1.“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_fouryearold_blue_eyes_shined_in_the_sun.
2.“No_you’re_not,_you’re_a_girl.”_Jake_said.
3.The_California_afternoon_wind_blew_his_light_brown_hair._Jumping_off_the_monkey_bars_he_laughed_back_to_class.
4.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?
5.She_was_going_to_get_him,_but_how?_“I_will_not_let_him_get_away!_I_won’t!_I_won’t!”
6.15_years_later:
7.“I_love_you,_too,_Jake.”_Hanging_up_the_phone_she_caught_her_mom_smiling._“What?”
8.“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.
9.“He_has_a_lot_of_schooling_to_do_right_now._Maybe_this_Saturday.”
10.Fixing_her_short_overalls_she_thought_of_Jake._Who_would_have_thought_they_were_going_to_date_when_she_turned_five?
11.“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.
12.“Yeah,_I_hate_having_a_long_distance_relationship.”_She_plopped_on_a_leather_chair.
13.“It’s_ok_baby,_you_know_he_loves_you_more_than_anything_in_this_world._Love_will_keep_you_together.”
14.Beth_could_not_help_but_smile._Her_mother_is_and_will_always_be_her_best_friend.
15.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.
16.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._
17.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.
18.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.
19.It_was_Thursday_morning_and_Beth_waited_for_Jake’s_morning_phone_call._He_would_call_at_eight—it_was_ten.
20.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.
21.“What?_What?”_Her_mother_came_rushing_into_her_room._Staring_at_her_naked_daughter_she_saw_the_lump_of_her_._“Does_it_hurt?”
22.Beth_could_only_say_“No.”_Looking_at_the_lump,_she_cried_in_pain.
23.“Let’s_get_you_to_the_doctor.”
24.“Ok,_let_me_get_dressed.”
25.Shutting_the_door_behind_her,_the_room_became_silent._Shaking_she_put_on_her_shirt,_and_ran_out_into_the_living_room.
26.“Mom,_where_are_my_blue_shorts?”
27.“In_the_dresser,_second_drawer.”
28.Finishing_getting_dressed_she_hopped_into_her_car._Her_red_mustang_drove_like_a_baby.
29.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.
30.“Hello?”_Her_heart_skipped_a_beat,_hoping_it_was_Jake.
31.“Hey,_how_are_you?”_He_asked_out_of_breath.
32.“Could_be_better._Why_didn’t_you_call_me_this_morning?”
33.“Sorry,_school_got_a_hold_of_me_today.”