This Party changed everything.

“Adam, don’t go. Adam, Aaadaamm!” I scream and quickly sit up in bed. My heart is pounding, my hands sweaty, and I’m trying to catch my breath. “It was just a dream,” I say to calm myself and wipe my face with my hands. I pull the hairband off my wrist as I tie my hair up in a ponytail.

It’s still dark, and when I look at the clock, it shows 5 am. I pull the duvet off me to get out of bed. I put on some sweat pants, a t-shirt, a hoody and walk to the kitchen to put on the coffee machine. I sit down at the table, fold my arms on it, and lay my head down on my arms.

After a few minutes, the coffee machine’s alarm goes off. I get up and pour myself a cup. I pick up the cup, walk to the living room, place the cup on the coffee table and plunge myself on the couch to watch some TV.

It’s been three years since Adam’s motor vehicle accident. I still hear the words, “your husband has passed”, echoing in my ears. It happened on Christmas morning, and as usual, I was waiting for him with a cup of coffee in our living room. But he never walked through our front door again. Since then, I have tried to move on, but it’s been hard. When I’m awake, I think of him, and when I’m sleeping, I dream of him.

Sarah, my best friend, has been helping me through this, and now she’s nagging me to be her plus one for the Johnsons parties. Every last Friday of the month, they have this big bash dress-up party. She’s been persistent that I can’t miss out tonight.

“Hello! Anybody home!?” A woman’s voice comes from behind the front door.

“I’m coming, Sarah!” I can never miss that voice. It’s been motivating me these past couple of years.

“Are you ready for our morning walk?” She asks as I open the door.

“Almost, come inside. I was just about to put on my running shoes.” I say and sit down on the chair in the foyer. I Always leave my shoes there.

“Have you given the party much thought?” Sarah asks with a grin on her face. She is very stylish, with long blonde hair and blue eyes that can stare right through you.

“Yes, I have, and I will go on one condition if you tell me what the surprise is. Or is it just a ruse to get me there?” I say and tug my hair behind my ear.

“Okay, Okay! I’ll tell you while we walk.”

I close the door behind us and lock up.

I still live in the same house Adam and I bought. I never could get myself to sell it. Everything is still in its place as if Adam is coming home any minute.

It’s chilly this morning, and the sun is trying hard to find a spot through the clouds. Mister John is mowing his lawn next door, and Sally is trying to get her kids to school on time, across the street.

On a Friday, we walk a different route with more up than downhill.

“Okay, Sarah, spill the beans,” I say as we turn right on Fifth Avenue.

“Jen, do you remember Mark from High School?”

I can feel my heart skipping a beat. “Mark?” I ask and walk a bit faster.

“Mark Evans from Science class,” Sarah says as she is trying hard to keep up.

“Slow down, Jen!” She says.

But I can’t. Mark, my Mark, the one that made my knees wobble when he smiled, my heart jumped when he said Hello. He was the best-looking guy at school. With his dark hair, blue eyes, and dimples that formed perfectly on his cheeks. I always wondered if he liked brunets with green eyes, like me. I don’t have long legs, like Cindy Crawford, or big lips like Angelina. I’m just your average girl with no glitz or glamour.

“Jen,” Sarah says and grabs my arm.

“What!” I shout as I pull my arm out of her hand.

“Calm down, Jen!”

“I am calm. You just frightened me.” I say.

“Were you on cloud nine again?” She asks and starts laughing.

I can feel the heat creeping up my neck, move all over my face, and ends at the tip of my ears. Sarah knows me best as we have been besties since kindergarten. She later became Adam’s partner at the precinct; they were two detectives fighting crime, and since his passing, she moved up a rank to lieutenant.

“Jen, I know you were crazy about Mark. He is back in town and has been asking about you. The best part is, he wants to meet up at the party tonight,” Sarah says while holding on to my shoulders.

“Why now?” I ask.

“Well, actually, he has had a crush on you all these years.”

I look down at my feet. I can feel my heart racing. Is this for real? I didn’t think he ever noticed me.

“Jen, come on, you have to come with,” Sarah says while shaking me slowly as if she is trying to swing me off cloud nine.

“Okay, Sarah, I’ll join you,” I say.

Sarah grabs my arm and drags me toward my house. We did not walk the whole route we usually do. I guess she’s too excited and I’m too frightened.

“Jen, spoil yourself, relax, do what makes you feel good. I’ll see you in a few. I have the perfect costume for you. I can’t wait.” She says and gets in her car while leaving me standing at my front gate.

How am I supposed to relax? The last time I was at a party was the precinct’s Christmas party three years ago.

I slowly open the gate. It squeaks as I push it away from me. What would Adam say? Would he want me to meet someone new? Oh, I miss him so much.

