Once upon a time there lived a woman named Stacy. She was from a wealthy family and she stood to inherit 3 million dollars upon the death of her elderly father. She was a fine young woman, and she had a good life.

Once upon that same time there lived a man named Joe. Joe he came from a more modest family. Joe worked very hard, and by the time he had turned 25, he had managed to save up quite a sum of money; enough to retire on, although he would have to keep working until about 50. He was a fine young man, and he had a good life.

As fate would have it, Joe and Stacy met one day and fell in love. They were not sure where the relationship would be going yet, but to the casual observer, despite their different respective backgrounds, they seemed to be destined for each other. Joe felt that Stacy was his "soul mate". Joe was a good looking, healthy, hard working young man who was completely self-made. Most would say he was "a catch".

One day, Joe bought a lottery ticket from the local deli, and a few days later, he found out that he had won $5million!

Joe was ecstatic. He could not believe his good fortune! But he held his enthusiasm until later than evening . He invited Stacy out to dinner to share his news.

The waiter brought them drinks and he could hold back no longer. "Stacy" he exclaimed, almost too loudly for the posh surroundings, "Take a look at this". She spied the lottery ticket and smiled. They laughed and hugged each other.

"Stacy", he pleaded with his eyes, "This is a sign. I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?"

Stay looked shocked as most women tend to look at such moments. She choked up and spoke...

"Oh Joseph, you know I love you and you are truly a good guy." She hesitated. "But we are young and I have not truly experienced life. I have not found myself yet. I am sorry, but I cannot marry you"

Joe was devastated.

They both left quietly walking in different directions.

Fast forward 7 years into the future. Joe now owns a successful company. He is married, he has four children and enjoys a happy life with a good woman. All is right in his world. He has grown his few millions into a much larger enterprise. He is wealthy beyond the dreams of most. He is indeed still a good man.

Stacy on the other hand, is single. She pursued a career in pharmaceutical sales and has traveled across the globe several times over. She has dined in the finest restaurants, dated some of the best looking and wealthy men on the planet, and her career has afforded her a very lavish lifestyle. She has lived a good life.

Sadly, however, her father has recently passed away. The family found out that he had lost almost all of his wealth. Stacy was devastated on both counts. She had spent her income so frivolously because she was promised by her mother that she had nothing to worry about. Her mother had swore to her that she would be wealthy with or without a man. She was young and beautiful and she should know her worth. She should be strong and independent, and she should "Date the rainbow". Dad was going to leave left her a legacy upon which she could rely. And she would always be able to find a man. Stacy was very attractive indeed.

Despite this, Stacy resented her father for failing to leave her the riches she felt she deserved; Yet she she remained close to her mother who had misled her all these years.

A year or so after her father's passing, she was going through some old photos. She reluctantly opened a folder entitled "me and joe", and a flood of memories came back to her. Deep feelings she had forgotten. A warm rush of wholesomeness flooded her mind and body. These were good, real, authentic memories. Joe was the only man who had truly loved her for who she was inside. Most other men were just with her for the business contacts or the sex. She had come to despise men.

But not Joe. He was a good man.

On a whim, she reached out to Joe on social media. Joe saw the message and his heart skipped a beat. He too was filled with a warm rush of nostalgia, so he responded.

After a few exchanges, Stay convinced Joe to meet her for lunch. He agreed, but informed her that he was married. She didn't care and said it was all platonic. She promised. Joe explained this to his wife, and she was okay with it. Joe's wife was a good woman.

After some catching up over lunch, Stacy started to tear up. She could not hold back her emotions - emotions she could not clearly define or explain, even to herself But she felt whatever it was, and she felt it strongly.

"Joe" she began, "I know you are married. And I am so happy for you. You seem to have a really sweet life. But I miss you. I know it's wrong to ask, but do you think you will be with your wife forever?"

Joe paused. He knew what she was implying. But he pushed her anyway: "What are you trying to say Stacy?"

"I want to be with you Joe. I want to relive those old days. I want your babies. I want to settle down now. I am tired of the players, and the losers, and the games, and the traveling. I made a lot of money but I had to spend almost all of it to maintain that lifestyle. You don't understand how much pressure there is to maintain appearances - to look better, and show more, and do more - and spend more - all the time. it is sickening and I hate it!"

She broke down sobbing.

Joe sat there and took it all in.

He reached over and touched her hand gently in an effort to comfort and reassure her.

"Stacy. I am very happily married. My wife was with me from the beginning. She didn't even know about the lottery ticket until a year after our marriage. Funny thing is, I expected her to be really angry that I was so deceitful. She told me that she was with me because of the man I am, not for what I could give her. She also understood why I did it and she even admired me more! That was when I knew I had found the right woman. There are not many women like her anymore"

Stacy retorted, "Joe. Listen. I...I know. But.. Well you are right... Women are screwed up these days. But I learned my lesson. I swear. I was never a bad person, you know this. I just needed some space. Some time to learn these things for myself. I just want a humble life, a simple life. A GOOD life. With YOU."

Joe looked her in the eye, with a mixture of pity, empathy, and yes, even a bit of longing.

"Stacy" He replied, **All those years ago, I held out a winning lottery ticket to you all those years ago. Not only literally, but figuratively.** You could have had almost everything you ever wanted - travel, great restaurants, ALL of it. All you had to do is to decide it is what you wanted. And you pushed it away"

He felt a small well of anger well up inside him, and he struggled to keep it down.

"Most people on the planet would kill to have a life like mine. Don't think I do not recognize it for one second. I pray every day and I am thankful every day. But I also take pride in having made this almost entirely by the sweat of my own brow. Sure the lottery helped, but I made several very generous donation over the years - and at this point they total almost twice what I originally won. That is how you show gratitude and humility. At least in my view. I regret nothing and I owe nothing, and it is the best feeling you can imagine. As the saying goes, 'the best revenge is a life well lived'"

Stacy looked down because she knew that she'd been beat. And she laid that golden fiddle...ahem. Wrong story. Sorry.

Stay looked at Joe for a moment. She felt a sudden feeling of rage. How dare he judge her like that. Sure he didn't say anything directly accusatory, but he implied that he was better than her. She didn't know what to say.

More importantly, she knew that this ship had sailed. She knew deep inside that Joe would be a moron to give up what he had. Joe truly was a good man, and he really did have a good life.

She calmed herself, and thanked him for his time. They split the check, and sat in silence until the waiter returned.

A few days later while sitting at home on a Saturday evening, Joe's wife called to him: "Honey, Come here for a sec would you?"

Joe came into the office where she had been working. "Check this out" she said.

It was a public post from Stacy.

"Men are just such trash. Amirite ladies? Players, cheaters, liars, and deadbeats all of them. #Whereareallthegoodmen! (cat emoji, shrug emoji, wine glass emoji)

"My good man is right here" his wife said, as she threw her arms around his neck.

Without her asking, he blocked Stacy right then and there. And they lived happily (mostly) ever after.