Three hearts, two choices

Alice stood alone at the back of the church, staring at the casket at the front of the room. Her husband, John, lay there, motionless and peaceful, surrounded by flowers and photographs of their life together. It was hard for her to believe that just a week ago, he was alive and well, joking with her over breakfast before heading off to work. She had never expected to lose him so suddenly and so young. The church was filled with people, most of whom Alice barely knew. John had been a popular man, always charming and friendly, and it seemed as though everyone who had ever met him was there to pay their respects. Alice didn't mind the crowds, but she found herself feeling a bit lost in the sea of mourners. She looked over to her right and saw Tom, John's best friend, standing a few rows in front of her. She had always liked Tom - he was kind and funny, and had been a good friend to both her and John. She had seen him at the hospital the night John died, and the two of them had hugged each other tightly, both of them crying. Alice couldn't help but notice how handsome Tom looked in his dark suit. His sandy hair was neatly combed, and his blue eyes looked tired and sad. She wondered if he was thinking about John too, or if he was just here to support her. She felt a small flutter in her stomach, which she quickly dismissed as inappropriate. As the service began, Alice's mind wandered. She thought about all the times she and John had come to this church together, holding hands and singing hymns. She thought about their wedding day, and how happy and in love they had been. And she thought about the future they had planned together, the children they had talked about having, the trips they had wanted to take. Suddenly, Alice was overcome with grief. She started to cry softly, and the tears wouldn't stop coming. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Tom standing beside her. "Hey," he whispered, "it's okay." Alice nodded, unable to speak. Tom put his arm around her, and she leaned into him, grateful for his warmth and support. As the service ended and people began to file out of the church, Tom held Alice's hand and walked her outside. It was a cold day, and a light snow was falling. They stood in the church yard, surrounded by headstones and bare trees, and Alice felt a sense of emptiness wash over her. "I don't know how to do this," she said to Tom, her voice barely audible over the sound of the snow falling. Tom looked at her with concern. "Do what?" Alice shrugged, tears still streaming down her face. "Live without him. I don't know how to live without him." Tom took her hand and squeezed it gently. "You don't have to do it alone," he said softly. Alice looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy. For a moment, she felt a surge of something she couldn't quite describe - a mix of gratitude, comfort, and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. "I'm here for you, Alice," Tom said. "Whatever you need." Alice felt her heart skip a beat, and she knew she shouldn't be feeling this way. She had just lost her husband, after all. But there was something about Tom's presence, his touch, his words, that made her feel less alone in the world. "Thank you, Tom," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Tom smiled at her, and for a moment, Alice forgot about her grief. She felt a sense of warmth spread through her grief. She felt a sense of warmth spread through her, a feeling that had been absent from her life since John had died. She knew it was wrong, but in that moment, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of attraction towards Tom. Tom must have noticed the change in Alice's demeanor because his smile faded, and he looked at her with a mix of concern and confusion. Alice quickly composed herself and forced a weak smile. "Thanks for being here, Tom. It means a lot to me," she said, pulling her hand out of his grasp. Tom looked down at his shoes, his hands stuffed deep in his pockets. "Of course, Alice. I'll always be here for you." Alice couldn't help but feel guilty for the thoughts that had crossed her mind. She had loved John with all her heart, and she was still grieving his loss. But there was something about Tom that made her heart skip a beat, and she didn't know how to deal with it. As they walked to the car, Alice's mind was filled with conflicting emotions. She felt grief for John's loss, but also guilt for the attraction she felt towards Tom. She tried to push the thoughts out of her mind and focus on the present moment, but it was easier said than done. As they drove away from the church, Alice and Tom fell into a comfortable silence. They had always been able to be silent around each other, even before John had died. Alice had always felt comfortable around Tom, but now that John was gone, it was different. As they pulled up to Alice's house, she turned to Tom. "Do you want to come in for a cup of coffee? It's the least I can do to thank you for coming to the funeral." Tom hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Sure, that sounds nice." Alice led Tom into the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee. They sat down at the table, and Alice fidgeted with her hands, unsure of what to say. Tom broke the silence. "How are you holding up, Alice?" Alice looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes. "I don't know, Tom. I feel lost, and I don't know how to move on from this. John was my everything, and now he's gone." Tom reached across the table and took Alice's hand. "I know, Alice. I can't imagine how you're feeling right now. But you're not alone. You have me, and you have all the people who care about you." Alice felt a sense of comfort wash over her at Tom's words. She knew that she had people in her life who cared about her, but it was still hard to feel anything other than sadness and grief. As they talked and drank coffee, Alice couldn't help but notice how attractive Tom was. She tried to push the thoughts out of her mind, but they kept creeping back in. She felt guilty for even thinking about another man so soon after John's death. After Tom left, Alice lay in bed, unable to sleep. Her mind was filled with thoughts of John, Tom, and the future. She knew that she had to make some tough decisions in the coming days, but for now, all she could do was try to get some rest and hope that tomorrow would be a better day.