A Loving Spirit

Chapter 1: Forevermore

Love is in the air. For James this is literal. James was 18 years old and in the middle of his college years. Like any young adult, James was in love.

I don't know if I must use the "was" or "is".  In this case, I guess that word "is" would be appropriate. Not just for James, but for Lisa as well.

James and Lisa were childhood sweethearts.  They knew each other back when then were playing jack stones and hide and seek.  They were too young to understand what love was. Their whole world revolved with each other.  They looked for each other the moment they get home from school and on weekends.  James and Lisa grew together. Literally together.  In time, they out-grew kiddie games and went into their teen years.




"I can still remember my early teen years with Lisa", James said. "Gosh Noel, it was a happy one. I could never find anything wrong with our past.  It was perfect. Of course, there were petty quarrels. That's how friends are. They quarrel.  We were an ordinary couple but we found ourselves special when we were together. She was everything to me. I had my first date with her. My first kiss. I don't know. I guess it will be hard for me to explain it to you.  We never said "I love you" when we were younger. But when we had those rare moments of silence and our eyes caught each other, the smile that complemented it was just - magic", James narrated.

Yes, I don't know. I have never had a female childhood friend who I lived with since that age to my early adult years. Playmates usually end when the kiddie plays end. I guess. But not for this sad young man. He  grasped his hands for a while, looked at me with a sad smile and looked some where.

"Don't worry James, Lisa is still with you. She will always be in your heart", I said.  James smiled while looking elsewhere. But it was a different smile. A smile of mixed feelings. "Yes, I guess she is. She has never left me". I looked at him. I was thinking what James meant about that. "She has never left me Noel. Like we always were together since the beginning. She is still here with me."

I was a bit confused. What is this guy telling me? I stood up and moved around. I was waiting for a follow up on what James was telling me.  James was silent. I looked at him. He looked sad and confused.  "James, if you had the chance. I mean if Lisa would have lived a longer life, would you have married her?".  James fell in tears.  Like a man he was, he tried to control his emotions but failed. He grasped his hands hard as if it was the last thing that kept him from crying. I sat beside him again and placed my arm on his shoulders. "Man, tell me about it. Let it loose.", I said to him.

"Noel, we made a promise to each other. We made a bond that should never be broken.  We told each other a few years ago that we will marry each other someday when we were done with our studies and can afford to separate from our parents.  We swore, Noel!". James started crying. He blew out his tears. It was the first time I saw him cry this much since Lisa's burial. This eighteen-year old was crying as if it was the end of the world. Well maybe for him, it was. I gave him a minute to let it out. "It was God's will.  We cannot do anything, James. I know that it is easier said than taken but that's life. We only borrow it from the Guy upstairs."

James looked at me as he was wiping his last drops with his handkerchief. "I have accepted Lisa's death but it seems she hasn't. God, it's been two years! I have to move on, Noel! But I can't! Lisa won't let me!"

(End of Chapter 1)