Chapter 1: Laura

Hi, my name is Laura, Laura Lane. Yes, that’s right, L.L. like Louise Lane, except that I’m not in love with a superhero. As a matter of fact, I don’t have a love interest in my life at all.

I’d been single since the end of my last relationship (go figure). I broke up with my last boyfriend (if you could call him that) three years ago. He was from a ‘good family’, meaning my parents approved him.

Too bad I didn’t.

From his tan to his perfectly groomed hair to his manners, everything about him was fake. Whenever I met him, he’d plaster a smile, call me ‘babe’, and place his hand on the lowest part of my back. My marriage with him was being planned among our parents to be a business transaction. A melding of important families.

Call me a romantic, but I always wanted to marry for love. They weren’t happy when I broke up with him and told my parents I wasn’t going to marry him.

“Mother, I don’t want to marry someone who I’m not in love with. I want to be in love when I marry.”

“Oh, poor silly girl,” replied my mother, “love will come later. You will learn to love the man you marry. You’ll eventually have a wonderful life of luxury in your own house with your own servants.”

Every guy my parents brought around was worse than the last. I’ve been avoiding them since then.

My parents ... well, as you might have noticed, they are a sore spot. My dad would have killed for a boy. He didn’t get one. Surprise! It’s a girl!

Since I was a kid, he pushed me so hard, God! He is a partner in a well-known law firm. He wanted me to be a lawyer like him. I studied arts instead.

I started formal art training in college at the Art Institute much to my parents’ dismay. I paired it with lots of additional classes in figure drawing and character design. I also attended the Concept Design Academy after graduating.

I am happy with my job as a concept artist and illustrator, even when it’s a lot of hard work. Luckily the effort always feels more palatable when it’s something you’re very passionate about.

My mother is a stuck-up snob. I have annoyed her all my life doing just the opposite of what she wanted or expected me to. She made it very clear, that the man I chose to marry would have to be approved by her. She had already planned my wedding which would be a monstrously ostentatious event at the church my parents attend. There will be hundreds of people there that I don’t even know. My feelings and wishes won’t matter at all. As you can see, my mother is the main reason why I’m still single. I would rather die than marrying someone she approves.

This year I’ll be 28 and I’ll be another year older and single. My biological clock is ticking and becoming louder by the day. I want what we all want, to find someone to love and be loved for what I am. However, Mr. Right is nowhere to be found. It doesn’t help that dating scares me.