part nine                            ... or go to the beginning....

two weeks ago, my phone rang while purchasing film and marshmallows at the grocery store for josh's new year's party. the caller i.d. showed UN KNOWN. when i answered, there was static reception and no audible voice on the other end. i cursed sprint and their "free and clear" bullshit service and walked to my car. the phone rang again as i backed from my space. UN KNOWN. it was two hours until 2002.

her: "hi"

me: "hello?"

--long pause--

her: "this is rachel"

me: "hi"

her: "i just wanted to wish you a happy new year"

me: "ok"

--long pause--

her: "i want you to know that i broke up with that guy. it was such a bad situation and i'm so glad to be out of it now."

--long pause--

her: "ok, well, i hope you have a good new year and i hope this next year is really good to you"

me: "thanks, you too"

her: "bye"

me: "bye"




the end




epilogue: as i sat down to write my discontent with receiving a call from my ex-fiancee, i began to realize that an explanation was needed as to why it was such a big deal to me. i decided that i should write a little history, so you, the reader, could understand the feeling of my stomach in my throat and the irresistable urge to hang up immediately.

when i started writing, i realized that there was much to the story that i wanted to say and it would not end up being a brief one-post achievement. then i began to feel a cathartic purpose to the writing. to get these things off my chest, once and for all.

once i finally got back to today's post, the real reason i started this whole story, i started crying. as i am crying right now.

i have so much bitterness and hatred for rachel that i snubbed her. i snubbed her on a night full of joy and togetherness. i snubbed her on what may have been the loneliest night of the year.


had i not moved to dallas to marry rachel, i wouldn't have met any of you. my life is better now than it has ever been, all because i went through the worst experience of my life.

thank you for reading. this has been a great experience for me and a lot of fun. --mark

post script: i received a package from rachel in the mail this week. i haven't opened it yet....