Charlottesville, VA – Past

    

Through the hills, a small stream wound its way under fences and around boulders, continuing on across from the university and through a low valley; never rushing but always moving, until eventually it swept through a cherry orchard, past a young couple lost in a lazy afternoon during late summer. Near the stream, the shade was cool, and Adam lay stretched out on the ground, his head resting on Sissy’s lap. A few yards away, their shoes and stockings lay where they’d shed them earlier.

His eyes were closed as Sissy ran her fingers lightly through his hair. Gently, she traced the outline of his face down to his jaw then ran a finger over his lips—lips that had touched her so softly, so deeply, awakening hopes and desires she’d never known existed. Intent on memorizing every feature, her gaze lingered on his face until he opened his eyes. He sighed contentedly and Sissy smiled, praying her eyes wouldn’t betray her sadness, but he knew; he always knew. Adam sat up and drew her closer to him.

“What do I have to do to make you happy?” he asked.

Sissy closed her eyes, steeling herself against the pain that threatened to expose her agony. “Only . . . Just tell me this never has to end.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“That’s easy,” he answered with a grin. “It doesn’t have to end. My classes start again soon, but I’ll slip away every chance I get, and . . .”

Sissy couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. “No,” she cried. “It’s . . . it is going to end. There are only a few more days. He’s . . . He’s coming back on Sunday.”

Adam’s brows drew together in confusion. “Who?”

Sissy froze for a moment and then dropped her eyes. “I can’t. I, I don’t know what you’ll think of me?”

“Sissy,” Adam said, reaching out and lifting her chin until her eyes met his. “What do I think of you? I think that you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I think your laugh and your touch make me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt before. I think your voice is the sweetest music ever written, and I don’t think, I know I love you. You can tell me anything; it won’t change the way I feel about you.”

Sissy’s pulse raced through her veins. Love.

“You love me?” she whispered through her tears.

Adam’s answer was a kiss, long and gentle. “Tell me,” he said. “Let me help you.”

And Sissy did. For the next hour, trembling in his arms, she told him of the fear and the darkness. She showed him the scars on her legs and on the back of her neck, and she told him of her Meg. She’d sobbed into his chest like a little child and, wrapped in his arms, she’d felt secure. They were quiet for a long while, the only sound coming from the stream as it continued its journey. Finally, he spoke, and the finality in his voice nearly sent a chill through her.

“You’re not going back there.”

She pulled out of his arms. “I have to. He’d kill me.” Shaking her head, she began to cry again. How would she ever survive losing him? “Oh, Adam, I can’t. I just can’t go back to the way things were. I can’t lose you . . . But, Meg. I can’t leave her there.” She stopped as Adam placed his hands on her shoulders. His eyes were intense, and there was no hesitation in his voice when he spoke.

“Marry me,” he said.

Sissy’s mind began to whirl. I can’t. Didn’t he hear me? But Adam kept talking. “I have a friend that graduated a few years ago. He’s just starting out as a judge. We can go tonight; he’ll marry us. You said your uncle’s not coming back until Sunday. We can get Meg. My grandfather lives in Boston, I know he’d take us in. There’s a great college there, and I can finish my degree.”

Sissy sat still, trying to take in what Adam was saying. He wants to marry me? We can go away? We’ll take Meg? She started to shake her head. This is a dream. Then he kissed her again.

“I don’t want to lose you,” he said, then startled her when he suddenly jumped to his feet and began running from tree to tree, gazing up into them frantically. She was baffled when he suddenly whooped and climbed up one of the smaller trees. He jumped down a moment later and ran back to her. Taking her hand, he placed a cherry there. “For the pleasure of your company,” he said, and his eyes sparkled with sincerity. “Sissy, will you marry me?”

Sissy’s eyes were wide as she looked at the offering in her hand. The cherry was nearly dried up and half eaten, but she clasped her hand tightly around it as she looked into the eyes of the man she . . . loved.