Childhood Lovers

Childhood Lovers. Epilogue Contest Winning Entry - Abbyjohnson

Here it is, the last chapter you all have been waiting for. As you all know, the story kind of ended abruptly, leaving you all hanging. Well, it was for a reason. I thought it would be fun to have my fans write the final wrap up chapter for themselves. And after reviewing and reading each entry closely, I chose my winner! Congrats Abby Johnson! Her chapter really touched me, wrapped up the story perfectly, and she incorporated my writing style and technique which I really admired! Another thing that I loved about this entry was that it was different! She was the only person that played out the rest of their relationship year by year, instead of skipping five years. Not that anything was wrong with that, but it was refreshing! She's a wonderful writer, and this chapter is all of HER work, as it belongs to HER! Go check out her work too! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. I know some of you have already taken the liberty to read her entry via her page, but here it is for those who have not! Please feel free to check out the other entries as well, because they are just as amazing and deserve some recognition! Without further adue....

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If there's one thing that I have learned in the past few years, it is that everything happens for a reason. Sometimes, I felt powerless and I had to wonder "why do these things happen to me?" but I realized that crying over the past won't change it and worrying about the future wouldn't make it turn out perfectly. There's only one way to live life with total certainty, and that is to take it day by day. You can't drive looking out of the rearview mirror, you have to keep moving forward. You never know which day could be your last.

A month before the end of my senior year, I received news that John, the man who loved me as much as my own father, had passed away. I originally didn't want to go back to California for his funeral, I didn't want to have to see Chase. After his unannounced visit to Connecticut, our relationship was left unclear.

"I love you too much to mess up again," he said when I dropped him off at the airport.

I spent months pondering what exactly he meant by that, afraid to ask for fear of total rejection. I finally retired the incessant worry after I decided my goal should be to finish high school, not to fix my relationship with Chase. I pushed my selfishness aside, and packed my bag. I owed it to John.

At the funeral, I was a mess. Between my bouts of hysteria, I saw Chase out of the corner of my eye. He was seated by his mother, holding her hand while she cried. He wore the expression of a worn man, someone who had been through far too much. When he saw me looking, I gave him a weak, sad smile. Handsome as ever, he nodded lamentably in response as a single tear rolled down his cheek.

When I returned home, I finished out my last month of high school. I graduated and then spent the entire summer working full-time to distract myself from being flooded with memories of the previous summer.

When fall arrived, I was enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles. It was a tough decision, but I knew that I wanted to live in California from the day I arrived for the first time, just over a year before. When things with Chase went sour, I dropped my dreams of college there completely. I couldn't bear the idea of living so close to the place where my life changed forever. After some soul searching, I knew I couldn't let a boy stop me from living my dreams.

By spring I had a boyfriend, and after I got over my trust issues, I moved in with him by the following fall. Now, I was in my second year of college, working on a major in early childhood education and my life seemed to be falling into place.

"Good morning," a deep, husky voice said behind me. "Have you seen my Economics textbook anywhere?"

"Check the living room," I said, smiling. His blonde hair was messy from just waking up, giving him a hot, disheveled look. I felt my heart leap as he turned around. I couldn't believe this boy was mine. He was so... perfect. "I'll get started on breakfast, okay?" I turned around and started searching the refrigerator for eggs.

"Oh, Hayden," he said. "I wanted to ask you something else."

"Sure," I replied, without even turning around. "Go for it." I felt a tap on my back so I spun around quickly. When I saw him on one knee I immediately burst into happy tears.

"Hayden, I know I am not perfect, and I have messed up more times than I can count, but I promise I will love you everyday for the rest of my life, if you'll have me. Will you marry me?"

I looked at the elegant ring in the box, and then met his beautiful, blue eyes. "Of course!" I exclaimed. I was smiling like a huge dork as he slipped the ring on my finger. I helped him up off of the kitchen floor before pulling him into an embrace.

"I love you," he whispered into my ear.

"I love you more, Chase." I replied.

"That's impossible," He laughed. "Nobody could ever love anyone more than I love you." He pulled my face toward his and kissed me passionately.

We were the success story; the childhood lovers who had once gone their separate ways, only to have their paths cross once again.

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beautiful right? well, that's the end...officially =/ you've all been great, and so supportive of my story. i've been truly grateful and blesssed to have such amazing people admire my work! it's brought me such joy delivering a story and hopefully touching you all! i love you all, and I hope that even though the story is over, you will still love me!