The party was dying down. People made their way out and offered another "Happy Birthday" as they passed through the double doors. It was a fun night, but at fifty-five years old, Jason Kevlin felt he had reached his lifetime peak, and the desire for sleep tugged harder and harder.
"Goodnight bro. Happy, happy birthday man. I'll see you on Tuesday at the game right?"
"See you there, Michael," Jason assured his best friend as he gave him a hug. "Do you even have to ask?" They had gone to the Spartan baseball game on the first Tuesday of every month for the last four years.
"Hey, I don't know. Stuff comes up."
"I'll be there," he told him as they walked outside.
"Good. Well, anyway, it's past your bed time isn't it? Go home, put your dentures away and sleep, old man." Michael escaped Jason's attempted punch in the arm.
"You'll be the one with dentures when I knock out all those teeth!" Jason yelled as Michael walked to his car. Michael smiled and gave him the finger.
Jason started heading back inside when someone behind him said, "Jason?" It was a woman's voice, and it was familiar. He had heard it before... but where? "Jason, it's me." He now knew who it was, but he wished he didn't. His past came rushing back.
"Of course. No escaping," he thought to himself, and knew that he would never be able to completely forget that voice.
"Hello Jules. Something I can help you with?" he said.
"It's been awhile, hasn't it? And yes, as a matter of a fact, there is something you can help with."
