Subj: Julia's Lament( pt. 1 )
Date: 12/27/99 8:19:31 AM Central Standard Time
From: Donna Eubanks
Dr. Julia Hoffman us standing in the foyer at Collinwood. It is midnight and Julia can't seem to sleep this night. The month is October, the year is 1999. Julia is staring at a portrait, it is hanging on the wall. It is a portrait of Barnabas Collins, her longtime friend, and would-be lover.
Barnabas had asked his dear friend, Julia, to accompany him on a business trip to Boston, Ma., but Julia had declined his invitation, though she desperately wished to go with him.
She remained there, gazing at the portrait. "How handsome you look, how distinguished. You look like an aristocrat." She said aloud to herself. He was dressed in a dark suit and tie in the portrait.His face had the look of royalty and authority, Julia thought.
She was alone in the house this night and she was beginning to become lonely. A storm was beginning to rage outside the great house. Such storms were quite common at Collinwood, for the house was right by the sea.
Oh Barnabas, Julia thought to herself, how I wish I did go with you tonight. I should have gone with you to Boston, to be at your side so you wouldn't have to travel alone. I would like to sit close to you on the long drive. I would like to have dinner with you by candlelight, at a cozy little table for two.
I want to hold your hand, Barnabas, and I want to look deep into your eyes, and see the real you. I want to see the true Barnabas himself, the only man I have ever truly loved.
She sighed as she continued to think about him, a long deep sigh, the result of feelings for Barnabas she kept locked in her heart for a long time.
She remembered him saying good-bye to her this evening, and she remembered his kiss, warm and gentle on her lips. "Oh Barnabas, I want to be with you, and be at your side. I want to wake up in the morning with you right beside me.
I want you to hold me and never let me go...never!! But she will not let me!" She said aloud to no one.
Suddenly her eyes narrowed and her lips began to tremble. She will stop me from being with you, but she cannot stop me from loving you! She will not let anyone love you, not now or ever! I still love you, Barnabas, now and forever!"
Julia exclaimed aloud to the empty room.
Suddenly there was the sound of a woman's laughter. It was a high-pitched laughter, echoing through the great house. Julia covered her ears to muffle the sound. She had heard this laughter before, and she knows the name of the woman who is laughing at her this night. The woman is laughing at her, she is tormenting Barnabas and Julia.
Suddenly all is quiet again in the great house. Julia, wiping away tears of love and sorrow, holds her hands to her heart.
to be continued...