*The Crush*
The first time I met you, a feeling never experienced before came over me. It did not take long to realize that it was called the crush.
You were much older than I. A woman whose knowledge and travels were willingly shared with me.
I was fortunate enough to spend every weekday from late August to early June with you.
Everyday when it was time for me to leave, I came up with reasons for staying a little longer. You were kind enough to let me. For that brief time you opened my eyes to a whole new world. I absorbed everything you told me. I became a better person because of that.
When the year was over I had to move on.
You understood my visits would be limited in the coming year. Though when I did come to visit we would sit for an hour talking. We caught up with what was going on in our lives.
Another year had passed, I had to move on once again. At the last visit in the year you took my hand as I was about to leave and said two simple words;
“I knew.”
That is when our friendship began.
*Friendship*
You understood my visits would be limited in the coming four years. Though when I did come to visit we would sit for an hour talking. We caught up with what was going on in our lives. Though you were more interested in what I had been up to. Every letter you sent brightened my day.
Those four years were over before we knew it.
Knowing the next four years to come were going to be the hardest. The promise of writing to each other was made. Which we did on a regular basis. Every letter you sent, brightened my day.
I would come back to town four times a year. I would always make a point to visit.
During one of those years you had gotten married and on my visit you introduced me to your husband.
Those four years passed quickly and I finally got back to town permanently. The three of us met on many occasions. The two of you where always there for me through good times and bad. I introduced you to my fianc’ee the second year back in town. The following year I invited you and your husband to my wedding. The four of us got together often.
*The Final Farewell*
I called one day and your husband broke the news to me that you were terminally ill. He told me that you were not accepting visitors. I called once a week for the next two months and he would tell me how you were doing.
Then one day I received a call, it was your husband. I was told that you had only a few days left and that you requested I be a pall bearer. Of course I said yes, as I felt it an honor to do so.
The day of the wake we had our final farewell. I told you how you helped me become a better person, to learn as much as I can in this lifetime. To travel and experience as much as possible. I remember your reaction when I said to you that I was going to become a teacher.
Though we only knew each other for a brief fourteen years they were by far the best years. I think of you often and remember the lessons you taught. I am forever grateful that we met and know one day we will meet again. Until then I must say farewell, not goodbye.
The above story is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and events are products of the author’s imagination and are used as fantasy. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Copyright ©2013. All Rights Reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the author, Banes1.
