Our memories do not always serve us correctly. But they do serve us kindly.

Charlotte Everley and her best friend had a tradition. Every summer on June 26th, they call one number--one random number of the same area code, purely for entertainment. When Charlotte's best friend Stella found love with the help of their 'tradition', she added another reason. To find Charlotte a boyfriend. After three years of endless match ups, set ups, blind dates. and not to mention two calls to, thankfully, female receivers, the summer of eleventh grade comes rolling by, and so does the fateful day of June 26th. The only difference is that, this time, the stranger behind the phone is most definitely male. And the president's eighteen year old son.

"Rose, I'm sorry, but your eyesight will be gone by the end of this year." Who knew one simple sentence could change a life so drastically? Rose is a normal seventeen year old girl with a normal life, normal friends, and what she thought to be normal vision. When she receives the news her vision is slowly deteriorating, she doesn't know what to think. Her life is over. What's a life without being able to see? Enter Chace, a young man who tackled Rose to the ground, mistakingly thinking she was about to commit suicide. He's handsome, suave, and has no idea why Rose is so upset. And even though she is a complete stranger, he decides he wants to help her feel better. With four months until her vision is gone forever, Rose slowly falls in love with this happy-go-lucky young man, but never reveals her problem to him. She's scared. Will he stay with her when he finds out she's going blind? Or will he ditch her when he finds out the truth?

"I told you, once, that I believe in reincarnation. Lives after death." I grip his hand, the tears sliding down my cheeks as if they have a right to be there. They shouldn't be there. He shouldn't be dying. "I still believe in that." His eyes are as stormy as ever but they no longer look as if thunder will roll or lightning will strike. "I don't know if you believe in it. But I do. And I will look for you in every life that I live. I will find you every time and love you. Even if you don't love me back I will love you every day until the end of my days. And then I will love you in the next days." I nod, pressing my chapped lips to his forehead and choking down a sob. "I believe you. I'll find you too. I'll love you in every life I live." But I don't believe him. The belief of reincarnation is not something he and I have ever shared. Yet I can't tell him that. Not whilst his last breaths shake his body and I still love him. "Don't lie to me. You don't have to believe in it. I'll still find you. I'll always find you." Of course he can tell I was lying. When has he not been able to? My lips turn warily into a shaky smile and his eyes flash - one last strike of lightning to say goodbye. "I love you." "I love you too. I always will." His arms reach up and we hold each other close, lips feathery against each others cheeks as they whisper the love we have shared and the shadows of my hair on his forehead shout the memories we have created. "I know." He breathes, squeezing me tight. Now I let out a sob, guilty that in his last moments he will see me only as sad. And I continue to hold him; long past his last breath. - - - My new story - We'll Meet Again - coming soon to wattpad.