51 years later...

She went early to bed. She was very tired and sleep deprived. Two nights, trying to draft a monologue that was proven to be the biggest challenge. “What is it? Stream of consciousness? And if yes, then who is going to take that punch?” So, that night, she went early to bed. Took a sleeping pill, switched on the tv and lost the battle with Morpheus almost the moment she rested on the pillow. It was around ten. She remembers a vivid dream with an old friend in the main role, and then this was interrupted by the doorbell. Trying to gather her thoughts and figure out place, day and time, she realized it was one minute into her birthday. Her 51st birthday, one more that found her alone in bed, with no one to think of and, it seems, exactly as she wanted it. The doorbell rang again and she did not move an inch. She stayed there, eyes open and misty for most of the night, until five, when she started preparing for her morning exercise routine. She did it all as she does every morning. Checking two blogs, squeezing half a lemon in a glass of water, strawberries and black coffee. A quick run to the bathroom, gym clothes and shoes, alarm, keys and out the door. As she was descending the stairs to the front door she could see through the glass something on the ground and as she opened the door, a small flower pot with the most beautiful and lonely golden chrysanthemum greeting her. This, and a note: “May 16, 00:01. Happy birthday, I wish you happiness. I love you, Efi”.

More than a day and half later, writing this entry, eyes still misty, recalls the events of her birthday. A day that included beautiful wishes that came in all forms through many mediums, thoughtful presents, a ton of vodka in ‘Alexandrino’ along with her three musketeers (one there in spirit, and perhaps doing exactly that, consuming spirit…in her own town) and D’ Artangan, and an indelible message.

P.S. This is a small, very small, and I’m afraid poorly written story to say thank you to my best friends, who are there for me in my moments of happiness, in my moments of sadness, in my moments of craziness, in my drunken moments, in my lonely moments. They are there to do all these with me, to live the happiness and pain, craziness and drunkenness. To take me home, and call me the following morning.