To play second fiddle- Story- Chapter 5

Julia poured herself a glass of wine, and decided to order in. She had quite a decision to make, and it was a difficult one. She was so attached to this house, but it was time to let go.

She wandered from room to room and called up old memories, but that was all it was. Memories.
Just before the food arrived, she dialed the number from the realtor and told him that she was accepting her offer. He was delighted.

While she ate, she sat thinking about some of the good things that happened in this house, but the good things were all in the shadow of the horrible bad feeling she had now. Kids were gone, husband was gone, and she was the only one left. She didn't want to stay here anymore.

She went to bed feeling exhilarated and fell asleep thinking about her trip. It was going to be wonderful. She was going to pack up the house and store everything before going on her trip and when she came back she would find a new place to live. She was planning to do a lot more traveling so she was not so worried about finding a new place immediately.

The next morning she got up early and took a shower. She did her hair and make up and felt good again. She looked totally different than she did two days ago. She dressed in one of her new outfits and at nine o clock she was on her way to the realtors to sign the papers.

She signed the papers and phoned both her son and daughter to tell them what happened. They were both happy for her and they were happy she was going on this trip. She decided to go for breakfast and just as she sat down she saw someone that she really didn't want to see now.

Peter and Holly were at the same restaurant and she was seated at a table, three tables away from them. She decided that she wasn't going to hide from them anymore and embrace whatever was coming. Holly walked right past her to go to the restroom and didn't recognize her. Julia felt like laughing. Once Peter even stared right at her and he didn't recognize her.

She watched Peter sit alone at the table, and he seemed miserable. She could see him change his attitude as soon as Holly came back. She made a point of walking past their table, and paused for a moment to greet them. They were both extremely surprised and she felt as if she won the lottery when she walked out of there.

For the first time in the last three months she felt free. She looked and felt wonderful. Her children were fine, and she had a life to live, and she was grateful for all the opportunities that lay right in front of her.

That afternoon while she relaxed in her living room with a glass of wine, her phone rang. It was Peter.
She didn't know whether she should answer or not, but decided that she was tired of playing the second fiddle. She answered sounding confident and strong.

"Julia, I'm sorry....I'm going through a phase....I made a mistake..."

She couldn't believe what she heard.

"You look great Julia...I hardly recognized you...I miss you."

She let him talk, and past feelings rushed back but she held her pose.

"You should have thought of that when you left Peter."

"I want to come home." Peter said, and she nearly dropped the phone.

"I've moved on Peter. I've sold the house."

"You did what?" Peter asked, sounding horrified.

"I had no reason to hang on to this house. I am alone, I am independent and I am free to do with my things however I please."

"But Holly left me....I have no place to go..."

She didn't know if she had to feel sorry for him, but all she heard was a pathetic creature begging to come back and she didn't want that anymore. If he had phoned two days earlier, the outcome might have been different but it was too late now.

"Well I guess you will just have to find a new place to stay, or perhaps beg Holly to take you back. I am done Peter. You made the bed, now sleep in it. Goodbye."

She was alone, but it felt great....she had her independence back, and she would never become dependent on anyone ever again. It was her time now, and she was going to enjoy every minute of it.

-The End-
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