Chapter 4
Echoes of Loneliness
(note—I don't want to make this story too long, so that is why I'm going to jump time.)
4 Years Later
Los Angeles July 1983
Jackie Burkhart's life:
Jackie was beyond angry when she found out both her mother and father squandered her college fund for their own materialistic purposes. She graduated from Lincoln High in the spring of '79, quit her job at the clothing store, and took what savings she did have to start her life in California. There were men but they were all short relationships for the sole purpose of not having to sleep alone. She didn't love any of her suitors. As time passed her thoughts of Eric were less and less. Sometimes when she'd see "Star Wars" on TV or saw someone driving the streets of LA in a beat up old station wagon she thought of him. She could easily have picked up the phone and called his parents. But what would be the point of that? She was a model spokeswoman for one of the local television talent shows. Men oohed and awed her in her revealing sequined dresses. She was beginning to feel like a shadow of her former self. That looks and possessions didn't matter. There would always be a man in her bed, but not one that would really love her. For her. Jackie hoped that Eric was happy and hopefully did not get back together with Donna in a moment of weakness. Her alarm went off at six am and she pressed the snooze bar for five more minutes. There was no one to surprise her with coffee and pastry in bed. There was an empty vase on her stereo speaker with no single red rose for her that symbolized her life ever since she realized that she loved Eric Forman. She groaned when her alarm went off again. She had to get to the TV studio earlier than usual. It was her dream to be a model. Now she didn't care. She just didn't care. It was a job to pay her bills and to keep her mind occupied. It was the first time that she thought of herself as an adult. Because she was miserable and that was the first sign that you entered adulthood that you left your dreams behind as the echoes of loneliness washed over your soul. The only thing left for her to do was to wait for her turn to die.
Philadelphia, PA July 1983
Eric Forman's life:
Eric couldn't believe his parents. The moment he decides to quit Pricemart and announce that he wanted to move out of state it seemed that Red's health improved ten fold. They would be none too happy to pay for his education provided he find a part time job to help with some of the expenses. It was very scary at first because Eric realized when he went home to tell his parents this that he had spent all of his life chasing Donna and not giving a thought to what he wanted to do. What he could be good at. He graduated from Drexel University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and had a job in a typical glass and steel building. The money was good but he lonely on the inside. There was no serious girlfriend in Eric Forman's life except for some late night party girls that only wanted one thing. He tried to forget all about what could've been with Jackie Burkhart. It wasn't easy. She was quite the force to be reckoned with. It was easier getting over Donna than it was Jackie and they never kissed each other let alone had a sexual relationship! He wondered what she looked like now four years later and in her prime? There was no knowledge on her whereabouts when he went home for the holidays. Those awkward holiday dinners with Donna and Bob at the dining room table the only thing that could have made them worse would be if Laurie and Hyde showed up. Laurie was in St. Louis and on her second husband and no one knew where Hyde was. Eric thought maybe New York City. He could've sworn he thought he saw someone that looked like him when he went to a concert at Madison Square Garden a year ago. Donna was a globe trotting journalist and very happy. Rumor had it she was going to bring a boyfriend to the next family gathering. Oh, Eric couldn't wait to see that! He didn't have to go into work today so he didn't have to force himself to get out of bed. He turned on the TV; he finally broke down and got cable, what else was there to do when there was no soul mate, no great love in the bed next to you? Eric snuggled into his blanket it might have been sixty degrees outside but his bedroom was cold. He closed his eyes as the guy was selling a miracle juicer and for the next five hundred callers a free set of carving knives! He thought he was dreaming when he heard HER voice.
"This is Jackie Burkhart and you're watching KCAL channel 9!"
"What?"
Eric opened up his eyes and the image was gone. He had to be imagining things as the morning news program started. He sank even deeper into the covers. His never felt so lonely before. His heart was an empty shell. He could hear the echoes of loneliness wash over his soul. The only thing left for him to do was to wait for his turn to die.
