Together Forever

    The man, shutting his eyes tightly, walked in and took a deep breath. He hasn’t been in this house sense the funeral- her funeral. He had decided to dress up today; never would he have come to see her in his latest presence. He wore a pair of jeans, her favorite navy blue button down shirt, and his beat up Chuck Taylor’s.

            Sam is 18 years old and already lost the love of his life. His deep black hair had grown a little longer, his bright brown eyes shining a little brighter. His skin, a little more tanned form his extra time outside, made him golden.

            Walking into her house he saw her. She hugged him and asked about his day. This was what he was afraid of though, losing it right where she was buried- right at her house. He kept walking until he got to her room where she disappeared just come back on her bed only different. Grace looked just like she did the last night he saw her. Laying on the bed you could see the tears silently streaming down her face, hair matted with blood spread across her pillow. She had called to have come over and be there. No talking, no lying saying everything was fine. Grace knew just as well as I did that it was not fine and I won’t sugar coat it for her. That’s not her style and it’s definitely not mine.

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            February 12, two days before Grace’s 17 birthday. She had just gone shopping for a new outfit to wear. Walking into the house her was waiting so Grace changed as fast as she can. She floated down the stairs like she walking on air. Blond hair, curly, hung down her back. The red dress flowed down to the floor covering silver stilettos. Grace was flawless and the dress couldn’t be more perfect- for now.

            When her dad came home they were the only ones in the house- her mother had left to reserve the hall for the party. She was still dressed up, not ready to take the dress off yet. Looking in the mirror she heard banging in the background. The smell of sawdust filled the air from the door. As she turned around her father was there grabbing her by the shoulders to the point she could fell his bruises forming. “I’m so glad to see you looking so beautiful grace.”

            That was the last thing she heard as she was thrown into the full length mirror. Her screams were drowned out by the hammering of her heart in her chest like it was going to explode. At the back of her head is a river of blood spreading to the floor. If Grace hadn’t passed out she might not have lived to see my face for the very last time.

            After the biopsy the hospital said when she passed out it helped stop the blood flow. We lay in her bed while I held her all night. Grace died in my arms at 1:30 am the next morning in her sleep.   

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            Standing in the doorway this all came rushing back to m, the whole night, and I couldn’t stop it. I didn’t even realize I was crying until I tasted the salt in my mouth. This was why people thought I was crazy and maybe I am. I saw visions and have a problem with sporadic crying all while walking around like a zombie. So even if I am crazy I wouldn’t trade it for the world because I get to see Grace again.

            Today seeing Grace like was a turning point. Was I really changing? No, but at least now I have a mission- a new purpose in life. I will complete her list of things she wanted to do before she died. It is a very short list but important none the less.

1.      Buy my mother a pearl rosary to go in her casket.

2.      Have a picnic on the hills of a grape vineyard in Italy.

3.      Watch the sunrise in Versailles.

Grace was god hearted and loved nature. She just loved to see the beauty in the world so that is what she will get.

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Now I just have to come up with the money. Living in Gatlin, South Carolina there are little jobs and little pay. It is a small town that lives in the past. I work at the one and only corner store (nobody even drives around here). Minimum wage is not enough for my plane tickets unless I want to wait awhile. Plus I can’t leave my mother without her usual share; on her own she’d be a mess.

So I’m going to have to raise the money. The only place to do that, the rational place, is right over in Savannah, Georgia. I haven’t played my guitar or felt the strings dig into my finger for so long. The only way for me to raise money, though, is by playing so that’s what I’ll do.

            I have been in Savannah for a month now. I have a buddy covering for my shift at home and giving my mom the money. I have put my blood, sweat, and tears into raising enough money and even though I still have much for once in several months I haven’t had people look at me like I was crazy. Now I look determined and passionate singing day and night for a pennies a day.

My passion has taken on a different course though and better than I ever imagined. In less than a week I have gone from pennies to twenties. My goal of six weeks is up and I have earned $650.42. I could have never dreamed of having all this money and I won’t let it be put to waste.

Two months later and here I am standing with a basket in my hand on the grandest hill in all of Italy. The smell of grape vines wafted through the air match the setting. The owner gave me fresh bread to go with my meal. The evening air was crisp but not uncomfortable.

I brought two pictures with me. Each is a picture of Grace and I on our first date. I am going to bury these at each site I visit so she may rest there forever.

While in Italy I fulfilled two of her desires. I had my picnic but also bought her mother the most beautiful rosary I have ever seen, inlaid with the delicate carvings. The sales lady promised it was blessed by the Pope and I hope she was right.

Arriving in Versailles however was wonderful timing on my part. It was early in the morning with plenty of time to find a place to settle. The sun rise was this mix of pink, yellow, and orange. My coffee was the perfect thing to have on this chilly morning; the taste brought me close to the rising sun like I could reach out and touch it. The birds rustling in the background singing to their children painted a story book image. I wanted to freeze this moment, this image and stay in it forever. However nature had a different idea that I strongly disproved of.

In Versailles I came down with what I thought was a bad cold. Two days later in the emergency room they told me I had a horrible disease that has spread throughout my body like the plague. I died in intensive care, happy that my mission was completed, my bliss undisturbed by worries and fears. I had nothing to live for and now I could get my Grace back forever and always.        

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