Vivid Remembrance

Dear Reader,

Meeting your first love is a big deal for most people. Some people probably hardly remember their first love at all, much less how they met. On the other hand, if you're like me, you will remember every detail of that day. Even after so many years, I still haven't forgotten a thing about the day that I met Jake Sanders.

...

I drove my way to school in one of the best moods I had been in for a long time. I had my late arrival excuse sitting on the dashboard, and I grabbed it as I got out of my car and started heading to the front office. As soon as I opened the door, Mrs. Mathers- our receptionist- smiled at me and waved. She was one of my favorite people that worked in the building.

"So why are you late today little missy? Oversleep?" Mrs. Mathers asked with a grin. I flashed my brand new smile and laughed a little.

"Nope! I was getting my braces taken off." I was still smiling as I replied and handed her the late excuse from my orthodontist.

"Well sweetie, your teeth look great. You look even more beautiful now," she complimented me as I started to walk into the main hall. I shouted a thank you to her and continued walking to my class with a pep in my step and a great mood. Both of which I rarely ever had during a school day.

As I reached the math hall, I prepared myself to walk into the classroom with full confidence. I reached room 247 and walked into the room with a slight smile on my face. As I walked to the front of the room to hand my pass to my teacher, I noticed an unfamiliar blonde boy sitting in my seat. My eyes locked with his and he probably wondered why I was staring at him. Well, there were two reasons: he was sitting in my seat and he was extremely good looking.

I handed my pass to my teacher who was currently sitting behind her computer typing something. "Hi Mrs. Walters, sorry I'm late," I apologized with a smile and handed her my pass.

"It's alright. We have a new student! I introduced him before you got here. You can introduce yourself before you go to your seat." I laughed slightly. I couldn't exactly sit in my seat when someone else was in it. Although, it wouldn't be a complete tragedy if I had to squeeze in and share a seat with him. The guy is gorgeous and probably even smells good too.

"Well, he's actually in my seat right now."

"Oh I'm sorry! You weren't here so I thought maybe it was an empty seat," she apologized.

"It's ok I can take the other empty seat in the back," I said and started to walk towards the back of the room. The new student stood up out of my seat and smiled at me.

"You can sit here. It's your seat anyway," the boy said with a grin. He had unbelievably white teeth. "I'm Jake, by the way." He picked up his binder and his assignment off of the desk as I sat my stuff down. I couldn't help but notice that his eyes were the prettiest shade of blue I had ever seen.

"Well it's nice to meet you Jake, but you really don't have to move. I don't mind sitting in the back," I offered.

"Nonsense, I wouldn't want a beautiful girl like you sitting in the back..." he trailed off, silently hinting that I hadn't told him my name yet. I blushed and sat down in the seat.

"Victoria. Nobody calls me that though. Call me Vicky," I said. Jake was still looking at me, smiling. He started to back away from my desk in slow motion and winked at me.

"I'll see you after class Vicky," he promised with a smirk and then walked to the back of the room to the empty seat.

...

He sure did keep that promise. He saw me after class and at lunch and in two other classes we had together, that day and every day after that for the rest of the year. Jake and I had started dating a couple months after he moved in that year and were still together when we stood on stage to get our diploma at the end of the year.

And you better believe that he didn't let college get in the way of seeing me. We applied for the same university and we stayed together all through the rest of our college years. Things were serious between me and the blonde-haired-blue-eyed beauty. So serious that even after we got our degrees he still wanted to be with me.

He proposed to me and we got married at the age of 25 and moved into a house together. We were happier than ever and still madly in love after so many years. We stayed in that house until it got too small for our growing family.

Jake and I bought a two story house that had enough rooms to fit us and our 3 children. Our little girls Leah and Katelyn grew up in that house along with their brother Aiden. We raised them until they weren't little kids anymore and they went off to college.

Soon our babies- that definitely weren't babies anymore- were married and had babies of their own and made Jake and I feel too old for comfort. Our grandchildren are growing up so fast that I can't even keep track anymore. Soon they will have kids of their own too. Keeping track of anything is difficult for me nowadays, being at the ripe age of 70.

My first love turned out to be the love of my life. Most people aren't that lucky. Even now as I sit in this hospital bed and write, Jake and I still love each other wholeheartedly like we have for almost 50 years now. I tell him not to miss me too much when I'm gone, but he's still upset that I don't have much longer.

To be honest, I'm upset about it too. But when Cancer gets the best of you and decides it wants to take your life, there really isn't a thing you can do about it. No matter how much my brain deteriorates or my heart slows down in these last few days I have to live, I will always love Jake and our family-as large as it is, I have a place in my heart for all of them.

The thing that some people don't realize is when death is looking you in the face and taunting you, you can't really defend yourself. What you can do is just sit back and remember all of the things you did when death was an irrelevant thought. Remember all of the good times you had, remember everything you loved and why you loved it, and remember that even though you can't fight the battle with death anymore, you can love and remember until you lose.

I'm not sure if any of you will actually read this letter, but if you do please hold on to my words and remember them. To my children if you read this, I remember the day you were all born and watching you grow up. To my grandchildren if you read this, I remember the day you were all born too and watching your parents raise you. To my siblings and my parents, I remember you raising me and teaching me what it means to be loved and cared for. Last but not least, to my loving husband, I remember the day we met, how we fell in love, and every moment after that. To all of you listed above, I love you with all of my heart.

I will take these memories to the grave with me and hold on to them for all eternity. If you ever miss me after I'm swept away by the cold wind of death, just know that I still love you and that I remember.

Love Eternally,

Vicky Sanders

P.S. I hope you remember too