Detoured by Love

Claire Townsend, 25, spent most of her life perfecting her

acting skills.

From the moment she stepped onto the stage at the age of five,

performing in school plays and church productions, she knew this

was her calling.

By the time she turned thirteen, she’d earned a permanent

position at the local theater, where she continued to develop her

talent, becoming a regular in every production.

Determined to refine her craft, Claire joined the drama club as

soon as she entered high school. However, it wasn’t until her

junior year that she earned the coveted title of drama club

president after winning the vote.

Her life had always revolved around acting, her true passion,

until she met Nathan Howard.

Nathan was the school’s star quarterback. A senior who had taken

the team to two consecutive statewide championships.

He was tall and lean. Standing at exactly six feet and weighing a

mere 180 pounds, despite the defined muscles that protruded

from beneath his uniform.

His skin was a rich golden brown, complemented by thick black

eyebrows and a matching mustache.

His sharp features, deep-set eyes, and the dimples carved into

both cheeks blended effortlessly into his long jet-black hair, which

he always wore pulled back in a sleek man bun.

Nathan was a heartthrob.

He captured Claire’s attention instantly, though deep down, she

couldn’t shake the feeling that he was far beyond her reach.

Claire wasn’t popular, nor did she fit into his world of

cheerleaders, groupies, and the effortlessly cool. He’d never take a

second look at her—at least, that’s what she thought.

The buzz was going around, and flyers were posted all over the

school announcing the spring dance. This was going to be super

special for all the seniors. This would be the last time they came

together with their classmates to share this cherished annual

tradition.

Claire thought it was a prank when Nathan asked her to go to

the dance with him.

She wasn’t going to be the butt of anyone’s jokes. She imagined

everyone whispering and giggling at the fact that she really

thought Nathan was serious about taking her, out of all the girls

in the school, to the dance.

She blew him off; her excuse was theater rehearsal.

The truth. She stayed home that night, watching musicals,

secretly regretting not being by his side.

For the next three weeks, Nathan ignored Claire, even when she

discreetly spoke to him.

It was then she began to wonder if it hadn't been a prank after all.

But why would he want to take her to the dance when he had so

many other options, pretty, popular girls from all grades,

sophomores to seniors, girls who were stylish, confident, and

cool? Some of them, she thought, would make picture-perfect

couples with him.

Claire was a short, plump girl with a round face and hair as

thick as sheep’s wool, usually wrapped up in a bun. Most of her

face was always hidden behind a pair of oversized glasses.

She was kind of cute, though. Cute and short. Chubby with a

distinct appearance.

Claire’s skin, rich cocoa—brown, smooth, and flawless. Her eyes,

large—round—hazel with long curled eyelashes; natural. Lips—full

and softly curved. Her teeth—pearly white and perfectly

imperfect, hidden behind the gleam of metal braces.

It was a warm spring day when Claire unexpectedly ran into

Nathan at the local ice cream shop. She was startled when he

spoke to her. Her freshly made double-scoop ice cream, which

she’d spent her last five dollars on, took a nosedive straight into

the concrete, splattering into a sticky pink puddle.

“Hi Nathan, what a surprise to see you here.”

“Look, I know things have been weird since... you know, the

whole dance thing. I really thought it was a prank or some kind of

dare. Was it?”

“I mean, the star quarterback with a fresh new nerd on his arm.

Now that’s a laugh,” she said, letting out an awkward giggle.

“No, what I meant to say is that I didn’t want to get humiliated. I

just couldn’t believe someone like you could actually be interested

in me.”

"Claire, I asked you because I wanted to go with you.”

Yeah, I could date any girl at school, but most of them only care

that I’m the quarterback. To them, dating the quarterback, or

anyone on the football team, is just an ego and status booster;

that’s all they’re worried about. They don’t really see me. But you...

you're different. You're not trying to be part of the crowd or

chasing popularity. You're real. I like your style, and honestly, I’d

really like to be your friend—maybe even more than that, if you'd

let me.

“Oh boy, now I really feel bad.”

“Don’t, let’s start over, now that you know it’s not a prank.”

“Believe it or not, Nate likes Claire.”

They both laughed.

“Oh yeah, you can start calling me Nate.”

“First, let me get you another ice cream cone, double scoops,

right?”

“Just one this time,” she said with a soft smile.

From that day on, Nate and Claire were inseparable. When she

wasn’t in rehearsal or performing in a play, she was by his side

like a shadow. That is, until he left for college the following fall.

Maintaining a long-distance relationship was anything but easy.

Claire tried to stay hopeful, but the doubts crept in late at night,

in the quiet moments, or when he didn’t immediately text her

back. These doubts grew intense, especially knowing Nate was on

a campus full of new faces, surrounded by confident, polished

college girls, actually young women. Despite the doubt that Claire

was experiencing, she did her best to make it work.

It had been two weeks, and Nate hadn’t communicated with

Claire. No return calls, no texts, nothing on social media.

Claire, along with her best friend, Sheena, drove up to the

college to surprise him, but it was Claire who got the surprise.

Nate’s roommate, Evan, slowly cracked the door to their dorm

room.

“Hi Claire, Nate left school,” here all semester long, and then he

just up and left with no warning.

“Why, I don’t understand. Did something happen?”

“You know he just stopped communicating with me. It was so

sudden. So weird. Is he okay?”

“I sure hope so; it’s a mystery to me too.” All I can tell you is

that I came into the room last Saturday, and there was no sign of

him anywhere. Not a piece of clothing, shoes, books, or anything.”

“He didn’t even leave me a note to say goodbye, and I thought

we were cool.”

“I hope you get in contact with him soon.”

