Affairs can often lead to destruction. They are messy, hurtful, and can tear a person apart on the inside. They could bring pleasure for one, hurt and pain for the other. These, of course, are physical affairs.

I have yet to talk about the other:

Emotional.

These are much more subtle; more poetic. Sometimes the people involved can never even notice.

As you all know, Jim and Pam had an emotional affair.

But this is not what I will be talking about.

I will be talking about two people who had an emotional affair so subtle that nobody even noticed.

No one paid attention.

Only he noticed.

Ryan.

Ryan and Pam.

Yes they had an emotional affair.

And this is their story.

Recipe for an Emotional Affair

Stupid blonde chick...

Pam thought angrily as she strolled around the edge of the large grey business park. She couldn't believe Roy had just said that in front of her. She knew it was just a game. A really unprofessional game, at that, but still just a game.

Who would you do, Roy?

Oh... I got it! Who's that tightass Christian chick? The blonde?

Did he even see her standing there, right next to him? Did he not even consider she would be offended by him saying that? Did he even care?

My name is Angela.

Hi, Angela... nice to meet you.

He didn't even know her name! He just thought she was hot. He really looked at other women like that? When he had a fiancee, and when he should only be focused on her? This raised other questions, like what did he do on his nights out with the guys? Images of strip clubs and drunk guys and hot girls immediately popped up in her mind, but she shook them out. Pam didn't need to have those thoughts implanted in her mind, when they were most likely never to leave.

Pam kept walking around the building, trying to burn off all the anger she felt toward her boarish fiancee. This wasn't the first time he had made her feel like crap without a clue as to why. He was oblivious a lot of the time, only paying attention to the things he cared about. He hadn't asked her how her day was in years, and she gave up asking him months ago. But she just figured they were growing more comfortable around each other, and were just getting used to married life.

They weren't married, Pam thought dully. She had been the queen of those three words for way too long now.

Pam angrily kicked a rock lying by her foot. It bounced along the pavement and out of sight around the corner.

"Ouch!"

Pam heard someone say up ahead. She walked towards the sound and looked around the corner.

Ryan was there, sitting on the curb and rubbing his ankle.

"Oh, sorry Ryan." Pam mumbled. Ryan looked up, a little surprised.

"Oh, Pam... I didn't see you there." Ryan stood up and nervously smoothed his hands over his shirt.

"Did I hurt you?" Pam looked worriedly at his heel. Ryan quickly shook his head.

"No, no... I'm fine. You didn't even kick it that hard." Ryan looked a little embarrassed.

Pam looked curious, "Why are you back here?"

Ryan's face turned visibly red, "Oh, uh... I was just... um..."

"Hiding from Michael." Pam smiled understandingly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. Ryan chuckled.

"Yeah, basically."

They stood there awkwardly for a second before Pam made a decision.

"You wanna sit?"

Ryan looked a little surprised, "Oh, yeah... definitely."

Pam slipped off her shoes and sat down on the edge of the curb. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and sighed deeply. Ryan sat down right next to her. They just sat there, side-by-side, without saying a word for several minutes. A light breeze blew by, feeling cool on their skin.

"What am I going to do, Ryan?"

Ryan turned his head and looked at her. Pam merely pinched a piece of grass between her thumb and forefinger and rolled it, making green rub off on her skin. "I'm hopeless."

"How do you figure?"

Pam sighed, "I don't even know if I want to marry him anymore."

Ryan was silent for a second. "Just because of that stupid Angela comment?"

"Not just that: because of everything. He doesn't even treat me like his fiancee anymore! I'm just a stupid drinking buddy." she tore the piece of grass in half.

They were silent for another minute, just listening to each other's breathing. It was calming Pam down a little bit.

"You and Roy are good together."

Pam bowed her head slightly, letting her bangs fall in her face.

"You don't have to lie."

"I'm not. I could see you guys as a married couple."

Pam sighed, "Then why can't I?"

She glanced at Ryan, who was just looking at his shoes, deep in thought. She felt a flutter in her heart when she saw how seriously he was taking her situation.

"I honestly don't know."

Pam felt alone; she wanted someone to understand what she was going through. She felt a sudden rush of affection for Ryan for just being there, and she leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder, sighing dispiritedly. She heard Ryan's breath hitch ever so slightly. But just for a second.

They just sat there, silent for several minutes; listening to the wind blow and and the murmur of voices of their fellow coworkers on the other side of the building. Neither of them realized their hearts were beating simultaneously; a rhythm of fast-paced ticks that beat inside them, never-ending. Never to stop.

Take 2 people: 1 male, 1 female

preferrably the same age

sharing common interests, and a common heart