| "Snow in July" |
| ����������� ?Justin, where are we going?? I ask the man in front of me as I am dragged through a forest path, worn by animal tracks and bike skids.� He says nothing, but presses his long, rough index finger to my lips as if to say, 'you?ll see.? ����������� We round a small bank of trees and his grip on my hand tightens.� I silently wonder if I would?ve still ended up here had I not consented to follow him.� As he excitedly hurries me along, the snow begins to once again fall, as the air around chills and I wish that I had worn a heavier jacket.� He never notices this though, as he continues to pull me through the trees and small plants, until the sound of rushing water could be heard.� 'That?s odd.? I think to myself.� 'It?s a� freezing 32 degrees, and everything else is frozen.? ����������� That doesn?t matter though.� We round another corner, and I stop dead in my tracks.� Justin turns and smiles.� It?s gorgeous.� The river water is streaming as it ebbs through the rocks and over a short fall.� There are small white lilies poking their way through the snow.� Its all so breathtaking. ����������� ?Remember?? Justin taunts as he leads me to a seat in a snow drift.� Of course I remember, how could I forget?� All I can do is nod as memories flood my mind.� It was summer, July, July fourth, Independence day. I remember it all like yesterday. !*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! ����������� I had just broken up with a man I thought I would be with forever. Correction, a boy, he was no man.� As I wandered through the trees, I began to sob.� I was alone, and no one had followed me so it was okay for me to cry.� I could never show anyone that I was weak.� I looked around and realized I?d never been to that part of the woods before, but I didn?t care.� I didn?t want to go back yet, or ever for that matter.� I plopped down on the side of a river and pushed my bare feet under the water.� I adjusted my top, and laid down backwards, reveling in the fact that I was finally alone.� I hadn?t been there for very long when I heard a noise.� Sitting up abruptly, I looked around.� Chalking it up to paranoia, I laid back down. ����������� ?Hello?? I opened my eyes to see a pair of crystalline blue eyes staring down at me.� ?What are you doing here?? I sat up slowly, retying my top.� I never removed it, but I had untied it to lay down flat. ����������� ?Hi.� I was just relaxing, away from it all, and now I?m leaving, so bye.? I stammered, hopping to my feet and beginning to cautiously back away. ����������� ?Wait, don?t leave.� You seem to be in the same boat I am.� My name is Justin.� I live back in town.? he extended his hand gentlemanly, and I prudentially took it.� He pulled me towards him and we sat on the river bank.� I watched as he pulled his shoes and socks off.� He was dressed in some very expensive clothes, a tux none the less.� He laughed at my surprised expression.� ?No, I?m not running from an engagement.� My mom?s getting remarried.? he chuckled.� I listened to his laugh, it was sweet and gentle. ����������� ?I?m Kiliki Mikala.? It was my turn to laugh, at his confusion.� ?It?s Hawaiian.� It mean Christy Michelle.? he nodded. ����������� ?Which do you prefer?? he asked, slipping his feet in the water.� I shrugged and laid back down.� ?I think Kiliki sounds prettier.? he smile.� ?So Kiliki, what brings you way out here?� You?re obviously out here for a reason, Lord knows, I am.? I shrugged again and turned to my side to face him. ����������� ?Let?s start with you.� I mean, why are you out here?? I asked him.� He was so innocent looking, so vulnerable.� ?You got a girlfriend you dodging or something?� Maybe a hatred for your step-dad?? I retied my top strings, because they were sliding.� He reached over and I could fill his soft fingers pull the strings into a bow. ����������� ?I?m here because I don?t want a new step-family.� My dad got remarried and now my mom.� I?m gonna be leaving soon though, so it really doesn?t matter.? he took a deep breath and laid down.� ?Oh, and no, I don?t have a girlfriend.� I thought I new everyone in town, but I guess I don?t.? ����������� ?Okay, where to start?� I know, I don?t have a boyfriend.� That?s a start.? he laughed as I continued.� ?My parents hate me.� My dad?s the sheriff, and he beats my mom.� He tried to beat me, but I always seem to get out.� That?s why I?m here, to get away.? he nodded and yawned.� ?Rough morning?? he smiled as he put his arms around me. ����������� ?Try life, but I think things are gonna start looking up.? he pulled me into his arms.� I nodded and relaxed against him, sighing as we fell asleep. *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* ����������� ?Justin, this is where we first met.? he nods, enveloping me in a hug.� I kiss him gently on the cheek wondering if he remembers what he did when we left each other that first day.� I stand and shake myself off.� 'Could he forget?� He?s never forgotten anything before.? I made my way over to ?our? tree. ����������� ?You remembered.? he whispered seductively in my ear, wrapping his tan, thin arms around me and pulling me against him.� I reach up and use my fingernails to pull off and he helped me pull away what was left to reveal what he wrote to me so many years ago. *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* ����������� I remember waking up and rolling over, expecting to see Justin.� I opened my eyes, and he wasn?t there, but his blue dress coat was.� Something in the distance caught my eye.� I got up and walked toward the willow tree on the edge of the clearing.� Carved into the bark of the tree was a simple message. ����������� Kiliki, ����������������������� Meet me here tomorrow.� I love you, ���������������������������������������������������������������������� Justin. ����������� I smiled and picked up his coat.� I was definitively coming back.� I walked home after that, it was getting kinda late. !*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! ����������� ?Justin, why are we here?� You know I remember, and I know you do, so why am I out here, freezing my ass off, just so we can reminisce?? he hugged me tightly. ����������� ?Baby, you cold?? I nodded.� ?Then, we can go inside, but will you answer something for me?? he pulled himself around so I could see him, never letting me go. ����������� ?Sure, sweetie, anything.?� I nodded, he looked so cute standing there. ����������� ?Babydoll, will you marry me?? he knelt down, with my hands in his. ����������� ?Justin, of course I will.� I love you.� We?ve spent five years of our life side by side already, and I would be honored to spend the rest of it with you.? I knelt down to his level and hugged him roughly.� Reaching down I grabbed a fist full of snow and smashed it in his face.� Jumping to my feet, I screamed as he chased me all the way back to his house.� It?s funny how sometimes it can actually snow in July. |