When I got home, I felt overwhelmed and began typing a ‘Thank You’ letter to Charlotte. Although Leslie had ruined her expensive carpet with wine, broke a crystal, and I broke her mannequin, it was the least I could do.
“Do you want some water?” Paul asked with his eyes half-opened. He had stayed up the whole night catering to my needs. I felt needy, but at the moment I didn’t care.
“Yes please, with ice,” I said.
“Man, your family is a mess,” Jason laughed as he wrapped his arms around me. “It was too funny!”
I shoved him away and stood up over him. “Not funny! What was so funny?”
“Um, I was just kidding, Lily.”
“You weren’t kidding.” I said and stormed off to the bathroom.
“Bridezilla alert! Bridezilla alert!” I overheard Paul sing and Jason laughed along with him.
“They are such jerks! I can’t stand them sometimes!” I told myself in the mirror as I threw cold water on my face. I stared at myself in the mirror as I noticed what looked like two pimples on each side of my forehead. Great, acne before my wedding. I took a deep breath and went back into the living room.
“You guys are so inconsiderate! My mom just—”
I paused and searched for my computer. My laptop was gone. I remembered leaving it on the couch next to Jason.
“What’s wrong?” Jason said.
“My computer? Where is it?” I said.
“What are you talking about, Lily?” Paul said.
“I was typing Charlotte’s letter.”
“No you weren’t, honey,” Jason said.
“Yes I was.”
“Okay, so you’re saying the computer got up and walked away? It’s where it’s always been, on the desk next to mine,” Jason said.
“I was just typing on it. Right, Paul?”
“I can’t remember,” he said.
“What do you mean you can’t remember? It was just a minute ago.”
Jason got up and went upstairs into our room. “See.” He held up my laptop that was on the desk next to his.
“I think you’re tired, baby,” Paul said. “I know I am.” He handed me my cup of water.
“But, I know what I was typing…”
“Ugh,” Jason drifted off.
“I should go,” Paul said. “You should go to sleep too.”
“Yeah, it’s been a long day,” Jason said.
“Very long,” I mumbled. “I’ll walk you to your car, Paul.”
“Alright.” Paul grabbed his things and we walked to his car. “Are you okay?” he asked as he opened the front door.
“Yes, I am. I’m just tired,” I whispered as the cool summer breeze astounded me.
“We can always cancel the wedding.”
“No, I won’t do that. Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know. You seem overwhelmed and all.”
“Like I told you, I’ve been sleep deprived. Plus, Ana will be over here extra early tomorrow.”
Paul got into his car and I bent down to kiss him goodbye. “Love you, little Lily!”
“I love you too.”
Paul drove off—and a feeling of loneliness took over me. When I turned around toward the house, I could see Jason peaking outside from the upstairs bedroom window.
As I entered the home, all the lights were off like in a scary movie that I once played in. I tiptoed up to the bedroom. While in the hallway, I stubbed my toe on the wall and muttered a swear word. When I finally made it to the room I noticed Jason was in the bed asleep.
“I know you’re not asleep. I saw you peaking through the window,” I said.
He ignored me.
“Jason?”
“What?” he said.
“I said I saw you peaking through the window.”
“What are you talking about, Lily? I wasn’t in the window.”
“Then, who was it?”
“Your imagination,” he mumbled.
“Excuse me? My imagination? Are you trying to say I’m mad?”
“Yes, yes I am. Get a reality check.” He threw his pillow over his head, trying to ignore me.
“I’m not crazy!” I punched the bed. “I don’t need a reality check.”
Jason threw his pillow at the wall. “Okay, Lily, you’re not crazy! Just shut the hell up and go to bed!”
I rested down and stared at the ceiling for an hour—I let my mind drift away as I usually would. Then, I thought about the computer incident. I knew I was not a lunatic…I knew I was using the computer that night.
I peaked over at Jason and he was asleep this time. I knew because his mouth was open and his left eye twitches when he sleeps. I got up slowly so I would not shake the bed and went over to my laptop. I knew it would make a loud noise when I was to start it, so I took it down to the living room.
I put my small hands over the laptop speakers to illuminate the sound. My hands began to shake as I waited for my account to load.
“Finally,” I whispered as the screen loaded and I began to click through my hundred-something files. I had many ‘Thank You’ files for people I would never remember. Then, I came to the last file: ‘Thank You Miss. Suzanna.’ I right-clicked the file and went to properties.
“Date created…” I read. “July twenty-third at 11:41pm.”
I looked at the clock and it was 12:20am. I knew I was not crazy. I knew I was using the computer when I said.
Maybe, I put the computer in the room and did not remember…yeah that is what happened—that’s the only thing I could think of—that’s the only thing I wanted to think of.