A Writer's Notebook / Collection of Short Stories

Hey, Emily... [🇺🇸]

DATE: 01/10/2023

"Hey, Emily...", Naomi sat down on the green grass. It was kinda dirty. It had been raining these past days and now everything was covered in mud.
"I know it's been a while. I'm sorry I didn't come to catch up earlier. I've just been so busy lately...", Naomi sighed. "You know the old bookstore? The one we used to spend all our afternoons at, back in high school? Well, they wanted to sell it and transform it into a silly pizza shop. Can you believe it?! But hey, don't worry, I obviously didn't allow it. I actually bought it. It has cost me all my savings but it was worth it."
Naomi was looking at her mud covered Vans while giving away the news. She felt guilty for not telling Emily earlier.
"The village has actually changed a lot. You should see what they made out of the old playground. They placed a beautiful marmor fountain right in the middle of the place. Extremely romantic. You'd like it there. I bet that place would now inspire you for one of your short stories. It's simply beautiful", Naomi smiled by the thought of it.
"Okay, I have to confess something to you Emily...", she said suddenly, "Probably the main reason why it took me so long to talk to you is because I was trying to find a way to tell you this... I'm pregnant."
A loud silence expanded over the muddy wet grass.
"It's been four months now... Jeff is the father, obviously. I know it took us some time, but you know I wanted to enjoy my husband alone some years before sharing it with our children. And now that I'm already 31 years old, I really liked the thought of a little Mimi or Jeffy running around the house, you know?"
There was still no answer. You could hear a bird singing from far away.
"I guess this new is also the reason I wanted to see you again. I just couldn't hide this from my best friend. I know you never wanted kids, but you've always said you'd be my child's aunt, so...", Naomi chuckled, "Anyway, I'm again talking too much. I'm sorry. First I don't speak to you in ten months and now I just don't shut my mouth. But what can I say, you've always been an incredible listener."
Naomi turned around, looking at her side and sighed.
"I really missed you. It's tough to need the support of your soul sister and knowing she's...so far away. Literally, took me an hour to drive here. This place has always been so at the outskirts. I imagine, once the baby is born, I'll have less time to come over. But I'll come back from time to time. And I'll bring the kid, so that you can meet, even if you don't really tolerate children. I thought to call her Emily, if it's a girl. Jeff and I particularly asked the doctor not to tell us the gender. We want it to be a surprise. If it's a boy, I'll maybe call him Klaus, like your hamster, the one we buried in your garden. I don't know, I still have time to think about it."
Taking her phone out of her little bag, Naomi checked the time.
"Damn it, so late already. I'll have to go again. Got an hour-drive back and promised Jeff to be home in time. We're having his sister and her fiancé over for dinner today."
She stood up and turned around. "I brought you some sunflowers this time. They were hard to get, but I know they're your favourites. And with this rainy weather everyone needs a little bit of sun, somehow."
Naomi bent down and layed the flowers on the wet grave stone.
"I'll try to be back next weekend, Em", she turned around and walked back along the muddy path she had traveled to the cementery from her car some minutes ago.