Terrible Things

Willow. The Girl of my Dreams

"Hey dad what is love?"
"Well first let me ask you, why do you ask son?"
"I like this girl and the way I feel is.. I don't know how to describe it."
I looked into my 11 year old sons brown eyes. I ruffled his long blonde hair and got down on my knee to be at his level since he was short, a nice boy my son is, has good manners and is just sweet all together.
"Well when I was your age I thought being in love would be the most amazing thing. I longed for it deeply. So let me tell you my story.."
I pat the ground next to me and he sat down.
"So I shall continue. I was 11 maybe a little older and I would give anything to find that one special girl I could love forever." I pause for a brief second because I can see in his eyes he is bored.
"Now Jason listen.. Just listen and let me tell you."
He nods and sits up against our couch.
"As I was thinking about meeting the most extraordinary girl that would love me and I would love her forever I looked up and the world froze.. There she was I thought. The one and only girl for me. She walks by with her blonde hair following her. She was the only thing I could see."
When I glance over at him he seems to be listening more and carefully and I smile then continue my story.
"This beautiful girl that was my age stopped and sat down at the bench across me and I could see her dazzling blue eyes. I knew her name, which was Willow, because I've seen her around but this time seeing her just made me feel all gooey inside."
He laughs at what I said and gets quiet almost immediately allowing me to continue.
"I keep my pitch black eyes on her, I even move my hair out of my face just so I can see her better. But this beautiful image is blocked when her boyfriend walks in front of her.
"Now please say nothing it seems sad now but listen Jason. Stay quiet.
"Soon enough he sits next to her but turns to talk to his friends and I stare at her again. She turns her heads towards me and looks into my eyes. Willow waves and smiles but I get shy and turn my head and look down. 'Oh no' I thought, 'how stupid of me! You don't just stare at some-' but a tap on my shoulder interrupts my thoughts. As I turn around there is the beautiful girl, Willow standing in front of me smiling and says, 'hello' but I stay quiet out of amazement honestly."
I get lost in my thoughts and keep talking and notice myself smiling while talking.
"I get the guts after a couple seconds and say hello back to her then she immediately starts speaking, 'Boy can I tell you a wonderful thing?' I nod as she continues, 'I can tell your looking at me.. I know I shouldn't say this but I truly believe, I can tell by your eyes, that you may be in love with me.' I nod without thinking and she smiles while I smile back.
Soon after staring at each other her boyfriend walks over and breaks our contact.. 'What the hell Willow?!' He says." My eyes get teary as I say to Jason, "now son I am only telling you this because life can do terrible things." He nods and he has sort of a frown on his face.
I continue my story, "I look at the poor girl who was brought over to me because I was staring at her but we did have a spark, 'Jax it was nothing I swear, he was just alone and I wanted to be his friend.' She nudges me I believe for me to just go along, I never asked her. 'You punk! Don't talk to my girl!' He grabbed me by my shirt and picked lifted me out of the bench. He began to beat me.." I pause and my smile has now gone away. I look at my son who now looks worried and scared, then I continue.
"Willow, your mother, tries to stop him and pushes him away but he keeps pounding my face and then soon enough I blackout hearing her screaming. When I wake though I'm in the nurses office with the beautiful girl sitting on the chair next to me. I try and sit up but my head hurts to much and when she seems me do so she says, 'I am so sorry about what happened Jake. That is your name right.' As I nod she continues to talk, I don't remember really what about."
Looking at Jason now he looks a little happier and I smile at him then continue.
"Then she stops and asks how I am and I tell her I am fine. 'I broke up with him, what an asshole.' She says and I slightly smile and my body gets warm inside."
I feel the sides of my mouth start rising again.
"The rest of middle school was great. We had a blast and I loved this girl so much and nothing between us ever changed. We had everlasting love and I found it magical and just so great..."
I stop and tell him again, "Now son I'm only telling you this because life can do terrible things."
We move up to the couch and sit on it so we are more comfortable. Soon after I continue telling my tale.
"Now let's skip forward just a little more, let's say about the time we both were 18."