Forsaken Love

Chapter 17

Jim sat down on a couch in the lounge of his hotel, phone in hand. He relied on the two hours the evening provided him free to contact family and friends, borrowing their wireless internet when he had no international phone plan. Many of the others he traveled with also had a similar idea, making completing the simple task more difficult.

“Is anybody able to connect to the internet?” Dorothy asked. 

“I am,” Michael responded first, followed by a few other voices and raised hands on the other side of the room. “But I’m having trouble. I think too many of us are trying to connect and the system can’t handle it.”

“I’m just writing an email real quick,” Jim answered last. “Won’t be long, so you might have easier luck in a few minutes.”

“You write an email every night,” Bella argued. “ Maybe some of us want to talk to family back home as well.”

She had a point. But this email he could not ignore. “This one is important.” For the benefit of his companions, without knowing if he could even keep his promise, he continued, “I’ve been expecting this email, so I shouldn’t need to check it again after tonight.” He skimmed through Evelyn’s email again briefly before finishing his reply. 

Hello Jim,

How are your travels? See anything exciting yet? I can’t wait to hear all about your trip!

I’ve had a pretty exciting week myself! I attended my first school dance since High School. It went much better than last time. Bruce is such a natural dancer. We killed the dance floor! I have to tell you, I’ve never felt this happy with anyone before. Which brings me to my good news.

We’re engaged! Three years after the day we met, he proposed! We found a beautiful outlook in the mountains of Colorado near the university. I thought we were just hiking and never suspected anything. Then he stopped walking at the edge of this cliff with a huge canyon below us and we both took a moment to enjoy the star filled sky. I have never witnessed a more beautiful sight. When I turned around to continue the hike, he was on his knees! He arranged the whole thing with his best friend, who arrived just in time to capture the perfect moment! Well, Bruce did forget what finger the ring goes on, but that humor only made the moment more perfect! Oh, Jim. I wish you were here to celebrate with me! 

Anyway, I have to go now. I have a few tests to study for, just wanted to keep you informed! But after those I’m heading home for Christmas, so I’ll talk to you then!

~Evelyn

“My best friend just got engaged,” he finished telling his companions. He felt ashamed that he didn’t sound as excited as he wanted to. While he feared he knew the reason, he dreaded that news. “I just need to congratulate her and then the internet is yours.” He returned his focus to his reply. 

Congratulations Evelyn!

I’m so excited to hear about your engagement! I’m sorry I can’t be there right now, but I’ll be home in just another week to gaze at the rock on your finger! I’m glad you had a blast at your school dance. I still remember what happened the last time you went to a dance, so it’s nice to hear you’ve moved past that. 

Europe is great! We visited Venice yesterday. I fed a bird (I think it was a crow), when all of a sudden it decided to land on my arm. Soon a whole flock of them clung onto my arms and shoulders. It was such a unique and special moment, though you probably still have me beat on that front. Italy is my new favorite country in the world! It’s not as pretty as Prague, but I’ve learned a lot of interesting facts about the cities and the cultures to make up for it. For example, the tour manager told me Venice floods every few weeks, so the locals have to install elevated platforms to walk on. I found it funny when I first heard that, but realizing that Venice might be permanently underwater someday saddened me. I’m off to Rome tomorrow, then Florence, and then Switzerland before heading to Paris and flying home. 

Anyway, the internet sucks here and my companions are yelling at me to wrap it up so they can use it so I’ll see you next week!

~Jim

“I’m all done. See you all tomorrow.” Jim stood up from the couch and retreated to his room. He placed the phone gently on a desk, and proceeded to brush his teeth before leaping onto the bed and tucking under the sheets. He did not immediately fall asleep however, instead reviewing his plans for the remainder of the trip. He closed his eyes thirty minutes later. 

Jim dreamt again that night. He saw rows of chairs lined in a wide yard facing a gazebo backdropped by a white picket fence. Guests occupied all the chairs. Four sharp dressed men stood stage right of the gazebo, four women stage left. Jim didn’t look closely enough to put a name to any of the faces. Another man stood in the center of the gazebo. When the music started, all heads turned toward the end of the aisle near the base of a stone staircase. Evelyn walked down the steps in a heavenly white gown, accompanied by her father. 

A young girl followed behind, tossing petals across the aisle and into the seats. Again, Jim did not identify her own; her face remained distorted, almost blank, as if she didn’t even have an identity. Halfway down the aisle, the little girl parted ways to her respective seat in the crowd. When Evelyn arrived at the gazebo, Jim noticed his own placement, under the gazebo himself, standing across from Evelyn. 

“Do you, Jim Alan Hughes, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” The pastor asked. Jim glanced more carefully at the sharply dressed men next to him, hoping to discover who his dream materialized as his ‘best friends.’ Again, he had no such luck. 

“I do,” the dream Jim responded.

“And do you, Evelyn Marie Collins, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” 

“I do.” 

“Then by the power vested in me by the State of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”