2Until We Meet Again By Lauren Harper
Prologue (in the present)
My window is cracked slightly and the sweet smell of roses fills the room as a late summer breeze slips through the open window and rustles the sheer laces curtains, lifting them so they dance in the gentle wind, swirling and swaying to a silent music. I close my eyes and feel the breeze blowing my hair in little whips across my face. I take deep breath and open my eyes again to watch my sisters and brother playing in the backyard below me. I smile when I hear their laughter, and run my hand through my hair. My eyes dart across the street where I see Josh's car, parked in front of my house. I watch him starting at something I can't see. He looks so beautiful, so happy and I smile, looking at the face I have known for so long, the face I love so much. He glances up and his eyes catch mine, he waves and I smile. I hold up five fingers and mouth, "Five Minutes." He smiles and me and shakes his head. I take a deep breath feeling the butterflies and the breathlessness I get when he looks at me. I laugh and whisper, "He actually takes my breath away." I feel so happy, so alive. I turn to leave the room and glance at myself in the mirror. My long hair hangs down past my shoulders, it is a deep brown almost ashen color with blond highlights on it that shine in the sunlight, I am wearing a spaghetti- strapped gold cotton sundress that stops just above my knees. The dress brings out my eyes; they are green gold in color. I glance down at my shoes, there a thick strap over the top of my foot that is soft beige and is adorned with gold rhinestones. My toes, painted gold to match my dress, peek out from the shoes. I smile as I grab my small purse, and head out my bedroom door. I walk down the stairs where my mom is standing in the kitchen, leaning over the stove stirring something. I walk over and kiss her on the cheek and tell her I'll be back later that night, sometime after dinner. My stomach does a flip-flop as I reach out and grab the doorknob; I turn it in my hand and pull the door open. The sunlight fills the room, and the warmth of it kisses my skin as I step into the backyard and cut two yellow roses from the rose bush beside my parent's bedroom window. I wave goodbye to my brother and my two sisters as I walk toward the gate and step into the front yard. I see Josh standing next to my dad shuffling nervously as my dad shows him the yard, pointing out the different plants. He stops when he sees me, and Josh's eyes catch mine again and I stare into his cool blue eyes, allowing my self to get lost in their depths. I motion for him to come and he smiles and starts walking toward the car. I wave good-bye to my dad before climbing into the passenger seat and kiss Josh on the cheek, he stares at me for a second and I can see how much he loves me. "Thank you for doing this," I whisper trying to say so much at once, thanking him for being there over the past year, really for being there for me my whole life, for being my strength, for loving me. I know he can hear it in my voice as it quivers, and I want to say more but I don't know what, I can't find the words so I stare into his eyes, hoping he understands it all. He reaches out and touches my face, running his thumb across my cheek tenderly, "I know," he whispers back, "It's alright" I feel tears pool in my eyes, "Thank you" I murmur again, as he puts the car in gear and begins to drive off. I watch as we turn out of the neighborhood and head toward the highway, and my mind wanders back, back to the year before and the reason we are going where we are, the reason we are where we are. . .