The vision Juliet has is my take on what she says in Act 3, Scene 5 (o God, I have an ill-divining soul!/ Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,/ As one dead in the bottom of a tomb:/) Disclaimer: I don't own Romeo and Juliet. Shakespear does.

Tuesday, July 6, 1565

Early Morning

Dear Diary,

Oh! Romeo came last night. Nurse found Romeo and brought him to me like she promised. That night, I cried upon his shoulder, and he comforted me and told me such sweet, beautiful, and reassuring things. Then, that night, we reaped the benefits of marriage on my bed. We each pledged our virginity to each other and made out for the night. Not even a cool breeze from my window could stir away the heat we felt. Such good feelings were felt between us. Finally, sleep overcame us, and we were both transported to the mind's world where dreams dwell in our hearts and minds.

Then the lark sang in the pomegranate trees and the sun's rays entered through my balcony door and danced on my bedroom wall. Both our minds stirred from our sleep, and Romeo, noticing it was daylight, quickly got up, and started to get dressed. I threw on my nightgown. Romeo was about to descend from my balcony when I told him to stay awhile. I lied and told him it was the nightingale that was singing not the lark. I wanted him to stay with me longer. Romeo didn't fall for my lie and told me it was the lark. Then I told him the light he sees is not sunlight, but some meteor that the sun exhales to be night's torchbearer and light Romeo's way to Mantua. Romeo gave in to my lie (although I think he knew I was lying) and said he'll stay with me even if it means death. But his mention of "death" frightened me, and I hurried him out. With one last kiss, Romeo descended down and headed for Mantua.

But before Romeo's feet touched the ground, I had an evil vision of the future. I saw a graveyard. The sky was blood red, and there were funeral bells ringing somewhere in the distance. I heard crows calling to one another. I saw vultures eating a dead corpse. Then I saw a lone tomb on a lonely hill against the bloody sky. I walked toward it. The iron door opened by itself, and there was some stairs leading down. I descended down the stairs and there was a body, kissed by Death, lying on a stone table meant for corpses to be laid on as their final resting place. The corpse had a veil lied upon it to conceal its identity. I took off the veil to see this dead body's identity. When I did, flashes of me and Romeo were shown as the identity of the corpse. Right then, I panicked and my vision went away.

I told Romeo of my vision of one of us lying in the bottom of a tomb in the future. I didn't tell him any of the details. I didn't want to worry him. To change the subject to prevent him from worrying about me, fearing for the future, and to prevent him from fearing for himself, I told him how he looked pale. He said that it does because our sorrow drinks our blood. He never said anything about my vision. Then Romeo left. At first I'm glad he never said anything about my vision, now I wish he did so he can comfort me and tell me everything will be alright because right now, nothing is alright.

If fate hasn't brought me enough woe, it has now. My lady mother came to tell me that my father set me up to wed Paris on Thursday. I was not happy or proud but thankful of my father's intentions. My mother and father could not believe that I refuse to marry Paris. My father went into a rage. He took my arm, twisted it, and threw me to the floor! I began crying in fear. Now I know that marrying Paris is a bad thing! My own father called me a choplogic, a minion, a green-sickness carrion, a tallow-face, and a hilding. He threatened me to fettle my joints for the wedding at St. Peter's Church or he'll drag me in a hurdle to church. He told my mother that I was a curse to them both! He said that his fingers itch. I cringed when he said that. I was so scared. Nurse stood up for me, but father put her down. Then my father threatened to disown me if I don't marry Paris. Then he left.

I cried and beg to my mother to delay this marriage or if she can't, lay me with Tybalt. My mother told me not to speak to her. I felt betrayed. I started to cry some more and shiver from the fear I felt because of my father's rage. I asked Nurse for comfort, but the comfort she gave to me was to tell me to marry Paris. I could not believe it! I felt betrayed! I thought Nurse cared more about my happiness and well-being than my own parents. I thought Nurse was on my side of things, but it seems she is not. I could not tell this to her so I lied and told Nurse that she convinced me to marry Paris. I lied to her and asked Nurse to tell my parents that I'll will go to Friar Laurence's cell to do shrift there when in reality, I need his help to get me out of this marriage. Nurse thought I made the right choice and left. Then I shouted what I really felt. I'm not sure whether to be angry at Nurse for telling me to break my wedding vowels or for criticizing Romeo after praising him. From now on, Nurse and my secrets shall now be separated. Only you, Diary, shall know them. I'm on my own from here, and if Friar Laurence can't save me from a second marriage, I myself the power to die.

Good-bye, Diary,

Juliet