Stranger than Fiction

set your timer: Writer about an example of wishes coming true in your life that no one would believe if it were in a short story or a novel. Or write about something that happened taht was just too strange, that you yourself would have a hard time believing, if it hadn't happened to you. (from Pen on Fire)

"I'm leaving for Taiwan in the morning," James said he walked into the kitchen. He never knew how Julia would take the news of his business trip. Sometimes she would cry for days before he left and other times she seemed to handle it.

"What?" Julia questioned. "Why tomorrow? Can't it wait?

"No. I wish it could, but my boss needs me there tomorrow for a meeting with all the managers."

From the tone in his voice, Julia knew she couldn't talk him out of this trip. She never actually talked him out of a trip, but she sure did try. Can't they send someone else? I hate it when you leave me all alone? Do you know I cry myself to sleep when you are oversees?

Dinner was silent except for the occassional whimpers coming from Julia. She tried to contain herself, but she always became upset when James left. Even more disturbing, was this sinking feeling that something else wasn't right. After dinner, she went up to bed to cry.

James left alone to cry. Usually when her tears dried, she was back to her usual routine, but after two hours, Julia was still crying. When he went upstairs, he found her snuggling her pink baby blanket from her childhood. This was always a bad sign. The baby blanket remained in the wicker chest at the foot of the bed unless Julia was sleeping alone when James was away or when she upset. Her face was splotchy from crying and used kleenex scattered the comforter and floor.

"Please, don't go," Julia sobbed. "I know I'm a mess and making this hard, but something doesn't feel right about this trip. Something is going to go terribly wrong, and I can't live without you. Please, call your boss. Tell him you can't go. Please, James, please."

"Julia, I can't. I wish I could," James said as he gathered his wife in his arms. She continued to cry holding on tight until she had nothing left and fell asleep.

At 12:47 a.m., the phone rang. James gently shook his wife awake to let her know his trip was cancelled.

When I was in middle school, my dad had to go on a business trip. I cried and cried because I had the sinking feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong just like Julia. I cried and cried wrapped in my pink baby blanket. I remember praying to God over and over again to keep my dad safe and to cancel the trip. I cried myself to sleep that night and was awakened by my dad somewhere near 1:00 a.m. when my dad told me his trip was canceled.