Julie's Wish   Why doesn’t he want to be my friend anymore? What did I do? Am I bad? Is there something wrong with me? I wish I knew

Sometime ago....

Julie stood at the window, gazing at the driveway. Getting home had been chore to begin with, and it got worse as she played the messages back on her machine.

“Listen…Jules….I…I can’t make it tonight.” And then nothing; no apology or explanation, just an unemotional message on a tape.

“Why…” She sighed out loud. The next few words were almost stuck in her throat, as if saying them would not only admit the possibility, but seal them in amber like a sad charm on an even sadder bracelet. She breathed out and her lip quivered.

“Why doesn’t he want to be my friend anymore?”

“There… it’s out…that wasn’t so bad….” She thought.

No, it was worse than she expected. She continued to stare at the empty slot in the driveway, wanting him to pull up; sad and apologetic and warm and…the same man who knew her when she was Julian Fabienne; the best friendship anyone could ever have...more than a friendship...

“Buddies, Jules…It’s something special….not just friends, but like spitballs in class and making fun of girls in fourth grade….learning to like girls in fifth grade….fighting over girls in tenth and eleventh….Double dating for the prom in Senior year….” He had said with a strong pat on the back…and the best laugh in the history of friendship.

“What did I do? Am I bad? Is there something wrong with me? I wish I knew…”

She sighed again before walking to the couch where she fell down, collapsing against the back rest in tears.

The present…

“Julie? Are you okay?” The voice came from the bedroom.

“Oh, Andy…yes…it’s just…”

“Tonight...?”

“I know it’s been a long time, but still wish he would have come.” She sighed and turned to face her husband of twenty-two years. She stood up and smoothed the skirt of her gown before pulling Andy in for a kiss.”

“Any regrets?” She asked.

“Not at all…I’m the most blessed man in the whole world.” He kissed her again.

“And you deserve this night…I’m so proud of you.” He looked over at the statuette lying in an almost repose on the couch.

“’Best Supporting Actress’…a red letter day, to be sure.” He laughed at the irony of his statement.

“Hattie McDaniel and Halle Berre, move over…” he said as he nuzzled her neck.

“Yeppers…First time anyone in my family ever won anything.” Julie laughed softly before grabbing her wrap off the back of the couch.

“Pretty snazzy, lady….you look gorgeous, and the night is still young,” Andy said, kissing her one last time before they stepped out into the hotel hallway and toward the elevator. She noticed an envelope on the floor.

“To Julietta Fabienne”

Even after all these years, she still recognized the handwriting. She turned to her husband and shrugged as tears came to her eyes. He nodded and placed his hand on her shoulder as she used her nail to pull the flap, discovering a card with an embossed champagne glass and the word ‘Congratulations.” She opened it up and began to read aloud,

“I was so wrong then, and I am so sorry now. I wish I could make up the years we lost, and it hurts more than I can say that I cannot atone for what I did. I can only ask that you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me. Congratulations. I am so proud of you. Tommy”

By the time she finished reading the card was stained with tears as she had been crying softly. The card fell from her hand onto the floor and she placed her hand to her face and began to sob, ‘why…why?’ Andy leaned down and picked it up and stared at the card before mouthing the words silently,

“Dear Twin..."

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