'My Blueberry Nights'

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"There's nothing wrong with the blueberry pie. Just... people make other choices. You can't blame the blueberry pie, just... no one wants it."

She hung up.

I was telling her about my Christmas plans. I was telling her that I planned to stock up on food, beer and cigarettes. I could go on and tell you a tragic story about how I couldn't run any more because of the cigarettes, but I'd be lying. Cigarettes never bothered my running. I was improving, and would definitely finish the spring marathon in a respectable time. No, it wasn't the cigarettes. How self-centred could I be!

No, maybe it was Justin. She had broken up with Justin a few weeks back. I would never see her point. She didn't expect me to. We had agreed not to talk about it. I couldn't help bringing it up every other time. She had been patient and had politely changed the topic every time. Justin was staying over at my place for Christmas. She hung up because I was telling her how great it would be with Justin around.

It might not have been anything as serious. Maybe she had dozed off. She had had a long day. It was pretty late in India. She most definitely had fallen asleep. I thought I'd text her. Something about the great pies she could bake; about missing her blueberry pies. That would make a decent text.

The phone buzzed. I answered. She was whispering.

"Listen. Mom woke up and yelled at me. Risked calling you back to tell you that I love you!"

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