Jake & Julia | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Jake & Julia | Previous Challenge Entry
By Candace Meiler
01/08/11
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

One word described how she’d felt the day he came in and told her he was leaving. Broken. There was no other way to describe it. For the first time in her life, Julia was broken, and she had no idea how to pick up the pieces. As she sat alone in her favorite chair, a single candle sent shadows of her life dancing across the room. The walls echoed with the laughter of her children, the voice of her husband saying, “She completes me.”

Julia crossed the room, grabbed a tissue and retreated to the front porch. She took in a deep, cleansing breath of fresh air. A warm breeze rustled the leaves in the nearby trees. A glittering of diamonds blanketed the night sky. She settled on her porch swing and hugged her knees to her chest. In the two years since the divorce, she’d had a lot of time to reflect. Her children weren’t completely grown, but as teenagers, they had their own friends; their own things to do. And she assumed that Jake, now her ex-husband, was somewhere in the arms of the twenty-something he claimed ‘completed him.’ Her thoughts drifted back to his days of ‘completion’ and a single tear trickled down her cheek.

Yes, she had been hurt and angry with Jake for the affair, but what really bothered her was ‘why.’ Why had he cheated? Sure they’d had their share of problems, but for the most part things were good. She supposed she shouldn’t really have been surprised. They never fought, but, then again, they never really communicated, either. They had always claimed to love each other. Then they had children, and life just kept moving forward. They lived as husband and wife, but somewhere along the way they’d forgotten to be friends. She decided maybe that lady was right when she sang the lyrics, ‘sometimes love just ain’t enough.’ But shouldn’t it be? Despite all that had happened, she was able to admit to herself that she still loved Jake.

Julia closed her eyes, blinking back a few more tears. She could hear a dog barking in the distance, and smiled as she wondered if he was trying to harmonize with the crickets. From inside, she could hear the telephone ringing. She thought about going in, but decided the machine could get it. Her son and daughter, who would have called her cell, were both at the movies with friends. Friends. Those were few and far between. Not only had she and her husband forgotten to be friends, but she’d forgotten to be friends with anyone really. Until Norah. Norah was an old high school friend who had invited Julia to church shortly after she and Jake had separated. Church was another thing she and Jake had forgotten to do. They were so wrapped up in living life that they’d forgotten to go. Ever.

Life was different for Julia now, though. It’s a funny thing, she mused, when you’re broken, you realize that God is the only one Who can put you back together. She took another deep breath and silently thanked God that Norah had introduced Him into her life. It was through her newfound relationship with Him that Julia was able to find peace in her life and ultimately able to forgive Jake for the affair. Sometimes it was hard for even her to believe, but that was another thing she’d learned about God—He was the God of the impossible.

Just then, Julia’s cell phone vibrated in her pocket. The two quick buzzes indicated she had a new text message. She set her feet down to stop the swaying, and wiped her eyes one more time. Releasing the past, she reached in and pulled out her phone. The screen lit up.

1 NEW MESSAGE FROM JAKE

Julia’s stomach did a little flip flop just before she touched the screen.

HEY JULES. BET YOU’RE SURPRISED TO HEAR FROM ME. LOOK, I KNOW I’VE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES, BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING…DO YOU THINK WE COULD WORK ON THIS WHOLE FRIENDSHIP THING? I NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO. I HOPE SO, BUT I UNDERSTAND IF YOU SAY NO.

Her heart pounded a little faster as she stared at the screen. She had so many questions, but only one answer made sense. The only thing she knew to say to him. She touched the screen and tapped her reply.

I THINK I’D LIKE THAT.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.