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Most look forward to Friday nights, the end of their week. A reprieve from the never ending carousel of work.
But CC Babcock used to loathe them. Fridays meant relaxation and some sort of amber beverage to induce a familiar numbing feeling, as she never had anyone to share it with.
The quiet rumble of her radiator and the small smacking sounds of Chester eating his dinner always closed out her week, Park Avenue glittering just outside her window.
When she was really in the mood for some self sabotage, she would press her forehead on the cold living room window and peek across the way at the other apartments. People just like her, high society, rich, successful, enjoying each other's company.
She wondered if the joy on their faces was authentic. She was always told not to look through other peoples windows but how could you not? How could you not wonder?
Even if their smiles were fake - at least they got to wear them.
She yearned for an apartment full of people, someone beautiful on her arm as she greeted people at the door, a full dishwasher at the end of the night filled with her best plates and wine glasses. And the yearning continued.
Every.
Friday.
Night.
~~~~~~~
Images of black silk pajamas, coffee table newspapers and her darkened penthouse kitchen raced through her mind until a warm hand found its way to her knee, erasing the memory of cold window glass on her forehead.
“Love?”
“Oh- Sorry I was just thinking.”
“I think people are just getting here.”
“Right.” CC sighed, brushing the past off her shoulders, making her way to the door.
She approached the door, almost pulling back as the cold door knob made its way into her hand.
As the door swung open warm smiles greeted her at the door, arms filled with bottles and foil covered plates.
She could feel her heart skip a beat as she giggled to herself “Look at you! You really did it, you sap” She thought to herself as she let people inside.
~~~~~~~
The night went off without a hitch. People chattering, glasses clinking and most importantly, laughter.
God did CC love to laugh. She loved to make other people laugh too, but these moments used to be few and far between. Tonight she was the life of the party.
As CC gracefully made her way through the room the whole night she heard glimpses of conversations.
“She's always known how to throw a party...”
“I really love what she's done with the place...”
“I told you! She gets stuff done! They should watch next time they try to cross her!”
“She's always been such a great... friend.”
‘Friend.’The word sat in her champagne glass all night. Making the bubbles taste that much sweeter.
The whole night she held the hand of her past self, reminding her of the strength that got her here. Almost glad she spent all that time feeling silly looking through other people's windows. Not because she needed their lives, but because she had the ability to finally build her own.
At the end of the night, CC found herself wrapped in the arms of the one she loved. Another added bonus of this new life.
Her heart was full, as well as her dishwasher.