Sometimes They Came Back: A Love Story

Markus owned - and was duly proud - of a well-used, but still fast and flashy Porsche sports coupe. Was that flashy car one of the reasons that young pretty after young pretty came chasing after him? Only a freshman in college, Markus had no idea. Women were a mystery, to be sure. Albeit a welcome mystery. Sometimes he thought he'd really like to find "the one." But what was the rush? In the meantime, this fledging undergraduate had become a collector. When one of his flames dumped him, she would often leave behind a bracelet, an earring or two, a scarf, or some other personal item. Markus would stash away any such item with care. It was a way to keep a part of every one of those lovers with him. Besides, sometimes they came back. Markus was a dreamer. He was also an incurable romantic. That's why he stashed away every little item a lost partner might leave behind. Every one of those cuties was special to him. And maybe - just maybe - one of those special cuties would come back someday, not to claim her lost item or two. But to claim him. If only it were that simple. Love never is, of course. Instead, Markus finally had to admit that his heart had made a claim of its own.