Karen and John, a couple bound with each other forever. They are bounded by the promise of keeping their relationship perfect. A relationship perfect with quarrels of all sorts but can never be broken by those quarrels. They can never be separated by time, space and distance. Some say they are fools for loving someone far from them, but what could they do? They loved each other from the very start of their relationship. The relationship they had for almost two years have proven that their love is real and true. Love as they define it is a special bond that keeps two unrelated individuals to keep and care for one another, a tie that can never be broken and a pleasurable feeling regardless of time and distance. This idea keeps them together.
It was a cold and gloomy morning when John called Karen; it was new scene for Karen for John never called her often. So, she thought that his boyfriend will be coming soon and he would just tell her that he is on his way. Thinking that way, she was disappointed. John's voice made her whole body numb and heavy. His voice tells her that he was about to cry and about to leave. She felt that her world was crashing down to her feet. She felt colder as John told her that he was leaving for America. She didn't have the courage to ask anything, she just cried and never said a word. Silently, she asked herself why John will leave her. She felt that John didn't love her at all. As she was thinking about the reason, John talked in a soft whispering and calming voice. He explained his situation. Still crying, Karen listened to every word that John was saying. His reasoning made Karen cry even harder. Afraid of making the situation more complicated and to lessen her pain and John's pain of saying goodbye, Karen turned off her cell phone. They both decided to go on their separate ways.
Every night, their conversation reverberated on Karen's thoughts. All of their promises can never be brought to life without John. The promises made became lies from the past. Despite of all the hurts, she still loves John and can never love anyone else. She turned down all her admirers. She promised herself that she will wait for her one true love. It was the only promise that she was able to give to John and she really wants to prove to him that she can wait for him.
Karen's friends comforted her to make her feel better. They did every single thing that will make Karen happy and back to her own self again. They all made use of the things that they know would bring happiness to Karen. They bought books for Karen loves reading; magazines to bring her back to her artistic self, food to bring back her nutrition and bring her to parks to bring back her happy childhood memories. Karen thought that she would pretend that she had forgotten the loneliness of losing one's love in just a snap and she cannot do anything about it, to make her friends feel that she had recovered from all the pain. She was able to do her plan, but in repay, she has to lock herself in her room so she could cry alone when she could not bear the pain again. She could not recover, she admitted to herself. She just love John very much that not even death can stop her feelings for John. John was her first love and not a million years can erase her feelings, for her feelings were as strong as a steel case covering a delicate rose.
Three weeks had pass and still Karen didn't manage to recover. The depression brought by the break up didn't subdue. And due to her depression, she lost track of the date and time. She forgot that their second anniversary will be tomorrow. It was two hours before 12 midnight when she realizes it and it was the day that John will leave the country. She cried out loud and as hard as she could. She wants to go to him, hug him tightly and kiss him with all his strength, but sadly, she cannot. She lost hope of finding and going to John. She just stared blankly on the wall where they have leaned on the last time that they have been together. She cannot stand it anymore; her heart was full of hatred and depression. It's like her world is shrinking until she cannot breathe anymore. It was raining heavily when she went outside so she can breathe again.
She kept on walking until she reached the old church where it all started. It was there like nothing happened. It was always the same as before. She remembered the promise that they will be married in that church. They promised each other that it will be their church no matter what happens. It will be the first and last church that they will go together as one. She looked for the spot where they had sat for the first time. She found their initials they carved on the stone, so they would remember that they were there. Still reminiscing, she remembered another promise that they both agreed on. She remembered telling him about her favorite tree on the top of a mountain near the church. John promised that they would go there together. It was the biggest tree on the mountain, it overlooks the church. It was like there to witness every love story that would start in the old church. Every leaf on the tree tells a different story. One with a happy ending and one with a tragedy ending a story with a happy beginning.
It was exactly midnight when Karen decided to go to the tree. She reached the foot of the mountain in no time. Climbing up the mountain, she heard footsteps from behind her. But, when she looks back ether is no one there, and she didn't see footsteps marked on the mud. It didn't stop her from reaching the tree. It was almost 2 o'clock in the morning when she saw the tree. The sound of footsteps didn't disappear throughout the climb. It was exactly 2 o'clock in the morning, when she reached the tree. Crying, she sat beside the tree. It was the same time that she said yes to John. She leaned on the tree and at the same time, she heard their song, "No Ordinary Love". She looked for the source but she could not find it. At the end of the song, she heard John's voice in the winds whisper, "Sorry love. I love you so much. Happy second anniversary. I miss you so much. I wish I could be with you right now to wipe your tears. Goodbye love. Take care of yourself.
Karen cried as hard as she could. Weeping and begging for a second chance. Minutes later, her
cell phone rang. It was Stella, John's mom and she was crying. Stella begged Karen to go to the church. Karen rushed down to the mountain and run to the old church where she was told to come. Stella was waiting for her in the entrance of the church. The hallway was lit with candles and decorated by wild flowers. The floor was trailed with petals from white roses.
At the end of the hallway, she saw John lying on the altar. Karen was thrilled to see John, but she was also afraid to approach him. The only thing that made her go nearer is the fact that he saw John's face smiling at her saying that he wants Karen to come closer.
Trying not to cry, Karen approached John. She thought she could pretend that she was strong enough that she would not cry in front of John. But, when John started to talk, her tears came down without any warning. John said, "I thought you would never come. I'm afraid that I may not see you again. Happy anniversary love. I love you so much. I'll be with you forever as I promised". Karen hugged John tightly.
Still crying, Stella approached Karen. She said, "Sorry, we tried to go here as fast as we could. He passed away thirty minutes ago during the trip. Karen didn't want to believe her, but when she held John's hands, it was as cold as a chilled glass of wine. She knows that she cannot do anything to bring back John's life. She just knelt beside John, prayed and hugged him as tight as she could.
John's promises had been the sweetest things for Karen. But they can never be brought to life with just Karen hoping for it to come true. Those promises need both half of the relationship to be fulfilled. Promises leaves a person a special memory that makes them smile but eventually, they can also make people cry.
Two of the promises of John were brought to life. The first one was going to the tree, though he was not physically there, he was spiritually present in the surroundings and present within Karen's heart and mind. The second one was, the old church will be the first and last church that they will go together as one. Only the third promise was not brought to life. The promise about they would be married in the old church. Karen knew that it will be impossible to become true.
