>>Chapter One: Epiphany
Subject: Elevator
Date: 1/25/99 11:36:04 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: NY152
To: Shopgirl
I came home tonight and got into the elevator to go to my apartment. An hour later, I got out of the elevator and Brinkley and I moved out. Suddenly everything had become clear.
It's a long story. Full of the personal details we avoid so carefully... Let me just say, there was a man sitting in the elevator with me who knew exactly what he wanted and I found myself wishing I were as lucky as he.
When I wrote that e-mail to my favorite pill, Kathleen Kelly, my thoughts were very clear and mixed up the same time. It was clear that leaving Patricia was a very good decision, but my feelings for Kathleen weren't exactly straightened out. I didn't really know who I was or what I wanted. Sure, she was beautiful, smart, interesting, sentimental, and adorable, but she loathed me like nothing I've ever known, and for a good reason. But I knew she liked NY152. Should I leave her in dark?
My father Nelson isn't the most affectionate man on the planet, but there are certain things I can discuss with him. As we were bobbing up and down in the Harbor with our martinis in hand, two newly single men, we talked about our inability to find women that could make us happy.
"More of your inheritance down the drain," he said, speaking of the money he would lose by breaking up with Gillian, the mother of his 4-year-old son.
"Don't you worry about that," I reassured him.
"I won't," he replied, and he meant it. "I'll just have to meet someone new, that's all." He popped an olive in his mouth. "That's the easy part."
I nodded and said sarcastically, "Oh, right, yeah, a snap to find the one single person who fills your heart with joy."
Dad laughed. "Don't be ridiculous. Have I ever been with anyone who fit that description? Have you?"
My eyes shot up at him upon hearing those words. At that moment, something changed in my heart. People about epiphanies all the time, the moment that light bulb clicks on, but I never believed in them in that respect. I believed that you finally weren't stupid anymore. At that moment, I wasn't stupid anymore. Things were 100 percent clear. There was someone that could fill my heart with joy, did everyday when I read her e-mails, and I was just going to let her go. I didn't care anymore that she hated me and that I put her out of business. I knew right then that I would never find someone like her ever again.
Now all I had to do was get her. But that certainly wouldn't be easy. It would harder than business deal I'd ever have to make. She loved me, but she didn't know it. If I just came out and told her that I was her beloved penpal NY152, she would be crushed and angry. No, I needed to make her love Joe Fox before she met NY152 face-to-face.
I needed a clever plan. It would take a while, but if waiting would get me the girl, I'd be more patient than all of the saints combined. After that, I needed the perfect opportunity to put my plan into action.
The perfect opportunity came a lot sooner than expected. The next day at work I casually asked her former employee George how Kathleen was doing. He said she had a cold. I knew it was time. Maybe I wouldn't have to wait so long after all. Well, that all depended on Kathleen's hate level of Joe Fox and love level of NY152.
>>
