Word’s Of Juliet
“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast”-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 2.3
‘Swish, Swish’ The sound was like light sweeping, so gentle only those listening for it may hear…Perhaps if they were one of the lucky few meant to. However, Phoebe Lockhart wasn’t listening for such a sound. In fact the only sound the girl could hear was herself. Caught up in her own little world of not so nice and delicate things. Words rang in her head tormenting her ceaselessly.
“I have …cancer Phee-” Such softly spoken words for such a damning thing.
“Please no.” Phoebe cried into her shaking hands smeared with black smudges of make-up. Mascara and eyeliner brushed lovingly on for the very visit which would ruin them. The teenager was not a crier or a whiner or even the type to wallow in self pity. This was…different though. Completely different.
Reaching blindly she grabbed the white tissue next to the toilet she was currently planted on. Blowing her nose she forced herself up and out of the stall. Shoulders bowed and trembling her face screwed in such a way to stop more tears from running. Leaning heavily on the sink for support she discard of the black streaked tissue paper and dragged her eyes to the haunted reflection before her.
There’s still black smudges under her eyes, even streaked on her sallow cheeks. Green eyes are bloodshot and dull despite the sparkle of left over tears. Lipstick smudges past the corners of her mouth, a small wound on her lower lip bleeds slowly. She had unknowingly inflicted it on herself biting back screams. Her brown hair is lopsided and some thin strands fall messily to be plastered to her forehead. Her clothes are not much better off.
Numbly the girl began to once more pull herself back together. Only coming to a stand still when a mindlessly happy ring tone blares obnoxiously from her purse. She knew the ring tone, her face fell even more if that was possible. Having to take deep breath’s to calm herself she put one hand over her heart. After a moment the 17 teen year old fished out her ringing phone and stared at it. It was….him. Of course it was ‘him’ . Wondering where she was and if she was okay. Even while remaining mad at her. It was one of the many reasons she had fallen for him. (Not that she had told him that) It was also one of the reasons the weight of the situation was crushing her. She couldn’t breathe.
Suddenly a thought occurred to her as her finger hovered between the ignore and answer command. She could break away from it all. Make a clean break, and not have to deal with any of it. All it would take would be one phone call, and a little lie. It could all be over if she--
Just as her thumb was about to push the answer key a voice, whimsical in nature , rang through the bathroom.
“Do you really want to do that?”
“Huh?” Phoebe turned dumbfounded, as the phone silenced. Only to start up again seconds later. Deciding she was hearing things, once again her thumb moved to answer.
“Are you sure? For, I don’t think you are.” The voice echoed again. Phoebe was so startled her phone flew out off her hands, skidding across the floor. Right smack were delicately clad feet stepped into view. Phoebe gasped in surprise more than anything. The girl simply ignored her stooping to retrieve the phone before holding it to her eyes for inspection. A look of fierce determination and fascination on her heart shaped face. That was not all that was strange with the newcomer.
She was young, 13 or 14 with the stick like body of any in the in-between stage of adolescence. Unlike others though she stood with power and a confidence even Phoebe couldn’t match. Her wraith body was clothed in a long white lace gown, tightly fitted on her small stomach, backside and chest (or lack there of) The hem reached to the toes of the silk ballet flats on her feet. It was not like anything the older girl had seen someone wear outside a Renaissance fair much less a hospital bathroom. The girls long golden hair billowed in soft waves down milky shoulders, part way bound up in a style Phoebe would never be able to carry off. Red lips pursed in concentration, cheeks pink with rogue, green eyes sparkling with mischief and delight. Finally the girl broke the turning awkward silence.
“I’ll never understand these magical sticks… You call them cell-u-lear phones correct? Such strange devices all over the place. It really is quite odd.”
“Excuse me?” Phoebe asks feeling stunned, blinking in a dazed way.
“Bothersome these things are. Really keep up dear or should I slow down for you?” The girl reproved flicking her gaze to Phoebe and back to the phone. Phoebe didn’t really know what to say. The strange girl planted her feet shoulder width apart, holding the cell phone between both hands swinging it down in a long arc…as if she were wielding a sword.
“Quite aerodynamic in any case.”
“I’m sorry but could I have my phone back?” Phoebe asked hesitantly. Extending her hand for the phone.
“Actually, I think I’ll keep this for now. Shall we be on our way?”
“Excuse me who-” Phoebe is cut off by a slightly large woman padding into the room. The strange girl steps aside without looking. Phoebe can only stare as the woman gives her a freaked out look and retreats into the stall, never once looking at the strangely dressed girl.
The very strange stranger took advantage of Phoebe’s confusion and bustled over to loop arms with her and lead her out of the bathroom arm in arm.
