We don’t need each other anymore, and without that, the friendship doesn’t hold much weight

The wedding was incredible.

An absolute fairy tale. Libby looked like a princess, my gown was not regular, and Ma and I both got our makeup done. We looked nothing like ourselves but it was a blast. Us sisters did some crazy shtick with nurses’ coats and stethoscopes, and Libby was the perfect kallah, dancing with everyone and not seeming overwhelmed at all.

And now it’s over.

Libby and Yoni moved into Lakewood proper, and even though it’s not far, I really, really miss her.

The house is so much emptier without her, even though she was hardly home. And it’s strange to be the only bird in Ma and Tatty’s nest. But hey, I’m going to milk it for all its worth. After all, in two years, I’ll be in seminary im yirtzeh Hashem, and they’ll be alone. I need to give them a reason to enjoy that hard-earned quiet. Tatty and I have started going on nightly walks, and the rest of the sisters find this extremely adorable. Which, let’s face it, I am.

I lay back on my pillows, and I give Shan a full wedding run-through. She’d wanted to come to the wedding but I’d convinced her it would be a waste of money and had promised to go through every detail with her afterward.

“...and then Gersh started breakdancing for the chassan, except, hi, spoiler alert, he doesn’t actually know how to breakdance,” I say laughing.

Shan is quiet, which is totally awkward. “What? Oh, sorry, Nomes, my friend Breindy just walked in. Ohmigosh, that must have been hilarious. And how are Libby’s sheitels?”

I start to tell her how Libby looks stunning and very grown up, but Breindy, apparently, has a huge mouth, and can’t stop talking.

Shan shrieks with laughter and then says into the phone, “Nomes, can I call you back? I’m being rude here.”

Yes, you are, I want to say, but all I say is, “Sure. Bye, hon.”