Short But Sweet

My fairytale may not have lasted, but for the duration of it, it was simply wonderful. It was summer- don't most stories begin this way? We shared our first kiss on a chilly beach so early in the morning the sun had yet to come up. It was perfect.

He taught me to drive a stick shift in his brand new car. I was terrified, but he had perfect confidence in me. We jogged through the woods, swam in the river and cuddled near the TV. When my wisdom teeth came out, he was there to drive me home from the dentist's office and to lie with me on the couch. He brought me movies, gifts and snacks, fed me applesauce when I was too drugged up to find my face. When I was vulnerable and needed him, he was there.

Each day we spent together was a day closer to the inevitable day when I was being forced to walk away from my lazy, happy days to join my family for four months in California. It was only 1000 miles away, but to a young couple happily in love, it was much much further. We realized that we were truly meant to be together and that would someday marry and have children.

When I loaded up my car and left, I couldn't see the road because my face was so covered in tears. When I stopped for the night, I cried for a half hour in a parking lot, not sure how I could go on. I dreamed about him at night and thought about him all day. I couldn't wait for the 4 months to be over with so I could run back to him, never to leave him again.

Our first blow came with the loss of his job. A week later, the pregnancy test was positive. Our journey together had only just begun.