I Have a Friend ...Finis ...Soulmate or Wraith?

I really shouldn't be with Rita—the seminary wouldn't approve—and as for God, well, he's already made his desires known.

He knows I'm a free agent in the universe, but he also knows I get into trouble when I go it alone.

Regardless, here I am, under Maple-lined streets walking her towards her flat.

I know what I'm doing is dumb but having begun the gesture I'd look really foolish attempting to turn back.

And as for Rita, it's all in a night's work, if you know what I mean.

We're walking and I'm balking—feeling guilty because I'm betraying my dreams.

Actually, I'm betraying this girl in a white dress who's haunted my dreams ever since I can remember.

She's soft and beautiful and incredibly kind but not the kind you'd meet on the street—more the kind you'll never meet...

Such is my life.

As I said, we're walking and suddenly Rita pipes up.

“I’ve gotta roomie—she’s kinda like Jack—a real nerd. Hey, maybe we should set them up? —They might hit it off. Who knows?”

I’m listening—kinda. I’m wondering about the voice I heard back in the bar and I’m beginning to doubt this was such a great idea.

We arrive outside Rita’s house and she turns to me and says. “You wait here, Stephen. I’ll go and convince Irene that she needs to study a few more hours in the campus library. When the coast is clear, I’ll wave you up.”

She points to an attic window. “Just watch up there and when you see me wave, come on up to the third level.”

She may as well have said the seventh heaven. Are there levels in hell, I wonder?

I watch her lovely sylph-like figure as she melts through the doorway and I wonder what I did to deserve this gift.

Hey there, big spender.

There's that voice again!

I whirl around in the direction of the voice and there’s the girl of my dreams, standing there, her white dress shimmering in the moonlight.

“You’re real,” I gasp and stare in awe.

She smiles and every nuance of expression melts my heart. I dreamt of being in the moonlight with her and now, here we are.

“Well, here we are,” she whispers and gives me a trembling smile.

I feel an aching so deep inside me. I want to ask her forgiveness for being so blind, stupid and insensitive.

“I’ve wanted you my whole life,” I tell her and I mean it with my whole heart. Above us, a widow sash raises and Rita rasps in a hoarse whisper, “Hurry up!”

“I’ve go to go,” I tell my girl.

“No, you don’t—you’re better than this, Stephen.”

Every word out of her mouth is a caress.

Have you ever met someone who is so genuinely nice they make you want to cry? She made me want to cry.

“You’re right,” I tell her, “I can’t do this.”

I turn and look up at Rita’s lighted window, but she’s gone. If I walk up those stairs, I’ll make it worse. I turn back to my girl, but she’s gone.

I am a free agent in the universe. What do I do now?

My heart knows the answer...

I go home.

When I get back to the dorm, Jack’s sleeping in his Nashville Predator’s hockey shirt, snoring.

The window’s open and white curtains are billowing on the breeze.

I sit alone in the dorm and stare up at the dome of the Moon.

I don’t understand what just happened. I don’t understand where my life is headed.

One thing I do know for sure and can feel it deep within me—

In the depths of the sleeping night, my love is waiting...

She’s sheltered from the storms of feverish flesh and waiting for me in her shimmering white dress.

© 2025, John J Geddes. All rights reserved

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