Unfulfilled Promises

Prologue

High School

Junior Year

16-years-old

Christian contacted me in the middle of the night, telling me he wanted to meet me at the Grand Prairie Police Department. As soon as I woke up, I dressed and walked out quietly while my parents were asleep. Why couldn't he tell me over the phone? In my mind, as I started walking, I began to think about him ending our relationship or that he must have some important reason for meeting me this late on a school night. When I finally arrived, I saw him sitting on the grass looking at the stainless-steel Black Lip Willow Tree. As I stood there, waiting for him to notice me, I noticed the excrement he wore on his face, which made me nervous. Eventually, I couldn't stand the silence any longer and said, "Hey Christian, why did you call me so late?"

He finally looked my way and told me, "sorry baby, I had to talk to you face to face. I don't know how to explain it to you, so you get to choose. I got good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"

"Just give me the bad news first, then the good news after to hopefully cheer me up."

I noticed he had a small wrapped box in one hand and a sheet of wrinkled paper in the other. He handed me the wrinkled paper. I unwrinkled it and started to read. I didn't want to believe what I was reading. I gave it back to him and said, "I don't understand what this is about."

He grabbed it and said, "These are the enlistment papers that I received in the mail today. My father went behind my back and signed me up. I only have the rest of this year of school before I would have to leave my home and go overseas to train. My mother was unaware, and I even tried to meet up with the enlistment officer, but he said the papers are ready, and I cannot cancel what has already been done."

I was speechless, and then he handed me the small wrapped box. I grabbed it from him. As I tore the wrapping paper, I was hoping it was a wedding ring, so I could go with him overseas... But it wasn't, it was a promise ring, and I looked at him with a confused face.

"Would you promise me something?"

"Of course."

He comes up to me putting his arms around my waist, I lay my forehead against his chest and he said "Promise that you'll wait for me for a few more years. But for now, please let's spend the rest of this year together."

I didn't look up at him, only responded with a quick, "Yes, I'll wait for you." I felt his lips on the top of my head. Putting my arms around his waist, "I love you, Christian." He bends down a little and whispers in my ear.

"I love you more, Zelda." We both happily laughed, relieved that we had figured out so much in such a short time.

After High School Graduation, Christian's family and my family had dinner at a fancy restaurant called La Casa de mi madre. I noticed that Christian's parents weren't talking to each other after the enlistment papers situation and as to change the subject and mood at our table, Mrs. Castillo asked me "So Zelda, what college are you going to?".

"I'm going to an Art School in Dallas, I'm going to be just like my mother, a fashion designer." I said to take a sip of my water as Christian talked with my father. I'm going to miss Christian very much. I looked at the promise ring he gave me.

"That's good Zelda, I'm happy for you. I bet it's going to be fun, sweetie. When will you be attending art school?"

"I'm going to attend in September."

As our conversation grew longer, and we were done having dinner we walked to the front and my mother said "oh, let's all take pictures of the happy moments we are sharing right now to last us a lifetime!"