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Childhood Sweethearts
K F Stewart
Mysteriously drawn to him, she recalled their first encounter, whence a deep, lasting love would blossom from the moment wherein their spirits collided. He captivated her heart from the very instant her eyes met his, spurning a childhood sweetheart love that would last a lifetime. Throughout their early elementary school years, it seemed that almost every time she turned around, there he stood with those gorgeous blue eyes, penetrating her very being. What exactly was it about their every encounter that so entranced her young, fragile heart?
She remembered how he'd teased her, as young boys of around the age of ten often do when quite shy and apprehensive, yet determined to get closer to the target of their affection. In her innocence she did not realize that his young and tender heart was equally mesmerized by her bright smile, sweet spirit and enchanting brown eyes.
Through the years, she would often revisit a soft, spring May Day celebration at the elementary school they both attended.
“Hey! Lemon Head!" gasping, she glanced over her left shoulder to see him walking closely behind her. Her eyes focused upon his dimpled grin and smiling, blue eyes, which contained a hint of mischief, partially hidden beneath his long, dirty-blonde hair that lay in disarray.
If she had only known that his feeble attempts at trying to get her attention were because he thought she was the sweetest, prettiest girl in school and wanted so desperately to meet her, but his pathetic approach and choice of words had not helped. Quickening her step, she tried in vain to ignore him, staring straight ahead pretending not to hear his hurtful words.
"If he only knew," she thought. Aside from the name calling, she adored everything about him.
One warm afternoon while walking home from school, she spotted him joking around with some other boys. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a book of matches, ran toward her and began flicking lighted matches at her hair. In his ignorance, he did not realize how his foolishness had nearly broken her heart. She ran all the way home weeping, yet over time her love for him only grew stronger.
She would not see him again until their Junior High School years, whereupon attending the ninth grade, she'd heard news of him which both stunned and deeply saddened her. Rumors revealed he sustained serious injuries due to his being a victim of a hit and run driver.
Shortly thereafter, she'd somehow found her way to his hospital room. In her shyness, she stood for a very long time near the doorway at the foot of his bed, not saying a word. She tried to hide the tears welling up in her eyes, while focusing on his weak frame, and the various types of medical equipment surrounding him. She then spoke his name out loud for the first time. "Are you OK Josh? I'm so sorry you were hurt.'
وو
Upon hearing her sweet voice, he glanced up. His eyes brightened, instantly connecting with her soft brown ones. After a few moments of silent reflection, he responded feebly, “Hey, thanks for coming to see me. I've got this metal pin in my hip now," his eyes undeniably filled with love for her. For the first time in his life he felt a twinge of mystery at the realization of her love and affection for him. Leaving the hospital that evening she felt sadness at having seen her beloved in such a state, yet at the same time an overwhelming joy washed over her, knowing that their unspoken love for each other had finally been shared.
These childhood sweethearts would not see or hear from each other again, for many years and miles would come between them. Their inevitable destinies would lead them in different directions. They each would marry another and have children and grandchildren. She never forgot him and spoke often of him to her children.
She had become a writer and one winter's morning while typing away at her PC she received an e-mail. Astonished, she read, "I've been looking for you for a very long time. I found you through an online classmate locator service." He went on to share how he'd received two purple hearts during the Vietnam War and was now retired from the Postal Service. In one of his last e-mails to her he shared how he'd always loved her. He had much news to share of his family. They spoke back and forth, reminiscing about their school years. He thanked her for being his friend and for visiting him in the hospital. "I had no friends at school. You were the only one in the whole school who visited me after my accident."