Once Phoebe again was in control of over her mouth and mind the girl was leading her through the hospital’s patient park.
“Excuse me, who do you think you are?” The slightly outraged girl asked curtly pulling her arm from the younger girls. Green eyes look at her dolefully for a moment. Before she shrugs and prances over to the marble bench beside them. Her arms out thrust, giggles falling happily from rosy lips. She answered as she jumped on the bench Phoebe’s phone dangling from her hand.
“You know of me already.”
“Huh?” Phoebe asked dumbly.
“You know of me, You’ve probably even read my story.” The girl seemed highly amused with the dull look on Phoebe’s face, continuing to do a playful jig on top of the bench.
“I’m sure I haven’t.” Phoebe replies dully.
“I’m quite sure you have.” The golden haired girl jested.
“Then who are?” Phoebe demanded her gaze following the girl. The girl whirled to face her leaning forwards as if to tell a grand secret.
“Juliet Capulet of course.” Phoebe laughed genuinely amused. The now named Juliet continued straightening. As if the laughter didn’t bother her a whip.
“Though technically I’m the ghost of Juliet Montague.” Phoebe decided to play along, smothering her snorts of laughter. In the back of her mind she wondered where her tears had gone. “Well then Lady Juliet, why are you visiting me.” Juliet had started to dance again delighting in the swish of her gown.
“To help you.” The answer was simple.
“Help me? How? Why?” Juliet stops mid twirl her face falling. For a moment Phoebe was scared she would cry. She didn’t only sitting daintily down on the bench clasping the phone in her hand gazing at it with sorrowful eyes. There was an ancient devastation in them that made Phoebe uncomfortable.
“Jul-iet?” Phoebe asked carefully.
“Ah-” Juliet said pulled from her thoughts and her sorrow.
“Oh yes. Sit, sit Phoebe. I shall tell you what you seek.” Phoebe noted she had not said her name but didn’t ask. Things were too weird as they were. She knew that she should walk away, wanted to even, but she also felt a kindred spirit in that sorrow filled look. So she sat without complaint. Juliet smiled to herself gripping the phone between her palms.
“If only…” Juliet said softly, almost a whisper. “If only these things were around.”
“Wha…” Phoebe found herself asking feeling foolish for it.
“These phones…if we had, had them my dear. Everything could have been different. Communication was our greatest failing or maybe I was not brave enough. If I had been…it could have been different.”
“Then the story’s true… you really I mean…“ Phoebe stutters face heating. Juliet grew more somber. Fingers trailing down the screen of Phoebe’s phone.
“Yes, I did. We both did.” Her voice nothing but a whisper.
“The how are you-uh…”
“Here?” Juliet supplies before chuckling sadly.
“Yeah.”
“Well, that’s a long story but you could say I go around helping girl’s…girl’s like you to redeem for my actions.”
“What about Romeo?” Phoebe couldn’t help but ask.
“Oh, he’s around doing about the same.” Juliet pipes up at the sound of his name.
“What exactly are you doing?”
“You were about to break things off with Daniel. Correct?” Phoebe’s jaw dropped still half convinced she was dreaming the encounter.
“How….did you know that?”
“That’s why I’m here. Why were you going to do that, Phoebe?”
“Uh-h.” Phoebe stalled feeling uncomfortable.
“You can tell me. I wont judge. Considering my history I’m sure you understand I have no right to.”
“Well…” The story comes out like a gush of water roaring as it’s let free. Tears began to drip down her cheeks. Juliet listened patiently, handing over a lace handkerchief to mop up her tears. When the girls shaking hands lowered to her lap, Juliet took them in both of hers.
“It must have been hard to hear. You weren’t prepared were you?”
“Not at all, I knew he was sick but I thought…it was just a bug not…cancer.” Phoebe’s voice was hoarse and ever so often she hiccupped feeling her insides squirm before being torn into two, a sense of falling making her weak.
“If you leave him, will it subdue your memories?” Phoebe didn’t have an answer.
“It’s true, if you leave now before you’re into deep it will hurt less if things end badly.” Phoebe felt her heart shudder as her own idea was confirmed.
“However will you truly heal or be burying the hurt with a lie. Phoebe I lied. To my family, friends, even to myself. I was convinced the only way was the path I took. Yet If I had just tried to find another route maybe I would have been able to find my happiness. You can too dear. Don’t think about what will happen, just let it be. Don’t let an “if “ruin everything.”
“But-” Phoebe started to argue.
“Phoebe tell me this. Would you rather spend the rest of his time, of your life wondering or wishing. OR do you want to grab whatever happiness you can while you can.”
“But it’s so…” Phoebe’s voice is so small it’s child like.
