He Stopped Loving Her Today

This story is for the "Karaoke 2023" Author Challenge.

This story stems from the 1980 George Jones classic, "He Stopped Loving Her Today" - a ballad of love left behind.

It's the story of a man who chooses fame over the woman who adores him. Who allows ambition to blind him until her memory is all he has left.

We hope this will inspire you to reflect on who and what truly matters. Never take your real-life love for granted. And to show them what they mean before the curtain falls.

There is a HEA 😉

Comments, emails, and stars are welcome. Our paychecks are low, so the gratuity of thanks is always appreciated.

I believe the rest of the story weavers in Lit will agree that listening to the song before and during will make our stories more enjoyable.

Love and thanks to my sister for collaborating with me on this story. Enjoy!

xo DG

Written by Curly Putman & Bobby Braddock, performed by George Jones.

He said, "I'll love you til I die"

She told him, "You'll forget in time"

As the years went slowly by

She still preyed upon his mind

He kept her picture on his wall

Went half crazy now and then

But he still loved her through it all

Hoping she'd come back again

He kept some letters by his bed

Dated 1962

He had underlined in red

Every single 'I love you'

I went to see him just today

Oh but I didn't see no tears

All dressed up to go away

First time I'd seen him smile in years

He stopped loving her today

They placed a wreath upon his door

And soon they'll carry him away

He stopped loving her today

You know she came to see him one last time

Oh, and we all wondered if she would

And it kept runnin' through my mind

This time, he's over her for good

He stopped loving her today

They placed a wreath upon his door

And soon they'll carry him away

He stopped loving her today

He Stopped Loving Her Today

.

(If My Songs Could Bring You Back)

.

Midnight,

I heard your song playing on the jukebox at the diner yesterday. Brought back a lot of memories of us. It was a lifetime ago, but it felt like old times for a minute.

Then the song ended, and I looked up to see the man sitting across from me wasn't you. That's when it really hit ​me that it's over between us for good.

I'm not mad or bitter about how things turned out. You followed your dreams just like we always said we would. I really am happy for you and all you've accomplished.

But our story came to an end a long time ago. Too much time has passed. You've moved on to your new life, and so have I.

We had some good years together I'll never forget. But soon, those memories will fade. And one day, you'll wake up and struggle to recall my face or the sound of my voice.

I loved you so much. I truly did.

So this is goodbye for good. You'll forget in time.

Sara

.

.

EARLIER

1980

.

"Travis, I really want to sign up for the talent show, but I can't do it without you!" I ran to follow him down the hall, my cowboy boots thudding on the shiny terrazzo floor. "All you have to do is play your guitar!"

He stopped at his locker, and I barreled into him. "Look, Sara, I'm not that good yet. I practice every day, but learning it all takes time."

"Pleaseeeeeee," I begged, comically batting my eyes and twisting my blonde braid. He slammed the locker door and leaned against it.

"Okay, yeah, I'll do it," he grumped with a smile. "Let me know what song you want to sing soon so I can practice it." He started to walk away. "Oh, and it has to be country."

"But of course," I grinned, giving him the thumbs up. As the first bell rang, I hugged my books and ran to my next class.

We both had just turned eighteen and were graduating in a few days. Life could be no better.

.

Several nights later, Travis came over to practice. He spent the first twenty minutes regaling my parents about how he planned to go to Nashville and rock the country world.

"C'mon, we have to practice this! I want to win!" I said, growing impatient.

We practiced every day until the night before the talent show. We were as good as we were going to be.

I met Travis backstage because even though I was a senior, my parents still insisted on driving me there. They were older, and I was their only child. They had always been overprotective.

He was sitting on a folding chair in the corner, softly strumming, and I caught my bottom lip between my teeth, taking in how handsome he was.

"You're channeling Patsy, huh? Not." he laughed, looking me up and down. I put my hand on my hip and twirled. White boots and hat, with a blue jeans skirt and a white blouse, the western yoke ablaze with pink sequins I sewed on myself.

"I am her! With my own style!" We both laughed.

