Before You

Chapter 24

"Yes, I've eaten more than just frozen pizza" I say to my mother for the second time.

She called me at seven o'clock this morning thinking I would be getting ready for class. We made small talk, but her main concern seems to be if I'm eating anything other than frozen pizza.

"I have to go into downtown this morning for a class assignment. You'll be happy to know that I'll be eating lunch at an actual restaurant" I tell her.

"Really? You're going to eat alone at a restaurant?" she asks.

I realize that I should have put more thought into my response. "Um, no. I'm going with a friend to photograph the assignment and then we're going to get lunch together," I say plainly.

"Would this friend be a man?" she asks.

"Does it really matter? He's just a friend" I reply.

"Well, I hope you keep your focus on your studies and not let any man come in the way of your degree" she says.

"Yes, I know" I reply.

I'm sitting on my couch going through my camera equipment when I hear a knock on the door. I jump to my feet and open the door before another knock can be made. It's Jett. Hoping my mother didn't hear the noise; I motion for him to come inside.

"What was that? Is someone there?" she asks quickly.

"Yes. I have to go photograph a building in downtown remember?" I say.

"So your friend, that man, is at your apartment?" she asks again.

"Yes, mother. I'll make sure to send you a wedding invitation, okay? I have to go. I'll call you later" I respond.

"You better!" she exclaims and hangs up the phone.

I hang up my phone and push it into my purse on the kitchen counter. The phone call with my mother was entirely too long. I turn around to face Jett. He is sitting on my couch looking at me with curiosity.

"So, that was your mother?" he asks.

"Yes, she called to see how many frozen pizzas I've devoured" I say with a laugh.

Jett gives a small smile. "You said something about a wedding invitation?"

"Oh" I start laughing. "Yeah, my mom isn't thrilled about me photographing this assignment with you. Just the fact that you're a man worries her. I guess you could say that she's part of the reason why I have issues with men. I learned a lot from a young age just by seeing her interactions with men" I take a small breath. "Anyway, I like to aggravate her from time to time. That's where the wedding invitation came in".

"I see" Jett says nodding his head. "I was starting to think you were about to get married".

"Oh no! That's never going to happen!" I say frankly looking at Jett.

"What? Are you serious? Like you never want to get married?" he asks.

"No, I don't." I say shaking my head. "I think having that piece of paper only makes things more difficult. People who are married still cheat, are still involved in domestic abuse relationships, and some are flat out miserable every single day. Only now, they have a piece of paper that says they should still stay with that person no matter what the circumstances are".

Jett stands and walks over to me. "Not all marriages are bad. What about the ones that are good? You don't want to have one person in your life that is everything? One person that knows your flaws and loves you in spite of them? One person that is there with you through the good times and bad times that never leaves no matter what?"