Love Remains

The stars were shining bright in the night sky as Henry and Edith Wilson shared a cup of tea on their back porch. Their hearts were filled with joy as they watched their ten year old Granddaughter run around the yard trying to catch lighting bugs with an old mason jar. Their old farmhouse home on Rosemary Lane was the envy of the neighborhood with perfectly trimmed grass, flower beds that looked like a blessing from Heaven, and a big beautiful oak tree that stood in the middle of their backyard.

Jenny was visiting for the weekend while her parents were away on a business trip. This happened quite often but the Wilson’s didn’t mind because it gave them more time to spend with their darling Angel. Henry reached down to grab another sip of tea and as the sweet warm liquid filled his mouth a thought occurred to him. He quickly looked at Edith and said, “It’s a shame that these young folks today have to live to work.”  Edith knew what he was going to say, so she finished his thought, “I know, in our time we had to work to live.” 

Henry smiled, and put his cup of tea down. “Things have changed so much. We used to work a full day and still have time for fun,” Henry said. Edith nodded her head in agreement. After all, she heard this speech before and she knew it was best to let him finish his line of thinking. This kind of acknowledgment came from decades of being together. 

Realizing the time was growing late Edith called out to Jenny, “Come along now darlin’ it’s time for cake.” 

“Oh...Just a little longer, please!” cried Jenny.

“Mind your Grandma now, and do as she tells you,” Henry said. “You don’t want to let this wonderful carrot cake go to waste now, do you?” 

Jenny didn’t utter another word. Carrot cake was her favorite, complete with mouth watering white frosting that was so moist it would just melt in your mouth. No one could say no to Grandma’s carrot cake. She quickly ran over and sat down at the patio table ready to dig into that delicious goodness. 

Henry rose up and gave a gentle kiss on Jenny’s forehead. Then he walked over to Edith and bent down to give her a kiss on the lips. “I’m off to bed my beautiful ladies,” he said. Edith looked at him and asked, “You’re not going to have any cake?” Henry walked over to the backdoor and said, “No, not tonight. I’m a little tired so I thought I would get a head start for a new day.” He turned around and looked at them both. With a warm smile, he said, “I love you both, good night and sweet dreams.” 

   Edith looked as though she saw a ghost, and Jenny was quick to ask, “What’s wrong Grandma?” Her attention turned to Jenny after a long moment of silence. “Oh it’s nothing dear. It’s just not like him to go to bed so early.” She watched as Jenny devoured the cake. With white frosted lips Jenny asked,  “Can I ask you something Grandma?” 

“You can ask me anything you want, darlin’,” she said. 

“How did you and Grandpa meet?” Jenny asked.

Edith raised her eyes to look at the glowing blanket of stars and said, “Well darling, we met back in High School…”

At that moment, time seemed to stand still as reflections of old memories began to flow back to her. The rush of emotions overtook her for a moment. A single tear began to flow down her wrinkled face. “What’s wrong Grandma?” asked Jenny.

“Nothing is wrong darlin’...I’m just remembering fond memories.” 

Jenny, now rocking back and forth in her chair said, “Well, tell me. I really want to know.” Edith’s eyes met Jenny’s as she began her story:

“It was the late fifties, and I remember one particular day where I was running late for class. I couldn’t get my locker open, because it had a tendency to stick. It took me several minutes, but eventually I got it opened. I quickly grabbed my books and a strange note fell to the floor.”

“What did it say Grandma?” Jenny asked. 

“I’m getting there if you would just let me finish, darlin’,” 

Edith sat back in her chair and placed her hands on her lap. She continued with her story. “I grabbed the note, and rushed off down the hall to get to class. I was late again, and after a good lecture from Mr. Harpin I took my seat. The class was dragging on, so I decided to read this mysterious note.”

My dearest Edith,

Like the rising sun, you have emblazoned my heart. You’re beautiful eyes transport me to another world where only love exists. Won’t you join me there? 

I passionately yearn for your tender embrace, a powerful kiss, and to feel the warmth of your grace. Won’t you join me there?

Love Remains.

“That’s a very good note Grandma,” Jenny said, “did Grandpa write that to you?” Edith sighed deeply and leaned forward. “Are you going to let me finish this story or not, darlin’?” Jenny sat back in her chair and crossed her arms, “Yes, Grandma.” 