We listened to our music teacher say we were up first. We stood nervously. Our fingers clasped in a lifeline between us. Just before he started our introduction, Travis leaned over and kissed me. I didn't have time to react because they were pulling the curtain back.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to our annual Lincoln High talent show extravaganza! We have a fantastic lineup of talented students tonight, and I guarantee you're in for a treat. Now, let's get this show started! Our first act tonight is a dynamic duo who will take us on a journey with their mesmerizing voices. Please give a warm round of applause to Travis and Sara!"

The stage lights glared as we walked out, momentarily stealing my sight. I blinked rapidly, shadows and bright spots dancing across my eyes. Beside me, I heard Travis mutter as the glare washed over him, too. We stopped, squinting and disoriented. But the cheering and applause from the crowd guided us forward.

I blinked hard, willing my vision to adjust. As the dark, fuzzy audience began to form, their smiles clapping sharpened, revving my adrenaline. Travis's hand found mine again, steadying me. I managed a grin as we waved, still half-blinded by the brilliant lights shining down.

The crowd's energy continued to excite us. In that glow, Travis's grin lit up his face, reassuring me.

Step by step, eyes slowly adapting, we made our way to the microphone amid the thunderous applause. Now, making out the audience that moments ago had been hidden in darkness. We raised our clasped hands high, waving excitedly to the blur of faces basking in the same glow that had blinded us just seconds before.

"So, Travis and Sara, what song have you chosen to grace us tonight?"

Travis dipped his head to the microphone and said, "Well, tonight, we're going to sing "I Go Walkin' After Midnight" by the legendary Patsy Cline." I admired how comfortable Travis was onstage already.

"Excellent choice! Patsy Cline's timeless melodies have a way of touching our hearts. Are you two big fans of her music?"

I calmed my nerves and said, "Absolutely! Patsy's voice has inspired us, and we've always admired her incredible talent."

"I have no doubt we'll be blown away. So, without further ado, let's give it up for Travis and Sara as they take us on a magical journey with "I Go Walkin' After Midnight!"

​We took our places, smiling at each other. I started slowly tapping my foot while Travis began gentle, melancholic strumming, creating a dreamy and nostalgic atmosphere​, then smoothly into a country twang ​with sliding notes and melodic bends​.

The stage lights beat down, highlighting each speck of dust in the air. I could smell the sweet citrus scent of the cleaners used to mop the aged planks just hours before.

Travis began gently finger-picking his melancholy chords, his fingers gently caressing the strings. I held the microphone and closed my eyes as he slid up the neck into a twanging bend, letting the crying steel notes resonate through me. His playing was haunting yet beautiful - it stabbed at my heart but also soothed it.

As the music smoothly shifted, his guitar spoke in a lively country twang, full of soul. The melody lifted my spirits, injecting energy into my veins. Travis expertly danced his fingers across the frets, the instrument becoming an extension of his spirit. His playing perfectly accented my vocals, supporting them as though he were singing with me.

In his hands, the guitar expressed a range of human emotions - at times weepingly sad, at others bursting with hopefulness. And Travis knew precisely how to complement my voice with his playing. His chords resonated with my essence; his licks elevated my melodies. With him by my side, his guitar fills the spaces between my lyrical lines.

It was at that moment that I felt our music could accomplish anything.

"I go out walkin' after midnight," I began​ in practiced perfect timing, my voice gaining strength with each phrase, rising and falling with the tender melody.

Travis embellished with subtle riffs, supporting my melody perfectly in a way only he could. I swayed gently. Travis's guitar was my guiding star. With each word, I poured my heart into the song, connecting with the audience.

"...Searching for you."

As the final notes hung in the air, the silence was broken by thunderous applause.

We clasped our hands and bowed. I blew kisses, and someone ran to the stage with a bouquet of colorful wildflowers.

We shouted a thank you and ran backstage.

Travis dropped into the folding chair and pulled me onto his lap. We just looked at each other, breathless, feeling the same exuberance.

