Forever --Preview

          Ellie bit her lip and untied the bow, a loose strand of her long, straight blonde hair fell in front of her face. Then came the package. After all of the ribbons were taken off, she then ripped open the gift to reveal a black box with the word “Kays” elegantly written across the middle.
          She looked up at Sam and could tell by the look on his face that he was eager for her to open it. With gentle hands, he tucked the strand of hair neatly behind her ear and then looked back at the box.
          Ellie opened the lid and revealed a white gold cross with a single sapphire embedded in the middle. Sapphire for her birthday which was September 24. Again, Ellie looked at Sam and lip synced a thank you with tears filling her eyes.
          Sam took the box from her fragile hands and unfastened the necklace from the stand. Carefully, he reached over her head, placed the necklace around her neck, and clipped it in the back.
          Together they sat for the rest of the afternoon under the big maple tree in the woods until the sun shone its last few rays and the sky was dark.
          To Ellie the cool air felt good. It was her favorite time of year. The breeze was silent yet it rustled the trees. She shivered slightly as Sam leaned back to rest against the tree, no longer giving her his body heat.
          A single star appeared in the sky through the trees and Ellie pointed. “Look ”
         “It’s beautiful, but is no match against you.” Sam recited. Ellie instantly recognized it from a book they were required to read to pass Junior year at high school.
          Ellie leaned back to rest upon Sam and breathes in his scents, memorizing the freshness of his aftershave.
          Suddenly, Sam pulled her up and put his hands over her eyes. “No peeking. I want to show you something.” Sam led her down a narrow path, guided by the light of the three quarter moon.
          Finally, she was told to open her eyes. A large field lay outstretched ahead of them and every few seconds the fireflies would send off a spark of light.
          “It’s...”
          “Beautiful, I know.” Sam finished for her. He stepped into the moonlight and looked into her dark green eyes. “I promise you that we’ll be together forever.” They both leaned in and shared a sweet kiss. Ellie knew that Sam meant every one of his words, and she believed him too.
          But that was the night that Sam died.