“Hard? Of course it’s hard. It’s the sour times that make the sweet ones. Grab onto your happiness and never let it go.” Juliet’s grip on Phoebe’s hand tightened an ancient look of determination in her eyes. Phoebe sighed gazing at the sweet face in front of her.
“Are you real or is my imagination on drugs?”
“What do you think?” Juliet answered playfully. “What will you do?” She asked handing Phoebe her phone finally. Phoebe’s mouth set firmly, her hands fisting around her phone. Knowing what she had to do.
“I’m going to talk to Daniel.” Phoebe stood gazing down at Juliet.
“Will I see you again?” Juliet stood too, reaching to hug the taller girl before pulling away with a shrug.
“Maybe.”
“Tell Romeo I said Hi” Phoebe said with a smile turning to go.
“I’ll do that.” Juliet says over her shoulder heading the other way. That is until Phoebe remembered something she had always wanted to ask, given the chance to speak to the very girl leaving.
“Juliet!” She stopped walking away though she didn’t turn.
“Yes, dear?”
“Why did you give up…everything for him. You were so young you could have…well you know.” Slowly she turned to meet Phoebe’s eyes calmly. When she spoke there was no doubt in her words.
“Without him I’m nothing, and without me it is the same. I was lucky really, to find the other half of my heart. So as my answer, it’s because I love him, before I was born and long after my earthly death.” And with those parting words and a blink of an eye Juliet was gone.
~~~
Phoebe’s heart raced as she stared at the uniform white door of Daniel’s room. A nurse walked by and gave her a strange look before Phee was able to take a deep breathe and open the door. The boy on the bed looked so weak. His pale eyelids closed over blue eyes, his blonde hair messily strewed across his pillows. He never looked so beautiful to Phoebe. Slowly his eyes fluttered open, blonde eyelashes catching the light of the sun. His whole face lit up when he saw her. She was surprised. The last time she had seen him they had been fighting, she had wanted him to stay in the hospital an extra night, he however was set on leaving as soon as possible. She had even ignored two of his calls.
Still he looked as though she was the sun of his world. Suddenly she was self conscious of her naked face, and the way her hair was sloppily pulled up. Even still, under his eyes she felt beautiful.
“Hey babe, you okay?” Dan asked concerned, reaching out his arms beckoning for her. She couldn’t’ help but float into them and tuck her head underneath his chin, feeling her lips quiver. He looks frail but the grip he held her in was strong, his fingers gentle as he rubbed between her shoulder blades.
“Sorry, so sorry Dan.” She tightened her grip around his chest. Dan chuckled shaking his head. “Hey, you care that’s all. That’s why I love you.” Phoebe was shocked but it didn’t stop her from replying.
“I love you more.”
“Ah never ever babe that’s my job.” Phoebe couldn’t help but chuckle.
“But weren’t you mad…and I didn’t answer the phone.” Dan took a deep breath before leaning his cheek against her hair.
“I was but some peacock made me see the error of my ways.”
“Huh?” Phoebe asked confused.
“Don’t worry about it.” As he said that an elderly man knocked and entered. The two teenagers jumped apart and muttered explanations to the doctor of where Daniel’s parents were. Together they listened through the procedure. Even though with each word another blow was dealt. The other took strength in the single connection of their fingers brushing on the bed. Once it was decided to allow the already 18 year old boy to discharge himself. The two walked together towards Phoebe’s car hand and hand. The talked quietly until a noise distracted Phoebe.
‘Swish, swish.’ Laughter carried on the late evening air. A distinctly male voice combined with the light tinkling laugh that Phoebe had heard all afternoon. She whirled her eyes searching, she felt Dan turn with her, he too seemed to be looking for someone. And there they were. Juliet and her partner moved in a slow complex dance, having eyes only for one another, yet never missing a step. Romeo, for he could be no other, was tall with dark raven black hair and light colored skin but his face was flushed, his eyes bright. You could breath the love emanating from the pair, their very touch was light of the sun and every parting like clouds flowing across it. A smile came naturally to Phoebe’s lips.
“You can see them Phee?” Daniel asked his fingers interlacing with hers again. Phoebe didn’t look away from the happy pair.
“You can too?” From the corner of her eyes she saw his blonde head nod.
“So, Juliet huh?” He asked his grip tight in hers.
“Yup, so Romeo’s the peacock then?”
“You guessed.” He laughed before gently tugging on her hand. Phoebe found herself pulled into a less complex dance but the happiness was the same. Juliet caught Phoebe’s eye over Dan’s shoulder and they shared a smile. For a moment the clouds cleared at the smiles of the two couples. As their smiling faces took the place of the sun in the sky. ’Swish, Swish’
A/N- I would very much like any kind of comment...please ha ha
Also, I think the epsilon is a bit unneeded--a comma would work just fine there!