"That was some shit, eh girl?" he said, shaking his head. I was on the verge of tears. My throat was closed with emotion. He pulled me against him, and we kissed.

We watched the acts come and go, getting more nervous by the minute. There were some good acts, so the competition was stiff. Ultimately, everyone anxiously gathered behind the curtain, ready to run out if they heard their name called.

"Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for our incredible duo, Sara and Travis! They have just won our high school talent show with their mesmerizing performance of "I Go Walkin' After Midnight"! Let's give them another round of applause for their outstanding talent!"

We ran out, waved, and bowed, laughing at the antics of our friends.

Sara and Travis, that was absolutely phenomenal! Your rendition of "I Go Walkin' After Midnight" left us all spellbound. You two are a match made in musical heaven! Now, I have some fantastic news for everyone here. The judges and the audience loved your performance so much that they wanted to hear more!

We looked at each other and laughed while they started stomping their feet.

​"Are you up for it? Can we have another dose of your musical magic?​"

I looked at Travis, and he nodded, and I said, "Oh, absolutely! ​H​ow about a little Waylon and Willie?!"​

We laughed as the crowd jumped to their feet and began to shout.

Travis leaned into the microphone and said, "It would be our pleasure!"

The cheers still echoed as we retook the stage for an encore. Travis stepped up to the mic, bathed in a lone spotlight.

"Y'all have been so amazing tonight. We will leave you with one more," Travis said, flashing a dimpled grin that elicited girly squeals from the crowd.

He slung his worn acoustic over his shoulder and finger-picked a bluesy intro. ​The beat increased, and I did a little country footwork.

Travis leaned into the mic, unleashing his gritty tenor on the first verse, "A long time forgotten, are dreams that just fell by the wayside..."

​The ​audience began to clap to the well-known song. I joined him in the chorus, our voices blending smoothly like honey and whiskey. We played off each other's energy, carried by the crowd's enthusiasm.

Travis took the next verse, emoting with a raspy soul. As we sang the chorus together again, I felt overwhelmed by the sense that this was exactly where we belonged.

The auditorium thundered with applause as the last notes rang out.

Travis told my parents he would bring me home later, and they consented, allowing this to be our night. On the way, he pulled into a favorite local parking spot. Other cars were there already. Windows steamed up.

Travis cut the engine and leaned back with a dazed grin. "I can't believe what just happened up on that stage. Did you hear the crowd?"

With a wide grin, I replied, "I know, right? It's like a dream come true. The crowd's reaction was incredible." The memory of the cheering audience lingered in my mind, leaving me in awe of the response we received to our singing. Travis pulled me closer to his side, and his warmth reassured me that this was all real.

We began to kiss, and with the pent-up adrenalin, it turned hot quickly. My pink sequined blouse fell to the truck's floorboard, my bra on top.

"Oh baby," he breathed, tracing the outline of my nipples with his fingertips. "They're beautiful."

I was inexperienced, but I felt the tingle between my legs. Travis was the first to see me like this, and I wavered from embarrassment to feelings I couldn't decipher.

When he latched onto my nipple and began to suck and bite, I gasped but held his head against my chest. My breasts were more prominent than the other girls my age, which embarrassed me until now.

He began to kiss me again, fumbling with his pants. He pushed my skirt above my waist and slipped his hand in my panties.

"Oh god, Sara, you're so wet." I was. Embarrassingly so.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Baby, there's nothing to be sorry about," he murmured against my lips. "Touch me," he said, guiding my hand down and wrapping my fingers around the rigid, throbbing flesh. I jerked away, startled. "It's okay, baby."

His fingers began to work between my legs, sending jolts of electricity through my body. My nipples tightened painfully. I reached for the heat between his legs and tentatively wrapped my hand around it. My thumb brushed the tip, wiping at the thick liquid that was weeping out.

"Oh yeah, Sara... Do it just like that... Up and down..."

At that moment, his finger worked magically, and I fell apart and had spasms of pleasure. My ears roared. My excitement kept me rubbing him while another wave of pleasure hit me.

