Everyone laughed so hard, Eve held on to David as she laughed so hard she gasped for air, Kelvin remained the joker even after graduating and owning a multi-million tech company. Mary had so much food in her mouth, but it didn't stop her from laughing out loud; it was a bad habit she had right from school as a foodie. And Sherry, the only person who seemed to have changed so much, the girl who was the wildest in the friend group back in the school days, was now as gentle as ever with everything down to how she laughed demurely.
The waiter came with a huge bowl filled with the fortune cookies they ordered.
“Oh finally, you'll have the fortune while I deal with the cookie,” Mary said.
Everyone laughed,
“what? Besides I never liked fortune cookies," Mary said
Sherry said "Well you never liked anyone telling you what to do so we ain't surprised,” Sherry jokes
Kelvin laughed and said "Uhm, I think that was you Sherry 02,”
The get-together was all jokes and laughs; they were all having a good time.
Sherry was the first to pick a cookie, she cracked it open as she slowly drew the paper out of it. The moment she saw it she changed to having a puzzled face.
“What does it say?” Eve her best friend curiously grabbed the fortune note, then read it out loud, "You aren't getting home safe tonight!?” Eve blinked "That's crazy even for a fortune cookie,”
David grabbed one from the bowl, "it's probably a mistake or something,” he cracked it open and got scared.
He read what it said out loud "You are going to have a great fall,”
Kelvin who already had one in his hand dropped it in the bowl, "okay, that is creepy,”
Mary then waved to the waiter to come over “Hi, can you please come over for a moment,"
“I think our fortune cookies are being too rude," Eve handed the fortune paper.
"So sorry this must be a mistake,” the waiter said.
"You can take the whole thing back, and if you could bring just the cookies and keep the fortune it would be great,” Mary said. They all laughed and carried on with having fun.
After the get-together, David went home, and he couldn't stop thinking about Sherry. They dated back in school but when she got pregnant right before graduation and told him, he ghosted her because he was scared and not ready for the responsibility of being a father. And even when he was no longer scared to face her his guilt and shame never let him.
At first, he didn't want to go to the meeting, but seeing it was Eve who asked him gave him some comfort because she was the only one who knew what happened between him and Sherry. And when he got there it was like he never even had a thing. But deep inside he still felt that guilt.
That night, David woke up for a cup of water, and while walking down the stairs, he tripped and fell down the stairs. He only hurt his arm a little, but his mind immediately went back to the fortune cookie. Then he remembered what Sherry’s own said and instantly became worried.
He called Eve immediately and asked her to check up on Sherry.
“Why do you sound like this? Did something happen between you and Sherry tonight?”
"No, it's nothing just check on her,”
Immediately Eve snapped "No, you don't get to tell me it's okay. You put my best friend through hell,”
"I am sorry, and I regret my actions every day of my life, and seeing her today didn't make it any better; I mean, she was just so… peaceful. Like she’s in a different world now. And I guess seeing her like that made me realize just how badly I messed things up. I keep thinking about what could’ve been,”
Eve was silent for some seconds, then sighed and said, now calm, “David, you never told her. You never gave her the chance to forgive you. Or not forgive you. But she is in a better place now and doesn't need anything from you and I do hope you find that better place too."
Then David said "But that isn't why I called, I just feel like my fortune cookie said I will and can't stop worrying about what hers said,"
"It's probably just a coincidence but hold on let me call her,”
After some minutes on hold, Eve said, "Her phone is switched, and I don't have gas to go myself; it's probably just a coincidence, but you should go and check up on her,” Eve said as she sent Sherry's address immediately.
The address popped up in his message. He hesitated for a long while before driving out. He reached the neighborhood and it was a decent one, an upscale suburb.
Finally, he reached the address. It was a huge house, and the inside was beautifully lit. Then he approached the house but he stopped as he saw Sherry through the window sitting down with her head tilted like she used to in school. He was about to continue on his track but stopped again when three little boys ran in; two were twins wearing pajamas, and the third had a superhero mask and a cape. Then a tall, handsome man came in and hugged Sherry, placing a gentle kiss on her neck. They were so happy.
David went back to his car, called Eve, and told her Sherry was safe at home. He went home and straight to his room as he let out his tears. He felt horrible as he saw what he could have had but instead almost destroyed her, but deep inside he felt peace seeing she was thriving. With every tear he shed that night, he let go of pieces of a burden he carried for years bit by bit: the guilt of never saying he was sorry.