To Amy and Walter, my two old friends who I once saw and met a few years back. I'm AL. I hope we can reunite one day someday in the future, even not as friends.
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Past
1971
"It was your fault!" I shot at her. "Thankfully, I'll never have to see you again. Ever. In my life." "I know. But I'm not the one who has to take college all over again, unlike some people." Bethany shot back at me. "I'm finally graduating from here. Then I'm fine. I'll never see you again."
Bethany is my enemy, whom I've known since forever and had to deal with all my years. You've heard me. I hate her, and she hates me. By "some people," she meant me. Which was true. I had to go to college again. And that was something I'm even angry about—not just angry at my enemy for pointing that out about me.
"So am I," I said.
And with that, Bethany headed to the real world. She walked away from the college, and for once, I knew she was never going to come back. I watched her walk away, then collapse and faint on the steps of the college. I still had to retake one year of college. I knew exactly how she knew everything.
It all started this afternoon. It was a college graduation party. I was having the last moment right in there with my friends, celebrating that we all graduated and were ready for the real world. A toast to finishing education. And then the moment ended.
I walked away from the food court, rushing my way out to get out of here, excited to return to my house to see my parents for the summer. There was some last-minute packing to do, but there wasn't a lot. So my dorm room was where I was headed. I fished out my key from my pocket and unlocked the dorm.
I collapsed on my bed for a while, still very angry. I was angry about my college grades, which came out yesterday night. Those were very bad grades. And it was all my fault. Which meant I had to retake college and retake everything I did this year. Retake one more year, which I chose to do in September 1972 since I was allowed to choose.
I threw out any garbage I saw in the trash can and packed everything else in my carry-on backpack. And then I went out of the dorm room, and I was going to head out.
Present
1990
Going grocery shopping is something I do every Friday. So I'm at the supermarket on a typical day. I think I have everything. But why do I feel like I'm forgetting something?
"Milk, butter, broccoli... EGGS!" I muttered to myself.
I dashed to the dairy section, so glad that I remembered. I grabbed one, placed it in the cart, and walked over to checkout.
The checkout line wasn't very long. In fact, currently, there isn't a line at all. There was just one person up ahead getting her groceries checked out.
I think the person ahead of me is familiar. "Can I start putting my groceries in?" I asked. "Sure?" she said back.
Then I got a good look at her face. Was she once my coworker? "Hey, what's your name?' I asked. "Julianne? Why?" She said it back. Then she gasped. "Hey! I haven't seen you in ten years! What happened after your first job?" So that's where I remembered her from, ten years ago!
"I... went my way in life." I asked. "That makes sense. Should we keep in touch? It's like you disappeared from that job and quit, and we never heard anything from you about why you quit exactly. I don't want a mystery disappearance again."
"Please pay?" The cashier said. "I'm sorry." Julianne said. "Talk sometime if we ever cross paths again." And then she walked off.
Then I felt happy and quickly checked out. If I'm fast enough, she could be waiting for me outside. Cross paths. I like the sound of that. And I hope we will.
"What took you so long?" Sylvia, my daughter, asked first thing when I got home. "It's because I saw an old friend." I said. "Or, more accurately, a co-worker." Sylvia sighed. "Oh, very cool," she said.
I'm in such a happy mood. I closed the door and hurried to the kitchen. Wow. What a way for a typical day to turn into something else.
