6 MONTHS LATER

It’s a chilly Florida Christmas morning, which basically means it’s a brisk 80 degrees. I’m currently surrounded by family and holiday-colored chaos. Red, green, and gold litter the floor in shapes of wrapping paper, ribbon, and decor.

Laughter and happiness linger in the air, while Christmas music plays softly in the background. If I had to guess, it was probably something by Kelly Clarkson.

As I’m wading through the sea of red and green, picking up  wrapping pieces, Jose’s phone rings. Catching my attention.

He brings the phone to his ear and shoots me a secretive look.

My eyebrows furrowed together. What is he up to?

Abruptly, he leans over and hands me the phone.

“It’s Molly.”

When he hands me the phone, it’s then that I realize this isn’t even a phone call. She’s Facetiming.

Why is she Facetiming?

  Although we talk every day of our lives, we rarely ever call or Facetime. I’m momentarily caught off guard.

“Hi,” I say, the surprise is audibly detectable in my voice. “Merry Christmas,” I say with a smile, not seeing the cue cards that she’s holding in her hands.

I’m too focused on her face. She looks so pretty today. She’s wearing a particular shade of blush that seems to make her eyes light up.

Wait, that’s not the blush. She’s excited.

For a few awkward moments we just stare at each other. Her face, still plastered with excitement, with her hands down awkwardly at her sides — she’s gone mute.

She must be using a tripod.

The grin is frozen, plastered on her face and the silence that surrounds it, causes me to giggle — amused by the awkwardness of it.

It’s then that I notice the cards that she’s holding in her hands.

Definitely using a tripod.. or someone is holding her phone.

My eyes dart to the cards again.

Focus, Jessi, focus. Slowly, she shows the cards to me — one by one. Each card is a word of its own.

You    Are    Coming    To    See    Me

Reading each word slowly aloud, it takes me a moment to process what they say.

“What? No way!” I say.

I turn to Jose in confusion — searching his face for a sign that they are playing a trick on me, but he just nods slowly in agreement.

To my left, my mom looks so excited.

Wait. They’re serious?

         I can’t help but laugh at the irony of her excitement. My mother has spent my whole life warning me about the dangers of meeting people on the Internet. Here I am, doing just that and suddenly she’s cheering me on. My visible excitement is virtually undetectable, but inside …. I’m utterly elated.

I finally get to meet Molly.