Ce N'est Pas Au Revoir

by afterell

A TIMELESS STORY WHERE LOVE HAS NO BOUNDARIES AND GOODBYE IS NEVER THE END Ce N'est Pas Au Revoir portrays love, loss, forgiveness, and an evergreen friendship. Julean was meant to be. It just took a sequel to make it happen. This was a collaborative effort (though my friends probably regret this). Special thanks to everybody on the Google doc for making this happen!

8. Chapter 8

Une lettre de maman

'Dear Julien,

I'll be in Lille for a while. I have met a lovely man, a friend of your Papa's back in the day. He owns a few usines in Lille. Long story short, I'll be staying in Lille for a while. Maybe until June.

However, that is not what I want to discuss with you. As we are both well aware, the bac is coming up in May. I expect you to study and I expect you to take them. I think it is time for you to give up your silly dream of becoming a priest in the Congo. We've entertained your outlandish ideas for so long, because we expected you to grow out of them. Apparently not. I expect you to faire polytechnique, like your grandfather. Engineering is a noble profession as well. And one that is much more realistic and pays more than being a priest. Face it. You will want to find a girl and get married someday.

Love, Maman.'

"What are you reading?"

"Maman sent me a letter."

Jean sighed softly. "I wish my mother could send me a letter. My dad's dead but they never figured out what happened to her" Julien wrapped Jean into his arms. "What did she say?"

"That she's not going to be back until June. She found a new grand sentimental. And she expects me to faire polytechnique."

"And that's not what you want."

"Why is it so hard for her to understand that I'm going to Congo?"

"Because she's your mother. Because she wants you to have a good future and to stay close to her. Don't lose hope, Julien. She wants what's best for you."

"And you take her side because?"

"Because I no longer have my own mother."

"Jean!"

Jean was thrashing around in the covers. In the process, he had sent the blankets tumbling to the floor. Outside, it was still pitch black, except for the faint glow of the moon. Julien groaned. He glanced at the clock. It read 2:50.

"Jean, wake up!" Julien grabbed the front of his shirt and shook him. "Jean!"

He startled awake. "No, please don't kill me," he screamed.

"It's me. Julien."

"Merde. I'm sorry." His eyes were wild and his hair was unkempt. There was cold sweat soaking the back of his shirt.

"Here," Julien said, tossing a dry shirt at him. Jean changed quickly, and Julien admired the brief glimpse that it afforded him of his beautiful abdomen. They lay back down and Julien moved closer, wrapping his arms around Jean's waist and twining their hands together.

"Please don't leave me. You're all I have left."

"I won't. I promise."

"Thank you, Julien."