Fiction - A story of a song

Don’t Cry Joni

This is a valuable story from Jimmy, a young adult man who ignored a love from a young girl who was also his neighbor. The man who wanted to full fill his life with dreams for his future —a good job, a nice house, and a proper wife. He never knew that ignoring a young love was the thing he really wanted to change.

            It was a bright afternoon. The sky was clear without any cloud hanging around. A girl wearing a simple long pink dress was standing in front of the opened wooden door. Her name was Joni. She was a pretty little girl who had blue eyes with curved eyelash. She seemed little bit nervous waiting for something came out from the door. For several times she tried to comb her black wave hair using her hands—she wanted to be perfect.

            Few second later, a man came  out from the house through the wooden door. He was Jimmy wearing his old pants and a brown t-shirt. He was suprised knowing Joni who was his neighbor standing in front the door. Joni was the girl who lived next door since ten years ago. They had known each other during those times.

            “Joni?! What happened?” Jimmy asked Joni who seemed more nervous.

            After taking some time, Jimmy opened his mouth. “Do you really have to leave today?” asked Joni to Jimmy seriously.

            “Yes, I do. How do  you know that I want to go to city today?” Jimmy sounded surprised.

“Please don’t!” without answering Jimmy’s question, Joni begged to Jimmy not leaving by looking at his eyes deeply.

Jimmy was confused with Joni’s act. He stared at Joni’s face for a while then started his say. “Listen. I want to change my life. I want to build a new life in the city. Nothing to do here.” Jimmy explained to Joni shortly.

Joni only stared at Jimmy’s eyes fully. She took a deep breath—gathering her bravery. Suddenly she gave Jimmy a letter—a letter which was wrapped by a brown envelope and decorated by some pieces of red rose. Joni did not move from her place, waiting for Jimmy to open her letter. In his rush, Jimmy opened the letter and read it silently.

            “I don’t know what I should say.” say Jimmy after reading Joni’s letter. “But, you know that I also love you as my little sister, not more.” Jimmy tried to calm Joni down by holding her shoulder, but it failed. Before Jimmy held Joni’s shoulder, Joni had ran away going back to her house which was not far from Jimmy’s.   

             In his confusion, Jimmy slowly opened Joni’s letter once more. He smiled reading the letter which was fragrant of rose. Without taking a long time, he went over to Joni’s house. He walked through the green grass of Joni’s yard. Slowly but sure, Jimmy arrived at front of  Joni’s door. He wanted to knock the door, but before he did it, the door had been opened by Joni who had no bravery to look at Jimmy’s face.

            “Were you just waiting for me, Joni ?” Jimmy asked Joni who was holding her tears. Joni did not answer Jimmy’s question. She just stared at the floor.

            At that time, silence covered both of them until Joni lifted his head and stared at Jimmy’s face. Joni still tried to hold her tear drops and ensure Jimmy about her feeling.

            “Jimmy please say you’ll wait for me. I’ll grow up someday. You’ll see! I’ll save all my kisses just for you. I signed with love forever true!” Joni begged to Jimmy saying the same words in her letter.

            “This is not because you are not good. No, it’s not! But it is about how well I know your position in my life. You are too young to be my girl.” Carefully Jimmy tried to explain what he had to say.

            Joni could not hold her tears anymore. Her tear drops fell like rain after listening to Jimmy’s words.

            “Joni...” Jimmy tried to stop Joni’s cry. “Joni please don’t cry. You’ll forget me by and by. You are just fifteen and I am twenty two. And...” Jimmy lowed his voice when he wanted to continue his sentence. “Joni, I just can’t wait for you.”

            Jimmy left Joni alone. He came back to his house without looking back at Joni’s house. Nothing could change his decision to go to city soon changing his life.

When Jimmy arrived at his house, a man wearing a blouse and old jeans was standing in front of Jimmy’s door bringing something in his hands.

            “John?!” Jimmy welcomed his best friend by shocked expression.

            “Did I scared you?” John tried to make a joke.

            “Yes, you did. You were like a ghost!”

            “Yup! A handsome and nice ghost who is bringing a big sack of  bread for his best friend who really wants to leave him alone to reach his dreams.” Said Jimmy smiling.

            “Thanks John. l’ll miss you, buddy” said Jimmy.                               

            “I knew that.” winked John.

They looked at each other by smiling. Immediately, John found something on Jimmy’s hand.

            “A letter? Do you want to give me a goodbye letter? Ouch ! I can’t believe it.” John’s jest.

            “Of course not! I got it from Joni. She likes me. She loves me.” Explained Jimmy with his poker face.

            “Oh really?! So, you’ll bring her with you?!” asked John.

            “Of course not! I want to begin my new life. And I think she is too young for me. You absolutely know  we have grown together. There are too many things I have known about her. He is not my type, dude.” Jimmy told everything in his mind.

            “Aha! If you think so, I just hope you can always be happy.” Said John by holding Jimmy’s shoulder. He really wanted to see his best friend happy with all his dreams.

Jimmy and John stayed awake up all night. That night Jimmy told many things about his dream in city to John. Full of attention, John listen to Jimmy’s plans. In the morning. John helped Jimmy prepared all things to be brought to go to city  by his best friend. Together with Jimmy’s parents, John brought Jimmy to go to  the bus station. Soon Jimmy left his little hometown, leaving all his feeling for Joni.

Five years later. Many things happened. Many things changed.  

Jimmy had been a successful man. He had his own house and a good job in a big company. He almost had got everything he dreamt of except love. He had tried to make a relationship with some women, but all broken up. That was not because they were ugly or poor enough to be his girlfriend. The reason of why he always failed to have a relationship with a new woman was the words that Joni said to him few years ago. These words kept haunting his memory.

It was Sunday morning. Jimmy was laying down on his bed thinking about Joni. It had been few days he could not sleep well, just thinking about his little girl, Joni. His mind full of her face. All memories about her came up. He looked at the letter given by Joni that he still kept for last years. The roses were still in the same place, but they had been dried.

Finally, Jimmy decided to come to Joni. He packed his clothes. He grabed the plane ticket he brought few days ago. His heart was beating strongly, whispering that he had to see Joni, explaining how his heart was filled with memories of her. He really wanted to ask her Joni if she would marry him.

It didn’t take a long time to arrive at his little hometown that he had left for several years. Leaving his parents, best friend, and piece of heart, Joni. Jimmy stepped on his yard which did not change at all. The grass, the tree, or even the ant nest were still same. Without any doubt, he ran all the way to the house next door to see his Joni. He was sure that Joni would be very happy to see him.

Jimmy knocked Joni’s door full of spirit. Soon, someone opened the door. Joni was standing in front of him with her surprised face. They were looking at each other like few years ago when Joni held back Jimmy not to leave. But things were not like they were before. Joni was carrying a baby.

Unfortunately, Jimmy was really shocked to see Joni and her baby. Without asking more, his tear drops fell like rain at that time.

“Jimmy...” said Joni in her remorse. “Jimmy please don’t cry. You’ll forget me by and by. It’s been five years since you’ve been gone.” Before she continue her words, Joni took a deep breath first, then she said, “Jimmy, I married your best friend John. It is our baby, Jeremy. I love my family.” Said Joni peacefully.

Jimmy’s hope to marry Joni disappeared. He could not take back the times Joni was falling in love with him. He never knew that the fisrt step he took to leave Joni was the last chance to keep his true love. Finally, this story tells me that no one knows the future, so just keep and thank for what I have today. 

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