Sarah's Story

Declaration

"Hi Sarah. Sorry it is just Josiah and I. Everyone wanted to come but, Abe has football practice, Julia had to babysit her brother, and Tim has a doctor's appointment." Beth says as they enter later that afternoon.

"Hi guys. Bye guys," James rushes out the door on the way to school.

"It is okay."

"So, what has happened today?" Beth takes a seat beside her.
"Well, we saw Uncle Eric and another doctor, the oncologist. They stage the tumor at closer to a stage three then two."

Josiah collapses into the other chair beside her and takes her hand. "What are they going to do?"

She tells them all, about the treatments, the odds, and that she can't return back to school.

"We will be here for whatever you need. I won't lose my best friend." Beth insists.

"We both will, well, all will. We will fight with you and alongside you. We will fight whrn you are to tired to." Josiah adds. He still holds her hand.

"Thanks guys. It is going to be a hard fight. I am not giving up, I just... I will lose my hair, get real sick. I don't want you seeing me lile that." Her blush shows exactly who she doesn't want to be seeing her like that.

"You are my sister. You can't keep me away." Beth says.

"Beth, can you give us a minute?" Josiah meets her eyes and she nods. He got it. Good for him.

"I will just step outside for a moment."

"Sarah, don't you know that you are more then my friend. You are my sister-in-Christ and more. You feel it too, right? I don't know if this is the right time, the right place.. Okay, I love you Sarah. I don't just say this, feel this, because of what you are going through. I love you, Sarah Leah Rose. I am going to be here for you. You can't kick me out of your life either. I am also going nowhere."
She blushes and looks down. He takes her face in his other hand and lifts her back up to look at him. "Please, look at me. If you don't feel the same it is okay. I am still going to be here for you."

"It isn't that I don't feel the same," she blushes again," It is just you deserve someone who's future isn't so insecure and someone who is whole." She whispers.

"Oh please. Sarah, you are whole and none of our futures are quarenteed.

"I am not whole." Her eyes drift to the bulky bandage and she blushes yet again.

"You are. You have a whole heart and soul. Everything else is superficial," He assures her as he touches her hair," this, my sweet girl, isn't you. Ypu are the girl who spents her summers wotking for Habitate for Humanity. You are the girl who first stood up for Tim when he was being bullied. Who works at the Crisis Pregnancy Center. Who bags groceries at the food bank. And I could go on. And when you are bald and sick, you will still be that girl. The girl I fell in love with."

"Are you sure Josiah? This isn't going to be easy."

"Nothing worth having is. Ypu are for sure worth having."

"Wow! You really mean it?"

"I do. I will need to ask your dad if it is okay to date you, but, I surely want to."

"Even if a date is sitting and watching me take chemo?"

"Yes. I love you. Understand that you are the one God made for me."

"I love you Josiah. I have for awhile. I couldn't see you feeling the same. That you do sure helps turn a bad day around." She grins at her. He grins back and bends down to kiss her on the forehead.

Beth knocks on the door, " Can I come back in now?"

"Yes." They call out together. She walks in and sees their clasped hands and smiles.

"So, y'all have it settled?"

"I have to talk to her dad but yes."

"Good. You are good together. I predict her dad won't have a problem."

"I don't think so either." Sarah adds," enough about me, what is happening at school. Y'all have to keep me in the loop. I won't be back for awhile."

That is what they do. They talk and laugh until her daddy walks back in an hour later.