Chapter Two

 

 December 31^st, 2004

 

 

I woke up several times during the night, causing me to sleep poorly. My dream of Paul didn’t help either. It was nine o’clock as I sat down to eat my breakfast, which consisted of two kinds of fiber cereal. Being a health nut wasn’t something I could hide, but I was very proud of myself and the progress I’d made over the last few months. After I ate, I decided to walk to the gym on the corner. Once I’d walked the track line for twenty minutes, I walked back home.

 

I took a refreshing shower and it calmed my nerves, washing away the sweaty worries my body was constricting within itself. The cold air outside of the shower sent me running for a towel. Wrapped up, I climbed in my bed and watched an hour of television while I dried off. As the hour flew passed, I couldn’t help but think about the man at the intersection. Thinking, I got up and dressed myself. Sweatpants and tank tops are my life’s necessities. My wardrobe consisted of many shades of grey, blacks, and blue sweatpants. The impulsive side of my wallet occasionally picked up pink, green, and purple colors. In this morning’s case, I had pulled on my favorite red pair. Grandmother Elena’s most loved color was red so, naturally, mine was too.

 

I sat down at my desk and logged onto my computer. I checked my email, which said I had two story notifications on Mibba.com. Being an author meant I also had to read and I loved the stories people came up with. Most of them were fan fictions, but the characters still seemed as their own. I adored the little stories with much respect. After reading each one, I commented on them, telling them how well they did.

 

I hopped off to fetch food, but to my dismay my fridge and pantry were pretty empty. Sighing, I threw my hair up in a pony tail, grabbed my keys, and walked out the front door. My green truck sat in the parking lot, lonely as could be. When I jumped in it, I smiled. This green truck was my pride and joy. Grandmother Elena had bought it for me, knowing my parents would kick me out with nothing. I absorbed her loving and caring ways. Her heart was the biggest I’d ever encountered. She loved me from the start, hugged me till the end, and never let go. She was my best friend. By then I was near to tears, but I knew I had to get to the grocery store so I backed out of the parking lot and drove away.

 

An hour and a half later I stumbled through my front door with a hand full of groceries. The milk jug was splitting open the bag and the boxes were tearing the sides. Everything was falling apart. A hand cupped the underside of the milk jug just before it tore in half. After setting the bags down, I turned around.

“Oh, Brendan thank you so much.” I kissed his cheek and smiled.

“I couldn’t let you stand there, humiliating yourself with those bags. It was no problem.” He smirked playfully and waved his hands.

“Oh well thanks so much!” I punched his arm lightly and ran down the stairs toward my truck. He shot off, but didn’t beat me.

 

We played around like this until all of my grocery bags were safely in my kitchen being put up.

“Hey, since it’s a Sunday do you think we could … go out?” Brendan had stuck around and I had anticipated this.

“Brendan, we’ve talked about this…” I spun around to face him, leaning my back against the counter.

“But Jull’s.” his lower lip protruded from his mouth. I smiled and poked it lightly, kissed his cheek, and smiled.

“I have work tomorrow. You know that. And tonight I want to get some things done.”

“What kinds of things could be more important than me?” He yelled sarcastically and thought for a minute. “Oh.” He cooed. “Your book.”

“Yes, that’s right,” I said, quietly.

“Don’t worry; I’ll keep it down tonight.” He kissed my cheek and the last I saw of him was the tail end of his Chuck Taylor’s and a splotch of red hair. I turned around, bracing myself on the counter again, and smiled.

 

I spent three hours writing and only came up with two pages. Annoyed, I stomped off to the kitchen and grabbed a small yogurt container. The clock read seven o’clock p.m. I knew I had to make something for dinner, but I didn’t really want to eat. My episode of writers block had me in a bitter mood. I leaned against the door frame and closed my eyes. An air vent was conveniently placed on the wall, blowing in my direction. The cool air felt good on my troubled features. Being twenty-four and single wasn’t easy on the confidence. Everyday I tried to forget it. Brendan was single too, but he had just graduated college. His case was different. I never even went to college. It was too expensive and Grandmother Elena wasn’t around to help me out.

 

I crumpled to the floor in tears and covered my face. A retake of her funeral day played itself behind my eyelids. I rested my head on my knees and sobbed. Tears soaked my pajama pants. After what seemed like hours, I pulled myself off of the floor. My face felt hot and sticky. I took my bitter mood into the bathroom to evaluate my assumption.

“You look awful, darling,” said a voice in my head. I recognized the voice as Grandmother Elena’s. We were both reviewing my shaky appearance, causing each of us to be startled.

“I need you,” I thought, tears crippling my inner voice. “You’re gone and I don’t know what to do. I need direction.” I almost crumpled again. In the mirror my blue eyes looked half whole.

“No, dear, you don’t need me, but you do need direction.” I imagined her smile. There was silence for a long time. It crippled my sense of company.

“You are never alone. I am always with you. I’m in your heart and soul…” her voice vanished, leaving me empty. I touched the area a little below my collar bone and looked down. She was right. I knew that, but I didn’t want to admit defeat, but that wasn’t defeat. I was realizing the situation, realizing what I needed, what I wanted.

 

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :3 If you're reading this, would you message me or review? I need to know.
Thanks again, Mary

Reviews

[Stephanie]

It looks like Juliet needs a shoulder to cry on....Brendan perhaps? I really like his personality; chraming and playful. Juliet's character is also deepening and I like learning about her. Great chapter :]