Always With Me

Part 13- Becca Lowrey

         The dark November sky above me seemed to be endlessly expanding before my eyes. The porch swing below me was still, very still, as Zack and I sat in complete silence. The day had been long and our time together was short, so we enjoyed small amount of time that we got to spend together. We had school that day, and even though it was only a Thursday, I was already ready for the weekend to come. Zack had a game on Friday night that was away, and the temperature of the nights in Mississippi had already drastically dropped, so I decided that I was going to spend a night with my dad. We had plans tomorrow night to eat dinner together. We hadn't done that in a very long time.

        Zack smelled very sweet tonight. He had a pair of sweatpants on and an Amory Football shirt. He looked tired from the long practice that they had today, but he looked happy. Today marked our three month anniversary. Although I'd never been a very sentimental person, I was very happy to have made it to today because that meant that I'd known him for that long. Every single day I wanted to learn more.

         Zack Goodman, I had noticed over the last three months, was the most giving person I had ever met. He would do absolutely anything for anyone, and he made anyone that he came into contact with feel special. He is energetic and enthusiastic, and he loved to laugh. He also loved to take any challenge that was thrown in his path with a smile and all of the strength that he had. He was the best thing that had ever happened to me. He listened, he loved, and he wasn't afraid to learn. He was almost a foot taller than me, though he never makes me feel inferior to him because of it. His hugs were tender and his smile was genuine. I loved his heart, and I loved him.

        He also understood me, which was very difficult for most people. He lost his mom not too long ago, though it was his choice to cut off much of a communication with her. He still talked to her every once in a while, though. But he understood why that was a huge detail to me, also.

        We sat in silence for a long time, perfectly content, before he finally spoke.

         "Have you ever wanted to do something, but been too scared to do it?" Although he was sitting beside me, I could see in his deep green eyes that he was far from here.

        "Yeah, I guess," I said, "But I am usually pretty scared to do a lot." We sat in silence for a while longer. "What's up?"

         He just laughed. "The military scares the crap out of me. It looks challenging, and I would love to do something for my country, but I just can't make myself do it."

        I felt my heart skip a beat in my chest before my entire body tensed. "Are you saying that you want to join the army?" I asked.

        "No. I mean, I would like to. But I don't think I am going to do it." He kissed me gently before pulling away to smile at me. "Don't worry, Becca. I'm not going anywhere."

         I allowed a breath of relief escape from my lips as I looked at him, taking in the image in front of me. Somehow, I knew he meant it. Zack meant everything that he said.

        "I know you aren't. Because I'm not either," I grabbed his hand and we looked across the street as a car drove past my house. The night was calm, peaceful.

        "What happened with Brent and Dahlia? I know that they've been broken up for a few weeks, but I don't know why," He asked, attempting to make conversation.

        I debated in my mind whether or not to tell Zack before I sighed and realized that he was going to find out soon anyways.

        "Zack, Dahlia is pregnant."