soeffinhappy

"To our good friend, may he win back the woman he loves." She toasted.
The five of us downed our shots said cheers. The alchohol burned on the way down but I barely noticed it. I felt better than I'd felt in weeks. I was hopeful, no more than that, confident and the confidence my friends had in me only made me that much more confident.
Tonight was the night. My girlfriend had broken up with me a week earlier and really put a hurt on me. Now I was dressed in my best suit, I had a bouquet of gorgeous flowers and a bottle of good wine and I was determined to win back the heart of the woman I loved. My friends had all come to my work and helped me prepare, picking out flowers and clothes with me to maximize the romantic effect. Now they were the first people at a party, toasting to my success.
I started to make my way to the door.
"Listen," she pulled me aside "I know this is gonna work. Noone could resist what you're doing. It's the most romantic thing ever."
"Yeah it kinda is..." I replied, a shit eating, "aw shucks" grin on my face.
"But if, IF it doesn't work. I expect to see you back here to party your troubles away."
"Thanks. Your helping me means a lot."
It was one of those moments that I'll never forget, the kind that define a friendship. We shared a smile and a hug and then I was out the door.
As I opened the door a thought hit me so hard that I had to say it out loud.
"Who could wear a frown with friends such as these?"
It was the truth. They made me feel like the star quarterback at the big game. I'd never had a cheering section in my love life before. It was an exhilerating experience.
Their energy gave me such a charge that I laughed and sang the entire drive to her house. I must confess, I spent most of my time thinking about my girlfriend on my way down there. Can you blame me? Her eyes, her smile, the way she would blush and bring her finger to her lips when I complimented her. I could practically smell the faint vanilla odor of her body spray. The friends who were celebrating my imminent victory were not out of my mind though. Each time I thought of them, I was filled with a renewed feeling of hope. This was actually going to work. I parked my car in front of a house with no lights on. I got out, my heart fluttering in my chest. Here goes everything.
It was a good hour and a half later, and I was walking back up that walkway. She saw me coming and the look on her face told me that the tension was killing her.
"Well?" She asked her eyes full of hope.
Flowers and wine still in my arms, I shook my head with a smile.
"Nope, it's a no go."
The pain that clouded her expression broke my heart all over again. When she swept me up in her arms to hug me again, I wanted to give her medals and awards and give a touching introductory speech at a gala banquet held in her honor. My pain hurt her almost as much as it hurt me and I was warmed with the heat of her friendship.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. You made this a great night, no matter how it turned out. Now crack open this wine with me, I've got a toast to say."


This journal is dedicated to good friends everywhere. Raise your glasses to the people who make even the worst of nights seem magical.