Breaking the Norm

Chapter 1

Hello. My name is Rachel Farber, originally Rachel Green. I'm married to Barry Farber, who is an orthodontist. I work as a receptionist. For all my life, I accepted these facts, just lived by them, never even considered how I felt. No one ever asks how you feel about things or how you like your job because there would be no point. You will work at that job all your life and you will be with the same husband or wife for your entire life.

All my friends live the same, my friend Phoebe is married to a guy David. They seem genuinely happy. My best friend Monica is married to our other friend Chandler. They are probably the best couple I know and I'm not just saying that because they are both my friends. It's like they got to marry their best friend and I can feel how honestly happy they are. Monica's brother Ross is married to a woman named Carol. I haven't seen him in a while though. He went to a boarding high school and we lost touch then. Chandler's best friend Joey is married to a girl named Alex. He also seems to be doing well. 

Once I was told Barry would be my husband, I never really thought about whether I liked him because you don't think about that here. One day it just hit me. I'm so bored. I'm bored with my job and Barry. I feel no excitement for anything, except maybe spending a day with my friends or shopping. Barry is boring and doesn't make me feel much of anything... even in bed. I guess it's always been that way, but I never thought about it. To be fair, there was always something distracting me. I was too excited for my wedding or to have sex for the first time. Also, I was so young. Usually, couples are matched to be married anywhere from 18 years old to 20 years old. I was matched and married with Barry by 16. I still don't know why I was matched early, but everyone always celebrates this, congratulates me on getting to start my life earlier than everyone else. I mean, it's true, you never even kiss someone until you are matched. It is very exciting; at least it seemed it at the time.

I've been feeling this way for months now. Feeling that I'm bored and maybe that I'm terribly unhappy. Unfortunately, I can't talk about it with anyone. As everyday goes on, I don't know what to do about these feelings. I know I can't change anything even though I'm so desperate for change.

(...)

One night, Monica and Chandler are having a big dinner party at their house. All our friends are invited. I head to the dinner with Barry. I'm happy to spend a night with friends.

Usually, I know everyone at these parties, the invite list is always the same, but after greeting everyone Barry and I run into a couple we have never seen before. A woman with long, light blonde hair wearing a swirly dress who honestly reminds me of a housewife from the 1970's is standing next to, who I have to assume, is her husband; a dark brown haired man in a fitting suit. I must admit, I am very attracted to this man. Attraction is another thing no one talks about because it is senseless when it has no part in the decision of whom you will spend the rest of your life with. I also am so used to seeing the same people, that I haven't felt this in so long.

Barry and I walk over to this new couple.

"Hi there, I don't think we have met, I'm Barry and this is my wife Rachel," Barry introduces us and puts out a hand to the blonde woman.

She blushes and smiles, shaking his hand.

"Hello, I'm Carol and this is my husband Ross," she places a hand on the man next to her who smiles at us. "He is Monica's brother. We moved a couple of houses down the road recently."

"I haven't seen you in such a long time." I said to Ross with a huge blush plastered on my face. He turned out to be very well built man because when last time I saw him, he still use to wear moustache and a crazy afro.

"Yeah I moved to a boarding school for higher education. But now I have moved in the neighborhood for good." Ross said.

"Dinner is served!" Monica suddenly calls out to the entire room.