Letters to Adonis

Chapter:: Twenty-One

Dear Adonis,

It took us three apartments to find the one that was ours. It was a small two bedroom apartment with a miniature of everything we wanted. We didn’t have to worry about the price too much since the first few months were being paid for by our parents, which they decided was our wedding gift.

It was three days until the wedding now and the butterflies were always there, making me more alert than I’ve ever been. Elody wanted to plan me a bachelorette party but I told her I just wanted to spend the night with her eating ice cream and watching chick flicks like we used to do. She reluctantly agreed because since she wasn’t eighteen she couldn’t plan anything crazy like we would be able to do if we were older.

And for that I was glad that we were getting married so young, because I don’t want to have to deal with the embarrassment of the stripper she surely would have gotten. Or deal with the hangover. It made me a little nervous to see what your family was going to have planned for you, since you’re eighteen you have less restrictions.

But I didn’t really want to know so I didn’t ask. I wanted one last night with you before we were married, so we planned the parties to be the night before the wedding. Like I said, good thing we weren’t going to drink or else the wedding day would be a miserable one.

You were going to come over and sleep at my house because I had less people there and your cousins were sleeping on your floor. My dad was home tonight so he could play hostess. I told him I had no problem doing that any other day except tonight I just wanted you, and no family. I told him this in less words so it didn’t sound so serious. I just needed to remind myself why I was going through this, dealing with my crazy family, and I knew it wouldn’t take long for me to remember.

“I’m going up to my room, if Adonis gets here just tell him to come up.” I whisper to my dad before getting up and sneaking out of the living room. Everyone was crowded around the television. Grandma and Grandpa were asleep on the loveseat, holding hands and snoring back and forth. My aunt and uncle and staring at the t.v. like they were bored. My cousins were on their electronics so nobody noticed me sneak up the stairs.

I was almost asleep before I hear my door creak open, but I turn around so quickly the light blinds me. “Shut the door, quickly.” I tell you as you do just that.

“Sorry I’m a little late, I had to sneak out past my grandparents.” You whisper even though we could talk in normal voices. I feel you push down on the bed a little as you take your shoes off and let them fall randomly on my carpet.

“I didn’t even notice. Although, I was almost asleep.” I tell you, keeping my back turned because I’m in the comfiest position. “I was missing something though, so I don’t think I could fall asleep just yet.”

I hear the familiar noise of you tossing your shirt to the ground, unbuckling your pants and laying them on your shoes. I smile as I can picture all of this and the motions of your body with my eyes closed. “What do you think you’re missing?” you ask me as you finally lift up the covers and slide next to me, your cold hand on my warm shoulder.

“I’m not sure yet, I’ll let you know though.” I tell you as I turn around and smirk. You look so alert, your bright eyes staring at mine like you can see what I’m thinking. Your dark hair, just an inch or two short. “Hey! You got a trim. You look very handsome.” I tell you as I lean in to kiss you.

“Why thank you,” you whisper to me between kisses. As we kiss all I can think of is the wedding and a new wave of butterflies fall over my stomach in a tidal wave. I was nervous, sure, but I wasn’t doubting us.

“We should really go to sleep,” I tell you as I pull away. I laugh as I see you pout, I can’t help but roll my eyes. “You know I can’t resist the pouty lip. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” I tell you before I kiss your neck and sigh, resting my head there for a minute.

“I can’t resist your pouty lip either, you know.” He tells me and the butterflies disappear for a second before swooshing back. Eventually we go to sleep, and I remember now.

~

“So, what chick flicks are we going to watch?” Elody sing songs as I let her in the house. I silently thank my dad for letting me have a television in my room so we don’t have to watch sappy chick flicks with my family.

“All the ones I have,” I inform her happily as she comes into the house with two bags of ice cream. “Ben & Jerry’s?”

“Of course! I got a few of your favorite flavors. Well, I hope they’re still your favorites.” She bites her lip for a second before making her way up to my room. I grab spoons and follow her up to my room.

“Glad to see you remember where my room is,” I joke around with her as I close my door, turn off the light, and pop a movie in.

“Well I had to rely on my great memory instead of you inviting me over. I can’t believe you’re getting married! At seventeen, too! Don’t you think it’s going so fast?” she doesn’t ask it meanly, or accusingly. She doesn’t already have an opinion set in her head about us, like I’m pregnant or any of the usual reasons.

“I love him, and he loves me. I don’t think he saw the point in waiting if I’m only going to get worse.” I shrug as I answer her honestly. It’s a sad fact, but it’s true.

Elody is clearly thinking about it for a minute. Her brown hair is up in a ponytail and she’s wearing Hello Kitty pajamas. “I understand. I was just wondering. I’m glad I get to be the maid of honor.” She tells me excitedly. We both ignore the movie on the screen, All About Steve. We both have seen this movie countless times and can probably act it ourselves.

“I’m glad,” I smile at her. I’m glad for the wedding, but I just remembered that mom isn’t going to be there. Maybe it was better that she wasn’t there. I didn’t want to be reminded of how I’m going to end up. And the thought made me cry. That is what my mother is to me now. Not the woman who raised me and taught me right from wrong, how to talk, and all those other things. But I deduced her to the woman who shows me my future, the one I’m trying to avoid at all costs.

I can’t help but start crying a little bit. And normally I would explain this kind of thing to Elody, but I just can’t find it in myself to get the words out. So I just mutter to her, “things are going to change so much.” And hope that she gets that’s all I can say.

After she calmed me down, we ended up watching two more movies before we were both yawning too much. I didn’t want to end up with bags under my eyes, so I told her we should probably get to bed. “Sounds good to me,” Elody yawns before she turns the t.v. off.

“Elody, I’m glad you’re still my friend. And I’m sorry that I ditched everybody else, and that we didn’t talk for the longest time. Nothing felt the same after I got diagnosed.” We’re in the dark and when she doesn’t answer back right away I worry that she’s already asleep.

“There’s nothing to apologize about. We’re friends again, and I won’t let you lose touch with me. I’ll make you remember me every day you try to forget me. Best friends forever, Ariel.” Elody says seriously. And I can picture the serious look on her face, the determination. I know that she isn’t just saying these words to shut me up and make me more positive about the future. She’s saying them because she means them.

“Best friends forever, Elody.” I whisper before I fall into a deep sleep. I almost forgot I was getting married tomorrow.

Love, Ariel