“I haven’t seen a smile like that one first thing in the morning for weeks. I’m glad. I’m happy to see that.”
I woke this morning to find Julia laying on her side next to me, intensely watching my face. “I guess I fell asleep on my back,” I said quietly as I stretched.
Julia warmly said, “You did. You were talking to me last night in that position and dropped off just like that. You look great, Babe.”
“I was talking to you when I fell asleep? Oh yeah… I guess I was. I remember now,” I finished. Julia pressed my cellphone into my hand saying, “Looking for this?” She had seen me reaching towards the nightstand. But… I think she knew long before I woke up, I’d be wanting the phone to record my nightly adventures in the other realm.
“Thanks Love,” I said, taking the phone from her, opening Voice Memos, and hitting the record button. She listened quietly as I recorded and when I finished, she gently took the phone back from me, turning it off.
“Julia? What’s on your mind?” I asked cautiously, suddenly realizing I wasn’t able to read her intent. Julia didn’t answer. She just… Well… She… She… Uh… It was intense!
When all was said and done about five minutes before the alarm actually went off, Julia breathed, “What you’re radiating this morning feels great, too. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever really felt anything like this from you before. This is amazing.”
She then stretched up for a kiss before saying, “About the visions you recorded… You know… Uh… About being told you aren’t stupid and that you have every right to belong… You do know that’s true, right?”
I nodded and she whispered, “Good.” Then, speaking warmly and more clearly, she said, “I know it’s hard when people are totally amazed that you can do what you and I would consider to be the basics of life. I get frustrated at times just watching you deal with it. I can only imagine how it feels for you, having to live with that kind of ignorance being directed at you so frequently. But you do handle it gracefully for the most part. And… When you don’t… Well… It’s understandable.”
As Julia spoke, she was shifting into position, wordlessly offering her body to me for another round after the alarm was switched off. “Take your time with me,” She breathed in between deep gentle kisses. “It’s Sunday. We don’t have to do anything we don’t want to today, ok?”
When I nodded again, she said, “Good.” I had a strange sense that the conversation about this morning’s visions wasn’t over though, and I was right. While sailing our boat on Swartswood Lake this afternoon, Julia leaned over and whispered in my ear at one point, “You’re worth the effort. You’re worth going out of the way for. I know you don’t expect it, which makes it even more worth it.”
She then gave me a light kiss as she squeezed my hand and resumed her vigil, making sure I didn’t hit one of those painted beer kegs they use for shoal markers and things. Every so often for the rest of the afternoon I’d hear a whispered remark in my ear to the effect of, “Those bitches that passed you over don’t know what they’ve missed.” Or… Uh… Something like, “Women who view you like an inconvenience might want to look in the mirror to get acquainted with the true inconveniences in this world.”
This communication went on well into the night. “But I think I got the Message!”