Ranger 43 is even better. Shoulda stayed with your Angel

I enjoyed the hell out of your tale. I’m looking forward to reading your other stories. Just finished reading the comments to date; overall pretty damn good. I’m not qualified to critic your abilities. But you successfully took me along for a great tale with really believable characters. Daughters didn’t bring a lot to the party; but the Dad connection showed through. Like so many other commenters; I want to hear more about Lucinda, Tim & Cora. I’ll be watching & hoping. Thanks for sharing your tale!

A very insightful and thought-provoking story. I thought the telephone message at the end was superflous and spoiled the overall narrative, but I particularly liked the 'angel' image. Cora was a combination of an aspirational and a real, fallen angel. All of us want the pure, unblemished angel, but we're all a combination of angel and devil. Perhaps one can't have the one without the other, as alas, we're all human...

Thank heavens that asshole HDK didn't try insert his brand of poison into the comments section.

Good story. Well written. Well done

4 stars - yes, adding that last bit with Lucinda was a bad idea and made for a disappointing ending.

- I also agree with the RAAC rules - ONCE&DONE and in special cases of ONE single episode of rape, drugs or alcohol beyond the victim's control, there might be the possibility of a RAAC - BUT 5 months of enjoyable sex? - NO WAY IN HELL.

If Lucinda is pregnant, his life is truly a mess. Not free from his marriage either legally or emotionally, he suddenly will have to agree to consign his third child to death (and then deal with that grief) or to begin a new relationship with a much younger woman, no doubt less than thrilled to be his baby momma, as he tries to come to terms with the end of three decades of his life and his new status as a cardiac survivor. If that's not enough and there is no abortion, he will soon get to revisit all the joys, responsibilities and terrors of parenting a newborn. No matter which available path he follows, his life will be filled with the kind of unending stress guaranteed to produce a poor cardiac outcome. Likelihood of two year survival is probably less than 25 percent.

Another story, or recounting, were it real life, and it happens, of an attraction leading to sex outside of normal life. The cheaters do not have to schedule their entire lives around each other, do not have the daily arguments and disappointments that couples have, so everything is better in their selfish little incomplete microcosm. This, while they are also stealing some of the daily joys and triumphs that would have reinforced their marriages, and their relationships with their spouses.

Five for you

Very well done, a good story and one that I think represents the questions a man or woman would have of a cheating spouse. I enjoyed reading it.

That was a good one. A real story with a little bit of everything that makes it worth reading a story this long. It had some really well developed characters that seemed human rather the usual LW caricatures. The ending wasn’t quite up to the story, but it was so good overall that I didn’t mind. A *5 star effort.

O.K., a nitpick comment. The Florida Gators are in Gainesville, not Tallahassee!

Gators in Tallahassee?

Widow maker is just that. You dont survive it unless you immediate help. Like next to a hospital with level one trauma center. When your heart is stopped for an hour, no matter if CPR is done, you are not surviving.

Great story in there is no coming back from the affair. What happens next time she shakes hands with someone she knows she will have sex with?

You’ve got to finish the story. You can’t leave us like this

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Loved the “nursing him back to health” plot twist, but the factual inaccuracies mentioned by other commentators were distracting (CPR, ‘Gators,etc.). Also, I’m getting tired of the “I don’t understand” cliche that most MCs drop. She explained pretty well that they were in a rut, and neither of them acknowledged it, then she got a chance to do something risky and wrong…the temptation of being naughty tipped her over. Every married person understands these dynamics, but a lawyer doesn’t get it? How about “Cora, I’ve felt that temptation, too. The thing is good spouses resist it and work with their spouses to fix the problem; they don’t lie, cheat and break their vows for 5 freaking months. I still love you, but you spent five months showing that you don’t deserve trust, and I won’t ever trust you again.”

I don't agree that it needs an ending. Sometimes what she got is all you get. I really don't understand in these stories how the spouse can claim to love the other one completely and then have months or years or "it's just sex, you are the only one I love". Like that explanation actually means anything. And poor pitiful little wife, she can't figure out why she did what she did, she was someone else during that time. Horseshit. If that's true he can't trust her for anything, she might decide to see what killing someone feels like and kill him in his sleep. But it's just murder, he's the one she really loves. 5 stars for his lack of wimpy giving in to her and for standing by his resolution. He can't forgive her, he doesn't know her well enough for that.

I do have to admit that I want a sequel.

So Cora gave him exemplary cardiac massage and saved his life. She didn't just let him die for the property and the insurance because they were still married at that point. So not a deeply calculating woman.

There we have it, obviously a work of fiction.

If one other story talks about setting someone you love free, I will scream!

Setting someone free is just a likely to be seen as you not being really bothered, and they weren't worth fighting over.

According to the official weather almanac of Bridgeport, CT, this story could have happened only in 1984.

A typical lw story nowadays: puerile nonsense.

One off can be a mistake. Repeated one offs are her looking for someone/something you're not providing.

And probably she thinks you're not capable of providing.

Two+ hookups: she found whatever/whoever it was she was looking for.