I vaguely heard him grunt and felt the hard pumping of his hot fluid as it squirted over my hand.

It all took only a matter of a few minutes, but it seemed like in those few minutes, I became another person. I experienced something I'd never had before.

It was too much for one night, and I promised to relive it all later.

.

True to his word, the phone started ringing nonstop the following day with gig offers. First, a wedding, then the Roadhouse Bar & Grill asking if we could play weekend sets. I nervously mentioned our age.

"No problem, we have permits for live music," the gruff owner assured us. "Just leave the booze to the patrons." We laughed at the irony, knowing that our talent would shine brighter than any drink could.

The whirlwind had picked us up. My parents cautiously gave their blessing on one condition - I stayed focused on my schoolwork. That was no problem. It was the end of high school, and I didn't need college with raw talent like mine.

At school, kids pointed and whispered in the halls. We were suddenly minor celebrities.

Graduation day approached, and with it, the turning point in our lives. Travis got work at the foundry, just for now. We were Nashville-bound soon enough! His charisma drew crowds of adoring girls, but I never worried. We were in this together, our names destined for stadium marquees.

As the weeks passed, the excitement of graduation and the promise of Nashville hung in the air. We were ready to chase our dreams, armed with our love for each other and the belief that we could conquer the world with our music. The road ahead might be uncertain, but the fire in our hearts burned brighter than ever, and we couldn't wait to make our mark in the world of country music.

The stage was set, and our journey was about to begin.

.

.

My dearest love, Midnight,

I am writing this first letter to you with a smile and joy in my heart. I know it's barely been a day since we said goodbye, yet I already ache for your touch. But that ache is dwarfed by my excitement. This is just the start of our journey that will lead us both to Nashville fame hand in hand!

I keep picturing your face on that big stage, guitars blazing, voice bellowing out to adoring crowds. And me right there beside you, harmonizing perfectly like we were born to do. It's going to be magical, baby. Our stars will rise together. I just know it.

For now, focus on getting yourself settled in the music city. Rub elbows, and make connections. But leave a spot up there in the lights for ​me, you hear? I'll be working hard and saving up before joining you as quickly as possible. Ain't nothing can stop this dream now.​ I love you so much.

Write me as soon as y​ou get in so I know you made it safe. I'll be waiting by that mailbox. Distance ain't nothing when our love links us close as ever. Let the music play on!

I love you.

Yours forever,

Sara

.

.

Travis and I worked up a lengthy set list to begin. We were busy and had to remember our jobs and the times we played. Travis turned down more than he wanted, putting him in a bad mood.

"I wish I didn't have to work at that damn foundry," he said one night after we ran through some new songs. "I'm wasting my time there." He paced around his parent's basement. "What if we got a band together, baby?"

The excitement in his eyes pulled me right in. "That would be great, Trav. More musicians mean we can play songs better."

He flopped on the couch next to me and pulled me against him. "We have a big future ahead of us, baby. Just you and me. But I think we need to get other instruments going. Maybe a steel guitar, drums, a fiddle would be great too."

I put my head on his shoulder and said, "I can learn to play rhythm. You can teach me."

"I need you, baby," he said, kissing my neck.

"Mmm," I moaned.

I knew my innocence wasn't a turn-on to him. I talked to the other girls, and they said boys like experienced girls. They all related their own sexual times.

Travis took his clothes off and waited until I removed mine.

He spread my thighs and rubbed my clit until I moaned out an orgasm, then he pushed in. His breath rasped in my ear while he fucked me.

All I could think about was I wished we would have been here instead of his truck for the first time. I had to sneak past my Mom and Dad with blood on my skirt that night. After that, he took me to a woman's clinic for birth control pills.

"Oh baby, here I come!" he grunted, and his wet heat filled me.

"I love you, Travis."

"Love you too, baby."

I couldn't help but think there was more.

.

We began to play community events in the park on Sundays, which got us a lot of notice. The following weekend was the club that initially called us. I had to start writing it down on my calendar to keep track.

"Hey baby, I got us a steel guitar player that plays fiddle too!"