Echoes of Loneliness
(note—I don't want to make this story too long, so that is why I'm going to jump time.)
4 Years Later
Los Angeles July 1983
Jackie Burkhart's life:
Jackie was beyond angry when she found out both her mother and father squandered her college fund for their own materialistic purposes. She graduated from Lincoln High in the spring of '79, quit her job at the clothing store, and took what savings she did have to start her life in California. There were men but they were all short relationships for the sole purpose of not having to sleep alone. She didn't love any of her suitors. As time passed her thoughts of Eric were less and less. Sometimes when she'd see "Star Wars" on TV or saw someone driving the streets of LA in a beat up old station wagon she thought of him. She could easily have picked up the phone and called his parents. But what would be the point of that? She was a model spokeswoman for one of the local television talent shows. Men oohed and awed her in her revealing sequined dresses. She was beginning to feel like a shadow of her former self. That looks and possessions didn't matter. There would always be a man in her bed, but not one that would really love her. For her. Jackie hoped that Eric was happy and hopefully did not get back together with Donna in a moment of weakness. Her alarm went off at six am and she pressed the snooze bar for five more minutes. There was no one to surprise her with coffee and pastry in bed. There was an empty vase on her stereo speaker with no single red rose for her that symbolized her life ever since she realized that she loved Eric Forman. She groaned when her alarm went off again. She had to get to the TV studio earlier than usual. It was her dream to be a model. Now she didn't care. She just didn't care. It was a job to pay her bills and to keep her mind occupied. It was the first time that she thought of herself as an adult. Because she was miserable and that was the first sign that you entered adulthood that you left your dreams behind as the echoes of loneliness washed over your soul. The only thing left for her to do was to wait for her turn to die.
Philadelphia, PA July 1983
Eric Forman's life:
Eric couldn't believe his parents. The moment he decides to quit Pricemart and announce that he wanted to move out of state it seemed that Red's health improved ten fold. They would be none too happy to pay for his education provided he find a part time job to help with some of the expenses. It was very scary at first because Eric realized when he went home to tell his parents this that he had spent all of his life chasing Donna and not giving a thought to what he wanted to do. What he could be good at. He graduated from Drexel University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and had a job in a typical glass and steel building. The money was good but he lonely on the inside. There was no serious girlfriend in Eric Forman's life except for some late night party girls that only wanted one thing. He tried to forget all about what could've been with Jackie Burkhart. It wasn't easy. She was quite the force to be reckoned with. It was easier getting over Donna than it was Jackie and they never kissed each other let alone had a sexual relationship! He wondered what she looked like now four years later and in her prime? There was no knowledge on her whereabouts when he went home for the holidays. Those awkward holiday dinners with Donna and Bob at the dining room table the only thing that could have made them worse would be if Laurie and Hyde showed up. Laurie was in St. Louis and on her second husband and no one knew where Hyde was. Eric thought maybe New York City. He could've sworn he thought he saw someone that looked like him when he went to a concert at Madison Square Garden a year ago. Donna was a globe trotting journalist and very happy. Rumor had it she was going to bring a boyfriend to the next family gathering. Oh, Eric couldn't wait to see that! He didn't have to go into work today so he didn't have to force himself to get out of bed. He turned on the TV; he finally broke down and got cable, what else was there to do when there was no soul mate, no great love in the bed next to you? Eric snuggled into his blanket it might have been sixty degrees outside but his bedroom was cold. He closed his eyes as the guy was selling a miracle juicer and for the next five hundred callers a free set of carving knives! He thought he was dreaming when he heard HER voice.
"This is Jackie Burkhart and you're watching KCAL channel 9!"
"What?"
Eric opened up his eyes and the image was gone. He had to be imagining things as the morning news program started. He sank even deeper into the covers. His never felt so lonely before. His heart was an empty shell. He could hear the echoes of loneliness wash over his soul. The only thing left for him to do was to wait for his turn to die.