Julia

By Heider Broisler

"Julia" is a novella that portrays the tenuous distance between happiness and suffering - are we all destined to face that duality? Robert was skeptical of love, but everything changes when he meets Julia. She is enigmatic. He is expressive. The love between them emerges quickly, but something unimaginable happens: Julia is diagnosed with a strange illness that prevents her from sleeping. Robert's love relieves her pain. In the last moments of her life, the warmth of his body is the last refuge for her to ease the effects of exhaustion and inability to sleep. Such an experience changes Robert's mind about love. He will never be the same again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heider Broisler
• Release date: Sep 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781540140227

Book preview

ONE

FEBRUARY 14, 2001. There is absolute silence in the hall of the Sleep Disorders Institute. The clock on the wall shows 3:30 a.m.

February 10, 2011. Robert Miller and Sylvia are in his psychiatric clinic. The place is cozy: a table next to the window. In the center of the room are two chairs, one in front of the other, and in the corner a small sofa. Robert is a middle-aged man with black and gray hair. Sylvia is tall and thin with black hair; she is thirty-six years old. They are sitting on the chairs, facing each other.

I don't believe anything else, Sylvia says.

Relax, Robert says.

It must be nice to be a psychiatrist.

Why?

You don't fall into traps.

No one is immune darling.

Hmm, maybe... Sylvia says. She continues: I don't believe in love anymore. All I see is indifference, vanity, pride-

Never underestimate love, that's what makes the difference, he says. Beethoven’s Piano Sonata (#14, 1st movement) begins in his mind. He gets up, walks toward the window and opens the curtains. The sun brightens the room. The light reflects the color of his eyes. She admires his face. Do you have time? Wanna talk some more? he says.

Sure!

Some doors probably shouldn't ever be open, he says, walking to the chair and sitting back down. No one knows where the mysteries of life can take us. Beethoven’s Piano Sonata (#14, 1st movement) ends.

February 14, 2001. There is absolute silence in the hall of the Sleep Disorders Institute. The clock on the wall shows 6:00 a.m.

Three years before. Robert is friendly and outgoing. He is sitting at a table, laughing and talking to some people in a nightclub. On the table are a bottle of whiskey and some glasses. I used to believe in general love; a more impersonal society, Robert's voice echoes from the present day (2011) throughout his clinic. A beautiful Italian-American woman with long black hair approaches and kisses him on the mouth. Moments later, Robert is at the table talking to a couple of lovers. The conversation is lively. They talk and laugh.

My god you’re a psychiatrist, Robert’s friend says to him.

He looks at her wryly. Relationship is a pure shortage.

You have a cold heart.

It's just a physiological need.

One day you’re gonna fall in love with someone.

Love's nothing but cheap feelings, Robert says.

Robert is at his psychiatric clinic. He is sitting on a sofa next to a woman. She has tears in her eyes. The most important thing is to believe in you. Loving yourself overcomes any challenges. You believe in yourself a little more. However, don't turn this into selfishness, he says.

I know... believe me, I'm trying. She hugs him.

Everything will be okay.

Robert and Stephanie are in a park. They embrace each other as they walk. She is twenty-eight years old, tall, with long straight brown hair; a beautiful woman, sensual and with a sweet expression. She looks at him with much desire and admiration.

Yeah... right, you could show a little love, Stephanie says.

I love everybody, Robert says.

Women want exclusivity, Stephanie says, I want you for myself.

He looks at her and smiles. He tenderly kisses her on the cheek. She gently touches his mouth with her fingers. It wouldn't work, he says.

Why? Her eyes fill with tears.

February 10, 2011. Robert and Sylvia are in his psychiatric clinic. Sometimes evolution and pain walk together, he says.

I don't understand, Sylvia says.

You’ll understand.

Eleven years before. Robert and a beautiful woman talk and walk together. Many people are walking. He is talking a lot. She is very excited. Moments later, the couple are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art where a young woman is standing, with her back to them, in front of a painting by Paul Cézanne called The Abduction; it seduces her. Her brown eyes are focused on the image. Her name is Julia!

Robert is in the bedroom of his apartment with the beautiful woman. She is lying on the bed, totally seduced by Robert. He's on top of her; he holds her arms in a dominating way, pressing her against the bed. He puts his right hand on her back, unzips her dress and gently slides it off down her legs, leaving her down to her underwear.

I had long dreamed about this moment, the beautiful woman says. He kisses and touches her body.

Robert walks down the sidewalk and into a bookstore. Over the door is a sign saying: Brian’s Bookstore. At the entrance, there is a small balcony, as well as a lot of bookshelves and a few books lying on the floor. Brian is forty-five years old, a thin, tall, black man. When he sees Robert, he warmly welcomes him.

Hey! Where have you been? Brian says.

Working my friend, Robert says.

From the back of the bookstore, a female employee approaches them.

Oh my god, where have you been? she says.

Hey, baby! You’re always looking better. Robert kisses her.

He hasn't changed a bit, she says to Brian.

Come on let’s talk a little, Brian says. He looks at her. Can you take over for a while?

Sure I can boss.

Brian and Robert walk to the back of the bookstore. There are three tables and some chairs. They sit at one of the tables.

Joanna’s having a party, Brian says.

I don't know-

Come on! Everyone loves your revolutionary mind.

Hmm... all right.

February 10, 2011. Robert and Sylvia are in his psychiatric clinic. He, for instance, stares at the horizon as if he were in another place.

That decision changed my life forever.

What happened? Sylvia asks.

Eleven years before. There’s a party at Joanna's apartment. The place is