Weathered Love

ANDREW III

We trudged through the snow, weaving through the headstones. The smoke of my breath hung in the air. I always knew there was something wrong with me, but I never thought I'd ever be excited to be in a cemetery. Andrew put his arm around my waist just as I slipped on a small patch of slippery grass. "Are you alright?" he inquired. I nodded. "Christmas at a cemetery. I think this is the most romantic date you've ever taken me on," he teased.

"You need to meet him," I insisted, keeping the smile on my face so Andrew knew I wasn't hurt by his comment. He gave me that knee-weakening smile, and I was so grateful he hadn't loosened the grip he had on the small of my back. We finally got to the tombstone and I froze. I just stared at the words inscribed, summarizing the amazing and short life he lived in just a few words.

Here lies Ivan Hansen. Loving son. Amazing friend. Taken too soon. His years of birth and death inscribed underneath, only alluding to the objective passing of time, but in no way a reflection of the amazing things he managed to do in his short life. If his accomplishments indicated his lifetime, it would have been a thousand years, not a mere twenty. I started to cry just looking at those numbers. It was so unfair.

Andrew continued to pat my back, letting me face the source of my pain and allowing me to confront what had been haunting me. "Ivan," I finally managed to get out. I turned to Andrew. "This is Andrew," I introduced. "Andrew, this quiet guy here is Ivan," I finished.

"Ivan, it's a pleasure to meet you. Ivy talks about you all the time," Andrew stated to the tombstone, keeping the smile plastered to his face. He was trying to lighten my load. He then took the flowers from my hand and crouched down in front of the tombstone. "I'm taking good care of her, I promise. You don't need to worry about that. I hope you're at peace," he assured Ivan.

I smiled through my tears, still in awe at how wonderful Andrew could be. He laid the flowers down and placed his hand on the tombstone, just looking at it. I crouched down next to Andrew, then kissed the tombstone. "I know, he's exactly the kind of guy you thought I deserved," I responded to the unstated comment from Ivan. "Thanks for sending him my way." I then sighed, feeling a slight release of some of my sorrow.

After only the slightest moment, Andrew turned his gaze in my direction. "Come on, we'd better head back for dinner," he commented. I nodded, and got up along with him. I took one last longing look at the tombstone. I wished Ivan would appear in that moment, just so I could hug him one last time. And tell him how much I love him. And maybe even have another laugh with him. Before I had to truly say goodbye forever.

I didn't want to leave at that moment. Leaving felt empty. It felt... wrong. But I walked away anyway. Whether it was because I felt an obligation to make it to dinner on time, or I felt that staying there too long would have been an unhealthy way of dealing with my feelings, I wasn't certain. But I knew that, at least for that moment, I needed to leave right then. Otherwise, I might have stayed there forever.

"Hello love," my mother greeted as Andrew and I walked through the door. "Where were you two?" she asked. I walked into the kitchen where she was finishing up some dishes.

"I took Andrew to meet Ivan," I quietly informed her. She nodded, understanding I didn't want to say it loud enough for the Hansens to hear. They were sitting in the living room after all. My mother gave me a knowing smile and kissed my temple.

"I'm sure the Hansens would appreciate the formal introduction to Andrew," she pointed out. I nodded and went to the living room where Andrew was just sitting down.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hansen, Nick," I stated to the three of them, before turning to face Andrew, "This is Andrew. Andrew, this is Mr. and Mrs. Hansen, and their son Nick."