A CHARMED LIFE - PART 1
After putting an exhausted Matthew to bed at about 12:15 am, January 1, 2001, Nora sat down on the sofa in her living room.
The room was a glow from the lights of her Christmas tree and the flickering light of one candle on the coffee table. In front of her was a half-empty glass of flat champagne and her jewelry box.
She slowly opened the box hoping it would help her rekindle some memories of her life. Then, her eyes found it - her wedding ring. She picked it up and held it up to the light of the candle. " Oh! How it sparkled", she thought. She missed wearing it. She missed how Bo used to play with it while they were in bed together just watching the news on TV. A tear fell from her eye. She took the ring and plopped it in her champagne glass, causing the champagne to fizzle for a split second. "How appropriate", she cried. "My life fizzled away from me and I don't even know how or why". She thought of Bo. He was probably holding Melanie tight in front of a roaring fire. Perhaps they were sipping champagne too and planning their future together, while the strangest, most frightening year of her life just ended. She had to be strong. Stronger than ever. If not for herself, then for Matthew. Her sweet, innocent baby. "No, things aren't all bad", she smiled at the thought of him.
She sat quietly on the couch for a few moments, when she heard the muffled rings of her cell phone coming from her purse.
"Who in the world could that be?" She was almost afraid to answer it.
N: Hello?
B (whispering): Nora, its Bo. Happy New Year.
N: Bo! Hello. Why are you calling me? Is everything all right? And why are you whispering?
B (he laughs): Oh! Right, I forgot I called you on your cell phone. I called on this number because I didn't know if you would be home and I didn't want to wake you or Matthew up if you were sleeping. I figured if you didn't answer, I could leave a message. Happy New Year.
N: Yes, yes…Happy New Year. Where are you?
B: I'm working tonight. Thankfully, everything's quiet, so I just wanted to call you. It's been some year. I just wanted to say that I'm so thankful you are alive and that you are my friend. We've come a long way.
N: Have we? I don't remember. (She laughs) Thank you, though. It's very sweet of you to think of me. I'm glad we are friends too.
B: Good, I'm glad. I know things are hard for you, but I'm still here if you need me. You know, as a friend.
N: Yes, I know. It's just very weird for me to think of you that way. (Her eyes focus on the ring in her glass) (She clears her throat) I mean, I know we were always best friends, but it was also something more. It does hurt to know that I can't feel that way about you anymore. Ah, but that's life, right? I've got to bite the bullet and move on. That's what I plan to do for the New Year. Don't you worry about me!
Bo could hear her voice cracking. It really killed him to know the pain he was causing her just trying to be her friend or by trying to help her.
B: Nora, uh, look I know you must be tired, so I'll say goodnight. Again, I just wanted to wish you all the best for 2001. You take care of yourself, okay?
N: I will. Thanks again for calling. And Happy New Year to you…..and Lanie. (She coughed, her name getting stuck in her throat).
B: Thank you. Goodnight.
N: Goodnight, Bo.
She wiped away more tears and sat back on the couch.
She rummaged through more of her jewelry box, picking up pins, necklaces, and rings she had gotten over the years - momentos of her life.
She grew curious of a black velvet pouch at the back of the jewelry box. She opened it and laughed. It was the charm bracelet…the first piece of jewelry he gave her. Her fingers traced each charm…the tennis racquet, the golf clubs, the ice cream cone. There were some new ones too. He must have given her more over the years…there was a heart, a key, a rose, a music note, and an I Love You charm. She vaguely remembered them, but she most definitely remembered the first three.
She blew out the candle and lay back on the couch clutching the bracelet to her heart and she started to cry.
TO BE CONTINUED…….
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