Judy closed her eyes in defeat, anger bubbling up in her throat. She wanted to throw her phone against the window, and shatter the glass. She wanted to be satisfied and gratified by her violent actions. She felt her hand tense around the case of the device. She contemplated her decision and decided to keep the window. She took a deep breath in, counted to 3, and let it all go out. Judy opened her eyes, the emerald gems drowning in salty tears. She sniffed, a single tear racing down her face. She looked back at the screen, the picture of her now-dead mother staring up at her. The very sight of Ella forced an avalanche of tears down Judy's face. She threw the phone at her bed and raised her hands to her face, sobbing loudly. She was unworthy of love, unworthy of a raise, unworthy of attention, unworthy of life, and she knew that it was true. Why, she was unworthy to have a friend tell her a glorious white lie. All her life she was told she was unworthy of anything, and now she was unworthy of the one person who loved her the most. Judy's heart broke and she let tears break out. Her insistent sobbing became a stubborn wail. Who was to hear her? There was not a soul out in the desert for miles. No one to listen to her plight, no one to console her. She knew there was no one. The only person that ever cared for her was gone at the age of 65.
A muted ring managed to whisper into Judy's ear through her lamenting. She reached for her phone, out into the midst of the bed, and felt something. She focused her puffy, red eyes in the dark to see the thing that she was touching. She felt it more, trying to figure out what it was... before feeling the sharp edge of a fingernail. Judy's heart dropped. She pulled her hand out slowly, and with the same pace, reached for the light switch, her eyes still stuck on whoever sat on her bed. Before the light switch was hammered into the on position by Judy, a voice came from the bed.57Please respect copyright.PENANAimaUE0vSAM
"Judy, Judy, Judy... I know about your loss. I've spent the last 30 minutes listening to your heartbreaking wail. Now, don't switch on the light just yet. I can't live with the light on, and I have to say a lot of things"57Please respect copyright.PENANAJsYV3JViXH
"L-Loss?"57Please respect copyright.PENANA1uxSZB9JZ2
"Your mother... yes"57Please respect copyright.PENANAX2LSoPGcLd
Her hand hovered over the light switch before she brought it down next to her.57Please respect copyright.PENANADCFntyegZt
"You listened to me?"57Please respect copyright.PENANA4t88za23sT
"Why wouldn't I?"57Please respect copyright.PENANAgNMGXnXriE
Judy's heart glistened from within and all senses of caution and danger were, so to speak, wiped out from existence. Happiness and love enveloped her, and the person seemed to know.57Please respect copyright.PENANAjPsCtNaUz3
"Who are you?"57Please respect copyright.PENANAMPZBYbwDQd
"Names I have many, but you can call me friend, as that I am"57Please respect copyright.PENANAKJ5PvqAWKS
"You are my... friend?"57Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8xLqat5WI
"Yes, Judy. You may now switch on the light, as I have places to go. Farewell, Judy"57Please respect copyright.PENANAEts3NTWn5C
"When will I see you again, friend?"57Please respect copyright.PENANAYSvpPKEN59
"Tomorrow night"
Judy switched on the light, her heart fluttering. She had finally made a friend! Years of being the outcast, weirdo, menace, and ununderstood had made a gap in her soul so huge, that it had almost consumed her. But hitherto came friend, and the gap had already started mending itself. Wooden bridges started forming at the ends and rough bricks placed themselves to mend the gap. Judy edged towards the bed, where friend was sitting to see a muted yellow envelope. It was old and musty and smelt of ashes. Judy ripped open the envelope and greedily looked at the letter inside-
Dear Judy,
I am friend. As you know, I am and will be, forever, your friend. But, tomorrow, at our next meeting, I wish my arrival to be a tad bit more comfortable. Lay out the bed to be straight without a crinkle. Let there be no light. Be sure to place raw chicken pieces (preferably bathed in the blood of the chicken) in a bowl before me, and sit on the chair, facing me. I hope this was not too much, and that you will be able to provide for me this arrival every day.
Yours sincerely,
Friend
Judy's heart lept. She placed the letter in her pocket and set the alarm on her phone to 6:30 a.m. so she would be first in line to get the freshest chicken for friend. She then went to sleep, her mind fawning over her first friend.
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