Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 145155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
The movie screen plays a particularly painful memory, one that I hate and desperately wish to remove from the memory bank. It has the same effect every time, bringing me to my knees. Reactivating my guilt that usually ends up with me on my knees in the bottom of the shower, throwing up and in tears.
Two weeks after Josh’s and my beautiful lovemaking holiday, I was missing him like crazy, crying by night, depressed by day. I lost five kilos in two weeks and had bags under my eyes. I didn’t leave my room except to go to school. This pain was self-inflicted. Both Josh and I knew he was going to America for four years shortly after our holiday. We knew we had no future together. That didn’t make it any easier, and we had had no contact. My tender teenage heart was utterly devastated.
I came home from school one afternoon to find the house in uproar. It was one of the few times I heard my father swear. As I opened the door my father yelled at my mother, “What the fuck does that boy think he’s doing?”
I stopped mid-step as I was slowly heading down the hall. I heard my mother talking way too fast while pacing. I slowly walked into the kitchen and looked at the two of them, raising my eyebrows.
“What’s going on?” I whispered to my mum.
Dad was on the phone. “Good god, he’s gone fucking mad,” he yelled.
I frowned. “Who?” I mouthed at Mum.
“Joshua,” she replied.
Oh shit, this can’t be good, what happened? Do they know? Am I next? I quietly made myself a cup of tea as I listened to the conversation.
“He said what? And then what did you say?” He listened. “And did you tell him that’s ridiculous? Surely he can’t be serious?”
“What?” I mouthed to Mum again.
“Joshua seems to think he’s fallen in love with a girl from Sydney and he’s not going to America.”
My eyes widened. Holy shit. “How do you know this?”
“I’ve been on the phone to Margaret all day on and off. He seems to think he’s transferring to Sydney Uni, apparently to be near this girl.”
My father hung up the phone. My eyes were the size of saucers.
“Who is she?” I whispered.
“Some fucking idiot, no doubt,” my father snapped. Shit, he was really mad. “He’s known her for two frigging weeks, and he’s throwing away an internship at Apple. This is the opportunity of a lifetime; he will never get this chance again.”
I sipped my tea in silence while my parents continued their outrage.
I asked my mum, “Why is America so important?” I was genuinely interested.
“Josh developed an app as a hobby; it was a carb counter for diabetics.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It has ended up being used all over the world. It had to be tweaked a bit, but doctors and hospitals are using it to educate diabetics.”
“What’s an app?” I asked.
“It’s the way computers are heading, something to do with Apple computers, new technology stuff.”
“Oh,” I murmured. “I had no idea.”
“No, and Joshua doesn’t get it. He gave this technology away but if it were designed on the market it would be worth millions.”
My mouth dropped open. “Millions,” I repeated.
“Yes,” said my mother. “Steve Jobs, the founder of this organization, has personally invited Joshua to come and work with him.”
“Who’s Steve Jobs?” I asked.
“He owns Apple, he’s one of the smartest, richest men in the world.”
“And he wants to work with Josh,” I replied. Suddenly, the very serious ramifications if he didn’t go became all too obvious. My dad nodded and I raised my eyebrows. “Shit,” I whispered.
“Exactly.” My father nodded. “Joshua is going to throw his whole future away for a girl he hardly knows and in twelve months down the road will leave anyway.”
“You don’t know that,” I snapped.
“True.” My mother nodded. “But if she did love him, surely she wouldn’t let him give up this chance. He can’t be that stupid, can he?” she muttered to herself as she rubbed her forehead.
I wandered out into the backyard and sat on the back step idly patting Sadie, our cocker spaniel. Shit, this was heavy. I knew I was the girl and part of me wanted to jump off the step and punch the air. He’d missed me, he did love me. I was thoroughly thrilled with myself and trying to stifle the huge grin threatening to cover my face when the phone rang again. I walked to the door to listen to the conversation.
“Well, where is he now? Well, find him, go out and find him and then what did you say? What? He’s going to marry this bimbo…for heaven’s sake…he said what? …Good god, he’s lost his fucking mind…yes, I know…hang on, I will see. Natasha, have you heard from Josh?” I shook my head. “Yes, you’re probably right, they are close. If he rings you, tell him to ring home, everyone is frantic.” I nodded in agreement. “Seriously, Robert, if you have to get on a plane and kick his ass all the way to America, you do it; he can’t screw this up. He will thank you in years to come.”