"Thanks," she murmured, hesitantly backing away as he slowly

shut the door. Claire had a lingering sense that his roommate was

holding something back, weighing heavily on her.

Suspecting Evan was covering for Nate, she stood near the

door, hoping to catch even a trace of his voice.

What she heard first was a woman’s voice—not unusual, she

told herself.

That woman could have been there with Evan, in the middle of

something, and it just wasn’t the right timing for him to welcome

her with open arms as usual.

She started to walk away, but then came Nate’s voice,

unmistakable.

A few minutes later, the sound of a door unlocking echoed

through the hallway.

Nate stepped out of the room hand in hand with a beautiful young

woman, and a wide smile spread across his face.

Claire wondered if she should hide or confront him.

He’d have questions. Why was she there, and she hadn’t talked to

him?

It didn’t matter why she was there. What mattered was that he

was seeing other women while still in a relationship with her, and

Evan was covering for him.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Claire couldn’t bring herself to

confront Nate. She turned and ran as fast as she could, searching

for a quiet place to break down. That place ended up being her

car, where she collapsed into the passenger seat, her head in

Sheena’s lap as she sobbed uncontrollably.

One year later, she started college. The memories of her

relationship with Nate had finally faded into the background,

becoming nothing more than a distant echo of the past.

There was no official breakup. After the incident at his college,

they just never spoke again.

Single, braces-free, and noticeably thinner, on a campus filled

with handsome, eligible men, Claire remained resolute, her sole

focus was to sharpen her acting skills and secure her place on the

Dean’s List. She refused to let anything distract her from

becoming one of the best and brightest.

Over the years, there were a few distractions, but she

graduated—on time with honors.

After graduation, Claire returned home, intending it to be only a

brief stay. She had a plan: work, save, and leave her small Virginia

hometown behind to pursue her lifelong dream of acting on the

stages of New York.

She spent her days teaching a beginner’s acting class and her

nights working at a 24-hour bookstore, a routine she followed six

days a week with quiet determination.

Just two months short of a year, Claire was ready to spread her

wings. She met her savings goal, and she made housing

arrangements.

She was leaving behind her small-town life in Lexington,

Virginia, to chase the dream that had lived in her heart for as long

as she could remember. Her destination: New York, a city pulsing

with energy, ambition, and the promise of the stage.

Seated comfortably by the window, Claire watched each

passenger as they boarded the train, quietly taking them in. She

nodded politely at the elderly couples in well-worn coats,

clutching paper tickets, likely bound for visits with grandchildren

in far-off cities. A soft smile touched her lips as a group of college

students trickled in, backpacks slung over their shoulders,

buzzing with excitement about their weekend adventure. Familiar

faces, local artists with canvas totes and leather bags climbed

aboard too. Perhaps they, like her, were leaving Lexington to

chase something bigger than the town could hold.

As the train pulled away from the station, her heart raced with a

mix of nerves and excitement. It felt surreal that her dreams were

finally on the verge of coming true.

A few hours into the journey, Claire drifted into a light sleep.

When she awoke, she was startled to find Nate sitting directly

across from her, a broad smile lighting up his face. He still had

those perfect pearly whites, and the deep dimples in his cheeks—

always her weakness—seemed even more defined than she

remembered.

Though the breakup had been painful and humiliating. She’d

never truly got over him.

Part of her wanted to stay angry, but the moment their eyes met,

her heart softened, and all that resentment quietly slipped away.

What began as awkward small talk soon unfolded into deep,

lingering conversations that spanned hours. They spoke openly

about their failures, their fears, their dreams, and the undeniable

truth that pieces of their hearts still belonged to each other.

Nate shared that he was headed back to his home in

Connecticut. He was returning from a business trip in

Philadelphia, and since he was in no rush to get home, he decided

to take the train and enjoy the scenic views along the way.

“Do you really have to go to New York right now?”

“What if you moved to Connecticut with me, got a job, and

traveled to New York when you had auditions?” At least you

wouldn’t have to worry about finding housing. My door is always

open to you, and I think you’d love Connecticut. It’s quiet where I

live, but the scenery is beautiful, and there's a kind of peace there

that might be exactly what you need.

“That sounds incredibly tempting, Nate,” but I’ve been working

and saving for this moment for almost a year, and I’m moving to

New York. I need to be in New York. I already have a temporary

place lined up until I can find something of my own.

“C’mon. How about just for a few weeks?”

You’d be saving money on rent and the deposit and moving fees

that come along with getting your own place.

“Forgive me, Claire. It’s just... seeing you again makes me realize

how much I’ve missed you and how much I want you in my life

again. Back then, I was too young to know what I truly wanted.

But with time, I’ve come to understand that it’s always been you.”

“Nate, that’s flattering, but as I told you, I’m going to New York,

today!” In about thirty minutes, I’ll be getting off this train, in hot

pursuit of chasing the dream I’ve worked so hard for. If you want

to see me again, you’ll have to catch me on Broadway.

“Do you really mean that? You look like you’re fighting what

you’re feeling. Follow your heart. You can still chase your dreams,

just with me by your side.”

“We can update your ticket right on the app.”

Claire offered a hesitant smile. “You drive a hard bargain,” she

said softly. “I’ll go with you—but only for a few weeks. Only

because I’m not too fond of rooming with my free-spirited

nineteen-year-old cousin.

Weeks turned into months, months into years—and before they

knew it, Nate and Claire’s journey had led to marriage and three

beautiful children.

Claire now divides her time between New York and Connecticut

—living out her dreams on stage while embracing the joys of

motherhood and the rhythm of a full, loving marriage.

Nate and the children join her in New York whenever their

schedules allow.

The End