It was a beautiful word ... safe ... comforting ... reassuring ...
"Forever ..."
High school sweethearts said it to each other and meant it. They kept meaning it through wedding vows and straight on into parenthood ... blissfully unaware of evil intentions hidden behind the deceitfully pleasant face of a powerful family member who was always lurking in the shadows ...
Cracks appeared. Confusion seeped through the cracks. Strengths ebbed and bigger hurts were waiting to happen up ahead.
"Forever" no longer fell easily from their lips.
They salvaged what they could.
It wasn't enough.
Gloating sounds of smug satisfaction came from the shadows as two broken hearts admitted defeat.
But ... before walking away from the tear-stained wreckage on that long-ago day, one final promise was exchanged ... to cherish the memory of their love always.
It was a promise that held firm.
Forever.
email: MelindaGerner@yahoo.com