The front path feels particularly long today as I walk to the front door. Am I ready to start dating again? To hold hands for the first time and have that very first awkward goodnight kiss? Wait, I’m jumping the gun. I have to meet him first. I open the front door, step inside and close it behind me. I slowly walk out of the foyer and turn left in the hallway to my bedroom. I need to lay down and think.

##

“Jen, are you here?” I hear Sarah calling as she’s pounding on my front door.

I open my eyes and stare right at my alarm clock on my bedside table. The sun’s rays are softly touching the clock as the wind blows on the curtains. “3’o clock!” I shout and jump out of bed. I run to the front door as fast as I can.

“Where are the keys?” I say as I’m searching in the foyer. “Ah, I got it!” I say when I find it perfectly placed on the chair. Mark made this chair; he was good with his hands that way.

“Come on, Jen, open the door!” Sarah says and knocks anxiously on the door.

“I’m coming; I’m coming!”

“Finally, we have much to do.” She says as I open the door. She shoves me to the right as she steps inside and walks straight to my bedroom. “Get in the shower; there’s no time for soaking in the tub!”She calls out.

I’m still frozen next to the open door. I guess I better hop in that shower. As I know Sarah, she would drag me to the bathroom and push me in, clothes and all. I quickly close the door and make my way to the bathroom.

The warm water runs gently down my spine, and I’m trembling with fear. Am I doing the right thing? Oh, I wish Adam were here, then this would not be happening!

“Jen, you better get a move on! You’ve been in there for 30 minutes now.” Sarah says as she’s sticking her head through the half-open bathroom door.

“Okay,” I say and slowly start closing the taps, first the hot and then the cold. I pull a towel off the rail and wrap it tightly around my body, then take another one and fold my hair into it. I then walk to my bedroom and sit on the chair in front of the mirror.

“Are you ready to be the most beautiful girl at the ball?” Sarah asks as she pulls the towel from my hair.

“There’s no backing out now,” I say as I look at myself in the mirror.

“No, this is it!” Sarah says.

It’s just my luck that this month’s party is a masked ball. I can still hide behind my mask, and nobody would know that it’s me.

##

On the way to the party, I can feel the butterflies in my tummy, and my heart is pounding. Sarah got me the most beautiful red dress and a mask with glitter and feathers around the edges.

“We are here,” Sarah says as she parks the car in front of the house.

The Johnsons beautifully decorated the house with lights everywhere. Even a red carpet laid from the sidewalk up the stairs and into the front door. I feel like a star as Sarah, and I, walk to the front door.

“Welcome.” Mark Johnson greets us at the door.

“Thank you,” I say as we walk past him and enters the house.

It’s a big house, with waiters walking around offering champagne to everyone. We walk into the ballroom, and suddenly a hand wearing a white glove appears in front of me. I look up, and a man with a black suit and full-face mask is holding out his hand. I place my hand into his. It must be Mark. He leads me to the middle of the dance floor and holds me close as we slow dance to the music.

Something feels familiar. I lay my head on his shoulder. Mark uses the same aftershave that Adam did, and I feel safe in his arms. He sways me across the dance floor and tilts me over when the music stops playing. He pulls me back up again and holds me tight with my head against his chest.

I’ve missed being close to someone.

He takes my hand and leads me to where Sarah is standing outside on the balcony. Sarah turns around and takes off her mask. She looks at me with tears in her eyes.

“Jen,” She says as a tear starts running over her cheek. “I never told you the truth about Adam’s accident.”

Why is she talking about Adam when Mark is standing next to me? The tears are building up in my eyes. I am here to move on, and now Sarah wants to confess. I look at her with a frown on my face.

“Three years ago, Adam and I were working on a case, and he uncovered that the Mayor was laundering money for the Mafia. They wanted him dead and was threatening to kill you if he doesn’t stop investigating. For your safety, we had to do it.” Sarah says and turns to look out on the balcony.

“What,” I say and pull her arm to face me again. “What happened to Adam?”

She looks at Mark as if he has all the answers. He takes off his mask and looks at me, but it's not Mark, It’s Adam. The tears start running down my cheeks as I look at him. I’m frozen. Is this real, or am I dreaming? He grabs me and holds me tightly. I can feel his heart pounding on his chest.

“Where have you been?” I say and push him away.

“They kept me in a safe place until they arrested the Mayor. We had to fake my death to keep you safe.” Adam says.

It's really Adam. I have missed that voice.

“Jen, do not be angry at Sarah. I asked her to do it and be there for you while I was in hiding.” Adam says and takes my hand and softly kisses it.

“I thought I’ve lost you forever,” I say as I look straight into his baby blue eyes.

“It's all over now,” Adam says and smiles at me.

I thought I was moving on and starting a new life, but I have Adam back; I have my life back.

The rest of the evening was the best I had in a long time. We danced, we laughed, and the best part is, I had my love on my side again.