Dear Elder

I looked up at Cameron standing on the church pue smiling as he gave his farewell talk. Cameron had a flawless complection, his chiseled body that had been toned by years of high school sports and had paid off. I was in the middle of the congregation, sitting next to the rest of my high school friends who came to send him off on his two year trek. Tamera, my best friend, kept turning to me giving concerning looks. Last week she walked in on me having an all by myself moment with the cookie dough ice cream. I had tried to be tough and not show how hurt I was by his decision to go on a mission. Its not like I could have asked him to stay for me.

I had always admired Cameron's dedication and testimony of a church that despised his "behaviors". Don't get me wrong, he wasn't a n angel in any way shape or form. He occasionally slipped up and swore (mostly while he was driving) and although we hadn't gone "all the way" we had gone pretty far. I began to pay attention to his talk as it was wrapping up. I was raised in an LDS family but unlike Cameron I was "fallen". I had stopped going to church long ago and no longer considered myself a devout mormon usually when missionaries came to the door I would tell them to come back when my husband was home.

Cameron ended his talk and sat down in the front row on the stand. We both looked at each other. I smiled and gave him a wink. That was all we could share in this company. It was ok I was use to it. Cameron's family was beyond religious He was the youngest of 5 boys. All served full time missions, married in the temple and attended a church school. His father was the Bishop of the Morning West Ward and was a retired BYU professor. I never liked his parents.  It was hard for me to like someone who was making the love of my life go through so much suffering. I had wondered what would have happened if his parents had walked on us sharing our quick kisses in the basement. I was convinced the shotgun on the mantel would have a new found purpose if that ever happened.

We sang a depressing but somewhat relevant hymn "God be with us Till we Meet Again" . Cameron's mother Kay started to cry as she lead the congregation. Yuck, I was now in a bad mood. My boyfriend was leaving to Russia for two years and the only contact we would have is through emails and letters. God had a twisted sense of humor.

"Logan, are you going to the farewell get together?" Asked Brandon, Cams football buddy.

"Of course are you?" I responded

Brandon lost interest as his longtime love affection Kelly Trust walked up to us. Kelly was the biggest slut I knew. Even at church she was wearing a dress that stopped just above her knees and her boobies were loud and proud. She started to flirt with Brandon and complimented his colorful pink tie completely ignoring my exsistance. I decided I would try to make my way through the crowded sacrament meeting room. Cameron was smiling and visiting with some ward members and shaking everyone's hand.

"Hello elder! I have some questions about the bible" I teased

"No, everyone is not entitled to there own Starbucks in heaven" He said sarcastically

"Dang!"(Which almost came out another way but I didn't think his dad would've appreciated that)

"I am going to let you hang out with your family haha, do you want to meet me later tonight on Cris Mountain?" trying to contain my excitement.

"Sounds like a plan" Cameron replied.

Cris Mountain was kind of like our "Brokeback Mountain" sometimes. The mountain had a giant S painted on the side of it. It stood for the S in Standard City. It was the ideal romantic hang out sometimes. We couldnt be spotted holding hands or doing anything romantic in town (because of Camerons predicament) so this had beeen our favorite hang out spot for a long time. We had a tree that we would meet at it. It was a large quaking aspen that was easily spoted in a grove of trees. I would park the car and walk the little path to the tree. Tonight would be the last time for a while we would share that special place.