“My mind started to race with excitement. I had no idea who wrote it. Everyday I found a new letter hidden in my locker that was equally as brilliant as the first one. They were all signed Love Remains.”

Jenny interrupted, “What did they say?”

“Jenny! Do you want me to finish this story or not?”

“OK!!” Jenny yelled.

“I don’t remember what they all said, but they were all beautiful. I suspected that Jack Miller had written them, because he was the best writer in our English class. I didn’t know anyone else who could write like that.

Everyday at English class I found myself staring at Jack. He noticed my eyes on him a few times, and I think it made him feel uncomfortable because he kept giving me weird looks. So the thought occurred to me that maybe he didn’t write those notes afterall. My mind started to race again trying to figure out who wrote them.

One day Carrie, one of the school bullies was giving me a hard time. I had just opened my locker, and she snuck up behind me and slammed it shut. I was so angry that we started to fight. We both fell to the ground pulling each other’s hair when a boy named Ben came to my rescue. He pulled us apart before things could get worse.

Ben was completely crazy about me ever since that day. He saw himself as my big hero. I spent some time with him, but quickly realized that he was too stupid to write those beautiful letters. He thought he owned me, and that I was his girl. One day after school I decided to confront him about this. We got into a big argument and he said I was a loser, so I slapped him across the face as hard as I could. He got very angry and shoved me to the ground. I was afraid because he was still coming towards me.

At that moment a handsome young man tackled Ben to the ground and punched his lights out. He looked at me and reached for my hand to help me up. As my hand touched his I felt sparks. An instant connection. As my eyes met his he said, It’s alright, love still remains. It was Henry, your Grandpa, and ever since that moment we have loved each other with a passion that the cold winters of life could never extinguish. Even to this day.”

Jenny clapped her hands and said, “That was a wonderful story. I loved it.”

“I’m glad you did darlin’,” Edith said. 

Jenny thought for a moment and asked, “What ever happened to Ben?”

Edith laughed and said, “Ben spent the rest of that school year missing his front teeth. He was picked on by the other kids so badly that his parents put him in a different school. I never saw him again.”

Jenny started laughing hysterically. Edith waited for her to calm down and said, “Come on darlin’ let’s get you ready for bed.” She took Jenny into the guest room making sure that she brushed her teeth and was all cleaned up and ready for bed. Edith tucked her in, wishing her a very good night. 

When Edith went into her own bedroom, she found Henry passed out on the floor. She screamed so loud that Jenny came running in. “Call 9-1-1, right now!!” Edith cried. A few minutes later the EMT’s arrived and rushed Henry to the hospital. He was alive but barely. 

Henry arrived at the hospital unconscious, and was struggling to breath. The doctor’s told Edith and Jenny that Henry had suffered a heart attack. Edith stayed by his side the entire night and cried herself to sleep in a green uncomfortable chair that sat next to his bed. She felt scared and alone, not knowing if he was going to pull through. Meanwhile, Jenny called her parents and fell asleep in the waiting area that was close by. 

Edith awoke suddenly to a nurse telling her she needed to leave the room because Henry was suffering another heart attack. They rushed her out of the room, and Edith made her way to Jenny. She had a sense of dread as the minutes ticked by. It was like an evil foreign presence that was sucking the life from her soul. Moments later, Doctor Lee came out to talk with them. 

“Is he alright?” Edith asked.

Doctor Lee looked at her with an overwhelming sense of emotion. “I’m afraid he didn’t make it.”

Edith refused to accept the truth, and cried out, “Let me see him, let me go to him. Please...let me see him.”

Doctor Lee took her hand and led her back into the room. “We did everything we could...If you need anything please let us know,”  he said.

Doctor Lee placed his hand on her shoulder and said, “I’m sorry for your loss,” and left her alone to grieve. 

Edith looked over at Henry. He looked like he was sleeping, but he was devoid of all life. She slowly walked towards him and grabbed his hand. She was overcome with emotion. She knelt down on the floor, kissed his hand and prayed.

“Please God...don’t take him away from me now. I love him. I can’t live without him.” 

She couldn’t find any more words to say. She pulled Henry’s hand to her face and sobbed. At that moment, Edith felt a warm rush of air and a soft whisper that sounded like Henry’s voice. Love remains.  

She stopped crying and opened her eyes. She felt Henry squeeze her hand. Edith looked at Henry’s face as he opened his eyes, and love still remains.

The End

Daniel R. Hayes