Me, Myself, and Kelsey

It all started five years ago. It, of course, being the act of me starting to change. At least that’s what I thought was happening. It was senior year and I was still my vainglorious self. In my eyes, I was perfect and no one could match my smarts, size, shape, and amazingly good looks. I snapped at the ugly and laughed at the old. For the overweight, they got the worst of me. That’s how my life had been for years. Senior year proved that something could shatter my self-centeredness. The thing that weakened mine more then I ever thought possible was a person. Her name was Kelsey.

Kelsey was the only person I saw that was nearly equivalent to my perfection. There was a feeling inside me that I had never felt towards a person. She looked like a goddess. She had long blond hair and a smile that could split the sun. Kelsey was very petite, but she had a huge personality.

I was kind to her and I treated her like the goddess she was. I even was so bold to ask her out. She said “yes, but under one condition. When around me you’re not the only one breathing.” After that I knew she noticed my feelings of being the only person that mattered.

Day by day, I was with her. We went to dinner and we found so much in common: the same movies, the same types of foods, and even the same views in politics. It was a wonder to me and everyone else how this beautiful girl put up with me. This was a fact I never found out.

At the movies once she spilled her pop on me. For the first time ever I blew up on her and I could tell how embarrassed she was after. I bought her a necklace I had seen her looking at in the store. She was ecstatic about it. It turned out that she didn’t even care about the movie incident, but for some reason I felt bad for the first time in my life.

The school had seen that there was a small change in me. Everyone still hated me though because I treated them all like dirt. Kelsey was treated as if she was a victim of emotional abuse. Daily she insisted that I was a good guy, but in reality I wasn’t. Years later, she would see that, but I’ll get there later.

Indiana University came rather quickly and we had been a couple for nearly a year. Going to the same school really helped build our relationship. It seemed that our relationship would actually stick. Kelsey and I got along great; we barely even fought. In college, we made a great group of friends and hung out between all the busy school days. There was always a thick air though when we hung out. My friends felt like I was always there to make fun of them. My Kelsey, however, saved me once again stating that I was just a loner. She also explained that I may not show it, but I enjoyed everyone’s presence. That was a total lie, but I would never have let her know that.

College was cut short on my half. It had always been my dream to be an actor and one day I received that chance. I was promised a role in a big budget movie and I was going to be paid more then I would have imagined by staying in college. With the job I had to leave in a few months to Hollywood, California. That was farther then Kelsey or I could have traveled to see each other.

It seemed that all my feelings for her had just melted away when I got the role. I was all about myself again. I began to ignore her. Day by day, she tried to talk to me, but I ignored her. My friends kept telling me that she had something important to tell me, but I knew what it was. She wanted me to stay. There was no way I was going to give up my dream for a girl; no matter how much I liked her.

The day I left Indiana on the plane to California, I realized what day it was. It was our third anniversary and I hadn’t talked to her. That must have been what she wanted to talk to me about I thought as I sat on the plane. That day I did something I hadn’t done in a long time.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed a number that I usually never had to dial. It felt so awkward to call since I had been by her side for the last three years. The phone rang several times while my heart stopped beating and there was a small click. A small voice gave a greeting and my heart started beating again.

“Hello Drew.” Kelsey said.

“Hey, Babe. I’m just calling to wish you a happy anniversary.” I said.

“That’s nice of you, Honey…”

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, I have class Ill talk to you soon.”

We never talked again. At least that’s what I thought after our two year silence. Neither of us tried to contact each other. Well, I didn’t. She occasionally left me a message saying we needed to talk about something. I never called back. I was too busy rolling in my money and finding other girls that made me look good. Kelsey was slowly disappearing from my mind.

Then one day, my maid brought me a letter. On it was handwriting I could never forget. This was new I thought. I tore open the letter and inside was a few things; the first thing that I looked at was the image of a little child. The second was a letter written by Kelsey.

Dear drew,

I’ve tried contacting you for nearly two years. But you never answer my calls. I feel like I have had the wrong impression of you all these years. Are you really all about yourself that you couldn’t return my calls that I clearly informed you that were urgent! Well, I am still waiting for you I can only wait so much longer. Please come home or take me to you. I would like you to meet your son, Danny.

Love,

Kelsey and Danny

My heart jumped so many beats I could have sworn I died. My world changed then. I became someone new. All I could think of was how to return to them. How I could return to my family. Who would have thought that I would have cared that I had a son? I did though and it tore me apart that I missed the first two years of his life.

I had an audition the next day, but I ended up canceling and told my maid I would be leaving for a while. Marry, my maid, didn’t seem to care. I paid her a generous sum of money to stay out of my face anyway. She smiled at me and waved good-bye the day I left to return to Indiana. Just as I walked out the door she shouted.

“Bring em’ back wit ya!” I nodded and closed the door behind me.

The plane ride there was the one of the tensest moments I had ever experienced. I couldn’t help, but think of the things I was going to say when I got there. It was like in the movies were the character goes over the scene a million time in there head. Who would have ever thought that people actually do that?

Indiana University looked so small compared to the busy life of Hollywood. I had forgotten how this place had once been big to me. I walked around the campus looking for our old apartment, because I knew she still lived there. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who didn’t change.

I was wrong. Kelsey had changed; a lot to be more exact. She looked more tired. Her beauty wasn’t there anymore. Kelsey had gained weight and she had cut her hair. She looked more like a pig when I saw her there at the table. I never expected this to happen. I expected to return to the Kelsey I left two years ago.

Danny was there too. The site of him changed me in more then one way. The smile on my face was from ear to ear and his smile made his mom smile. The house was like a McDonald’s restaurant without the food. He looked so much like his mom with his blonde hair and his pale skin. The thing that amazed me the most was his face and eyes were identical to mine. Danny was tiny he was really light as I gave him my first hug. I was shocked when he kissed me.

“Hi daddy,” he said, “it nice to met you. I saw you on da T.B. your newbies are my faborite.”

“Are they? It’s nice to meet you too Danny. I’m sorry I haven’t been here for you and your mom.” I said trying not to laugh at his kid talk. I held him close never wanting to let go. I looked up to see Kelsey smiling at my son and me meeting. Then she walked over and gave me a kiss.

I knew I had found my home. Kelsey’s beauty had returned to me and for once in my life it wasn’t all about physical appearances. We returned to Hollywood as a happy family and we soon after all stared in a movie together. Something they would do better then me.