Juliena

 by Reina Desrouleaux

“Expecting Another John Doe”

On a particularly starry night, a full moon illuminated the forest.  The tall and magnificent trees played with the darkness as their shadows seemed to change. Acorns scattered the grounds from the squirrels’ hunting fairs. Crickets chirped in a light melody, like a well orchestrated symphony. The blue moon shone on the leaves, which seemed to radiate a distant beauty. The night was still- quiet. The trees seemed to give way to a dirt path. A light breeze blew as a leaf flew from its twisted branch. The breeze got stronger as it played with the leaf. Carrying and softly caressing it as it flew to a distance.

On that dirt path, a fifteen year old girl was walking home. Her hands in her pocket from the slight chill of the breeze, her boots clicked and clacked as they seemed to echo through the forest, and her head bent down as if providing her shelter from the breeze. The breeze picked up into a strong wind, forcing her to pick up her pace. The wind seemed to play with her hair. Clouds moved into place overhead, enveloping the forest into the wandering darkness of the night. A drop fell from that cloud, bouncing of a leaf, onto the dirt path. Dust danced up from the effect of the drop, as if to signal an onslaught of rain. Thunder cracked as the wind whipped, with lightning following a mere second later. The girl started to run as her hair got into a drenched tangled mess.

A few minutes later Elena Smith Hopped over her front porch’s steps, and quickly ran inside as she slammed the door. She flipped the light switch and took of her jacket as her eyes adjusted to the light. She walked up the stairs, down the hallway into her room. The electronic alarm clock next to her bed read 11:00 pm. She walked to her window and pushed it down, softening the sound of the rain outside. She slopped onto her bed as she slipped off her boots. Her computer monitor flashed with the words: NEW MESSAGE. She sighed as she walked to her desk and sat down. She clicked her mouse as the instant message popped up.

Badjuju108: Lena you there???

Recognizing her friend’s screen name she typed a response.

Rotflmfaoaott666: yeah just got home

Badjuju108: good, I was getting worried…

Rotflmfaoaott666: why?

Badjuju108: HELLO!!! I’m blasting music at its fullest and I can STILL hear the thunder

Rotflmfaoaott666: well of course what else would you expect from the raining season?

Badjuju108: I’m just glad you’re home

Rotflmfaoaott666: well thanks for the concern

Badjuju108:  no prob J- your mom home yet?

Rotflmfaoaott666: no but I’ll be expecting ANOTHER John Doe.

Badjuju108: aww sorry honeyL… well I’ve got to go my mom is screaming at me from the other room

Rotflmfaoaott666: k bye

Elena sighed as she logged off. Julia, her best friend had known her whole life, or at least it felt like it. They’re so close that their friends gave them their nickname “Juliena”.  She looked at her clock and it read 11:15pm. She sighed as she realized her mother would be spending another night out. She was glad. She wouldn’t want a night in. Her mother tries to not let her know but she knows. The John Does as she likes to call them come and go. She’s seen every eye color, every hair dyes, every tattoos, every personalities- yet they all end the same way. She turned off her computer and hopped into bed, anticipating the alternate reality.

                                                      ***

                                                   Julia Turned off her computer right after her friend logged off. She looked at the hands of her clock, and they read 11:15 pm. She took a deep breath as she realized that she’d have to be up bright and early for school tomorrow. She thought her room to be nice and cozy. Her walls were covered with posters and pictures from family vacation trips and memories with friends. Where there weren’t posters there was a bulletin board, with a calendar, brochures for school clubs, party planning tips and ideas, and sheet music. Under her posters was a nice violet wall with gold paint outlining vines and branches.  To the left of her window was her desk, Covered in papers and homework assignments, with the exception of her laptop.  To the right corner of her window was her mirror, with her bed along that wall. Her closet right across her bed was pretty large but not filled. Every single shirt was organized in a hanger by color and pants folded. Her jewelry was in a box given to her by her grandmother.   Next to her closet was the door to her bathroom, which had a luxurious shower with a bathtub next to it. She’d like to think of her room as special, the one place in her home that truly felt like home. Her family wasn’t a bad family, but something just felt really off. Her dad seemed to work more and more, although expected of his job as a banker, it just seemed unnatural. She couldn’t think of infidelity because she knew her mother would be screaming at him every night. She didn’t know, but it didn’t feel right.

Julia sighed as she went to bed. She reached next to her lamp and put on her music box which played Tchaikovsky string quartet no. 3, one of her favorite pieces. The music box was composed of a figurine of a dancing ballerina in mid flight. Her arms gracefully extended to the side leading her body in motion, compared to her impassive plastic face, and soulless eyes. She looked out her window, as she relaxed to the tune. The rain started to slow, and the clouds cleared up.  The full moon outlined half her face, revealing a slight glint in her eyes. Julia closed her eyes as she let the tune take over her head.

Series Navigation

Juliena (chapter2)