The Loss of Love: Chapter 1

The Loss of Love
Chapter 1: A Family Fallen Apart and a Love Everlasting

They both looked out over the field, absorbed in thought, but too afraid to say anything. They both knew that this may eventually be what ends their relationship. Taking the next step was necessary, but they were both reluctant to do so.

She stood next to him and wondered what was going through his mind. She knew he was hurting, she could feel it in the tremble of his fingers locked in hers. She wanted to ease his pain; she wanted him to be happy again. She wanted him to let her help. She asked him how he was feeling.

He stood next to her and said nothing. He didn’t know how to tell her. He didn’t know what to say. How could he tell her how badly he hurt inside? How could he let her know how it felt? She wouldn’t understand. She couldn’t. So instead of telling her everything, he turned and walked away.

-------------1 week earlier---------------

“Jonathan!” The voice rang across the empty hall. He knew who it was. No one else called him by his birth name. Everyone else either called him John or Stucky – a play off of his last name. He gradually turned around trying not to show the rolling of his eyes.

“What do you want Beverly?” He asked, forcing himself not to turn and run.

“I think Mother is the correct name to use in this instance, Jonathan.” She replied, coldly, letting it be known that she was not up for his rebellious antics. “Since you will be at your father’s house for the remainder of the month I would just like you to inform him that I will want to know everything that he does with you. Where you two go to dinner or lunch, what games you go to, what movies you watch. I want to know everything.”

“I think it’d be easier if you asked him yourself, Mother.” John stated, putting more emphasis than was necessary on the last word. “If you had a better relationship with him, you wouldn’t be relaying messages through your only son. In fact, I think it would be best…”

“What you think is of no consequence.” She scolded, cutting him off. “You will inform your father of my request or else you will not be spending anytime with him this month. I know some of the best lawyers in the town and I can very easily get his visitation rights taken away. You should be grateful that I am allowing you to see that bastard. Now if there is nothing else you have to say, then I think you should go to your class.” Content that she got the last word, she turned around and briskly walked down the hall.

He cursed himself. He should have been braver. Tell her that the only lawyers she knew were the ones that she screwed on a regular basis. Tell her that the day he called her mother was the day she acted like one. Tell her that because he was nineteen visitation laws did not apply to him. Tell her anything. Disappointed in himself, he continued his walk to class.

--------------Later that day--------------

He packed up his bags and shoved them into the trunk of his car. He was going to enjoy this reprieve from his mother as long as he could. He had made sure that he would be on the road well before his mother got home from her work as a waitress. She got off at seven, and he was packed well before six o’clock. He slammed the trunk down and taped a piece of paper onto the front door of the house.

Mother,

I decided to leave earlier than we had planned so that I could drop by Melanie’s house. I’ll call you when I get to Dad’s house. I love you.

Jon

He knew that she would be pissed at him. He knew that the reason she wanted him to leave at seven was so that she could yell at him a few more times before he left. He also knew, however, that it would be easier for him to handle her anger over the phone than it would be in person. Because of this, he made the decision to leave early.

He wasn’t lying about driving to Melanie’s house. After all, he had planned to go there regardless of when he left. She was his girlfriend and when he was at his mother’s house, he spent most of his time with her.

The drive was only twenty minutes away, but for Jon it felt like an eternity. He knew this much. A life without her was a life not worth living. He was sure that nothing could happen that would make him ever want to be away from her.

He sped up her driveway, screeching the car to a halt right before her parent’s expensive SUV. He rang the doorbell and raced past her mother when she answered the door, pausing only briefly to give a greeting. Her parents were well acquainted with their daughter’s relationship, and new that it was for the best if they didn’t interfere with it. In the simplest terms, the two of them were in love.

“Mel!” He shouted gleefully as he burst into the room. “I’m free of her for a month!”

She smiled warmly as he jumped onto her bed and lay out on top of her covers. She loved him more than anything. His happiness was her goal in life. She knew that she would do anything for him.

“I’m not sure she realizes how awful it is to live in the absence of your presence.” She spoke in gentle voice that would make any angel envious. “By the way, my parents want you to stay for dinner. I told them that you needed to go to your father’s, but they insisted.”

“Of course I’ll stay!” He earnestly shouted down to her parents. “I’d love nothing more than to have Mrs. Ringle’s meatloaf.” There was only one thing that could make him postpone his meeting with his father, and that was spending more time with Melanie.

A comfortable silence broke over the room as they both admired each other’s appearance: Jon’s jet black hair and green eyes, Melanie’s golden blonde hair and blue eyes. They were certain that there was not a couple on earth that was more in love.

Dinner passed by uneventfully. Pleasant conversation was made as her parents allowed no display of affection at the dinner table. After dinner, Jon kissed Melanie and said goodbye to her parents. He promised her that he’d call her as soon as he got to his father’s house.

As he got into his car and left he could feel the emptiness inside him where his heart use to be. He realized then, that his heart will forever remain with Melanie.