In Love’s Arms

“I’m going to marry you one day.” Beth said to her long time crush Jake. She wore her favorite blue teddy bear shirt. Her four-year-old blue eyes shined in the sun.

“No you’re not, you’re a girl.” Jake said.

the California afternoon wind blew his light brown hair. Jumping off the monkey bars he laughed back to class.

Sitting alone and confused she didn’t know what to do. Beth sat high on the monkey bars crying. How can her future husband just leave like that?

She was going to get him, but how? “I will not let him get away! I won’t! I won’t!”

15 years later:

“I love you, too, Jake.” Hanging up the phone she caught her mom smiling. “What?”

“When is he coming in from France? He’s been there for awhile.” She sat down on her black leather couch. The house was made up of different Indian stuff. On the walls were different dream catchers. Her mother was a full blood Cherokee Indian. She passed away when Beth was eight.

“He has a lot of schooling to do right now. Maybe this Saturday.”

Fixing her short overalls she thought of Jake. Who would have thought they were going to date when she turned five?

“Is he still living in Colorado?” Her mother Kay wore a white tank top with tan pants. And long blonde hair with pretty blue eyes. She was the most beautiful woman on Earth. And Beth is looking like her by the minute.

“Yeah, I hate having a long distance relationship.” She plopped on a leather chair.

“It’s ok baby, you know he loves you more than anything in this world. Love will keep you together.”

Beth could not help but smile. Her mother is and will always be her best friend.

Jake sat in his hotel the school rented for him. School of law. He loved going overseas for everything. But he missed being with Beth. That hurt him the most.

Spending the lonely nights in the hotel made him think of how much it would hurt to spend the rest of his life without her in it.

Getting up off his bed he went into the bathroom. Watching his reflection in the mirror, all he could think about was Beth. He would leave Thursday, and get there Friday night.

Turning off the light he jumped into the cold bed. On a coffee table near his bed rested a frame with them in it. It was taken at a beach about two years ago. It was the best time of their lives.

It was Thursday morning and Beth waited for Jake’s morning phone call. He would call at eight — it was ten.

Beth got out of bed and got her favorite blue tank top. She took off her shirt and screamed at the top of her lungs.

“What? What?” Her mother came rushing into her room. Staring at her naked daughter she saw the lump of her breast. “Does it hurt?”

Beth could only say “No.” Looking at the lump, she cried in pain.

“Let’s get you to the doctor.”

“Ok, let me get dressed.”

Shutting the door behind her, the room became silent. Shaking she put on her shirt, and ran out into the living room.

“Mom, where are my blue shorts?”

“In the dresser, second drawer.”

Finishing getting dressed she hopped into her car. Her red mustang drove like a baby.

they waited for the doctor to come in. Beth could not begin to think she had cancer. As her mind drifted off her cell phone rang.

“Hello?” Her heart skipped a beat, hoping it was Jake.

“Hey, how are you?” He asked out of breath.

“Could be better. Why didn’t you call me this morning?”

“Sorry, school got ahold of me today.”

“Why are you out of breath?” Looking stunned she stared at her mother.