Then one morning, through her tears she read:
"I KNOW, JOSH and YOU WERE OLD SCHOOL FRIENDS AND HAVE BEEN E-MAILING EACH OTHER. I HAVE BAD NEWS, JOSH PASSED AWAY. He's suffered a HEART-ATTACK. I WILL MISS HIM BADLY. THANKS FOR BEING HIS
K F Stewart
Mysteriously drawn to him, she recalled their first encounter, whence a deep, lasting love would blossom from the moment wherein their spirits collided. He captivated her heart from the very instant her eyes met his, spurning a childhood sweetheart love that would last a lifetime. Throughout their early elementary school years, it seemed that almost every time she turned around, there he stood with those gorgeous blue eyes, penetrating her very being. What exactly was it about their every encounter that so entranced her young, fragile heart?
She remembered how he'd teased her, as young boys of around the age of ten often do when quite shy and apprehensive, yet determined to get closer to the target of their affection. In her innocence she did not realize that his young and tender heart was equally mesmerized by her bright smile, sweet spirit and enchanting brown eyes.
Through the years, she would often revisit a soft, spring May Day celebration at the elementary school they both attended.
“Hey! Lemon Head!" gasping, she glanced over her left shoulder to see him walking closely behind her. Her eyes focused upon his dimpled grin and smiling, blue eyes, which contained a hint of mischief, partially hidden beneath his long, dirty-blonde hair that lay in disarray.
If she had only known that his feeble attempts at trying to get her attention were because he thought she was the sweetest, prettiest girl in school and wanted so desperately to meet her, but his pathetic approach and choice of words had not helped. Quickening her step, she tried in vain to ignore him, staring straight ahead pretending not to hear his hurtful words.
"If he only knew," she thought. Aside from the name calling, she adored everything about him.
One warm afternoon while walking home from school, she spotted him joking around with some other boys. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a book of matches, ran toward her and began flicking lighted matches at her hair. In his ignorance, he did not realize how his foolishness had nearly broken her heart. She ran all the way home weeping, yet over time her love for him only grew stronger.
She would not see him again until their Junior High School years, whereupon attending the ninth grade, she'd heard news of him which both stunned and deeply saddened her. Rumors revealed he sustained serious injuries due to his being a victim of a hit and run driver.
Shortly thereafter, she'd somehow found her way to his hospital room. In her shyness, she stood for a very long time near the doorway at the foot of his bed, not saying a word. She tried to hide the tears welling up in her eyes, while focusing on his weak frame, and the various types of medical equipment surrounding him. She then spoke his name out loud for the first time. "Are you OK Josh? I'm so sorry you were hurt.'
وو
Upon hearing her sweet voice, he glanced up. His eyes brightened, instantly connecting with her soft brown ones. After a few moments of silent reflection, he responded feebly, “Hey, thanks for coming to see me. I've got this metal pin in my hip now," his eyes undeniably filled with love for her. For the first time in his life he felt a twinge of mystery at the realization of her love and affection for him. Leaving the hospital that evening she felt sadness at having seen her beloved in such a state, yet at the same time an overwhelming joy washed over her, knowing that their unspoken love for each other had finally been shared.
These childhood sweethearts would not see or hear from each other again, for many years and miles would come between them. Their inevitable destinies would lead them in different directions. They each would marry another and have children and grandchildren. She never forgot him and spoke often of him to her children.
She had become a writer and one winter's morning while typing away at her PC she received an e-mail. Astonished, she read, "I've been looking for you for a very long time. I found you through an online classmate locator service." He went on to share how he'd received two purple hearts during the Vietnam War and was now retired from the Postal Service. In one of his last e-mails to her he shared how he'd always loved her. He had much news to share of his family. They spoke back and forth, reminiscing about their school years. He thanked her for being his friend and for visiting him in the hospital. "I had no friends at school. You were the only one in the whole school who visited me after my accident."
Then one morning, through her tears she read:
"I KNOW, JOSH and YOU WERE OLD SCHOOL FRIENDS AND HAVE BEEN E-MAILING EACH OTHER. I HAVE BAD NEWS, JOSH PASSED AWAY. He's suffered a HEART-ATTACK. I WILL MISS HIM BADLY. THANKS FOR BEING HIS