Chapter 1

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Chapter 1

(May 1, 2008)

Childhood is a very important part of a person's life. I was told that if you don't have a scar on your knee, haven't watched SpongeBob and thought that this heart -❤️- was the actual human heart, you didn't have a proper childhood.

When I was young, like really really young, I met the love of my life. Archer Magnum. He was very cute, jet black hair, silver eyes, two irresistible dimples and a sweet personality. 

I barely knew about love at that young age, but I knew just enough. I always thought about him, he made me happy and I did the same for him.

Where I lived, you may call it country. I lived on a large farm with a big house and a field of grass leading up a hill, and a waterfall.

I think it's safe to say that at five, I was the perfect cowgirl. I was so short with long red hair which I got from my mom, electric blue eyes from my dad, and a chubby figure.

Today, it was my 'wedding day'. I know it's stupid I mean come on, we were five, six and seven. Oh and I almost forgot too. I mean, who forgets their wedding day.

I have always had the memory of a goldfish since I could talk and Archer always said it.

My older brother by 2 years, Derek, my two best friends, Archer and Wayne and I were at our secret hideout.

Archer told us a story saying that this is where his parents fell in love and how his mother said we could have it. It was magical. It was a huge waterfall with a cave just behind the falling water. The water rushed over the opening blocking the world out from the cave where we usually stayed to play.

It was large and had dark yet very clean walls and the ground was always covered in fresh grass. Over time, we had brought tables, chairs and even an old mattress that Wayne's parents threw out to set up our secret layout. It was like our own little house.

"Archer, do you take my sister to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Derek asked pretending to be the pastor.

"I do," Archer answered quickly proudly smiling.

"And do you-"

"I do," I blurted before Derek could finish and we all giggled like the kids we were.

"Debbie, let me finish, we have to do this right," Derek laughed.

"It doesn't make sense anyways," Wayne grumbled jealous while folding his arms.

"You're just jealous she likes me and not you," Archer taunted his best friend with a cheeky grin.

"Am not," Wayne defended himself.

"Are too," Archer challenged.

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are-"

"Okay, you morons, let's continue," Derek grumbled being the oldest at 7. "By the power invested in me I know pronounce you, monster and alien."

"Hey," I complained glaring at my brother who grinned at me innocently exposing his missing tooth.

"Just kidding. You may kiss your monkey," he said to Archer and before I could argue, Archer's lips were on mine and he quickly pulled away.

"Ewwwww," we all chorused as Archer and I wiped our lips with the back of our hands smiling.

The day was going by smoothly. We were playing and dancing but then all of a sudden, my world was turned upside down when I heard my brother scream.

I spun around like I got whiplash and the blood drained from my face. 

"Derek!" I screamed in horror when I realized he fell out of the cave. 

"Oh my God!" Archer exclaimed and ran out of the cave to go out on the side of the river. Without hesitation, I ran out there too and stood on the side looking over into the river.

"No!" I screamed when I saw the blood spreading changing the river from a mystical color of aqua green, to a dreadful color of pink.

All my energy was drained from my body and the next thing I know was that Archer was holding me back from jumping in the river as I screamed repeatedly for him to let me go.

Then in the nick of time, I blacked out.

*******

I woke up a few hours later screaming on top of my lungs for my brother. 

He can't be gone. My brother can't be dead.

"Debear," my grandmother rushed into the room and hugged me close to her chest as I cried and she shed a few tears with me too.

She whispered sweet things in my ears as she proceeded to bring me down to the living room that was full of children. 

My grandmother rested me on the sofa after she heard the phone ring and rushed to answer it. I looked at everyone confused wanting to know why they were all here.

"Debear," I turned to Archer who was looking at me with tears and pain in his eyes. As soon as I saw him, I started crying again and he hugged me.

"W- what ha- happened?" I sobbed out.

"All our parents have b-been out looking for him s-since last night. But, they can't f-find him, I'm sorry," he softly explained and I only cried harder.

And since that day, I never saw my brother again.

*****

The funeral was weird.

It was in the night when everyone gathered at the waterfall with torches, lamps candles and threw different types of flowers in the waterfall and they all journeyed down the channel until they were gone.

That was two days ago and now I stood there hugging everyone goodbye. After the funeral, my parents decided that they no longer wanted to stay there and packed up to move. I threw a fit because I didn't want to leave my friends, my 'husband'.

But I guess being so young left me with having no choice.

"Please don't leave me," Archer sobbed as he held me firmly in his arms. 

"You know I have to go," I whispered placing my forehead on his. I didn't care if our parents were watching, in fact, our moms' watched us with tears in their eyes.

"I love you," Archer said staring me straight into my eyes with a sweet smile. I returned it.

"I love you too, Archy," I said and kissed his cheek just before he kissed back to mine.

"Promise you'll never forget me," he insisted and I smiled.

"As long as you promise never to forget me," I fired back and he smirked.

"Thumb promise?" He asked holding out his thumb and I cheekily smiled.

"Thumbs promise," I said connecting my thumb with his before giving him one last hug.

I turned to Wayne and saw him with a scowl on his face. When he saw me looking at him, his expression melted to a sad one.

"I'm going to miss you, Wayne," I said and hugged him tightly.

"I will miss you more," he said back and with that, I ran to the car not being able to bear the heartbreak anymore.

I waited for my parents to say goodbye to my grandparents and my friends' parents before they got in the car and drove off with me waving to Archer all the while.

Even when the car was far away, I still saw him waving until his father came and scooped him up in his arms.

Since that day, my life changed forever.

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