• I’m perfectly fine on my own… perfectly fine by myself. All I need is God. He is with me, and he fills me up, and I know so well that he will never leave me. And yet… there’s something else that we search for in this world, with or without Him. For some reason there’s still this stinging pain in my chest, a feeling that makes my heart and my stomach empty… might it have been better if you never entered my world? If He hadn’t put you there… would I be better off? In the same sense… He gives, and He may take away, a lesson I am now so painfully familiar with.

    “In the world, there’s not another for me…

    Without you I don’t know that I could be,

    Oh I know I couldn’t be, couldn’t be…

    God’s gift to me, it’s in your eyes…

    I think you know, you realize,

    Oh… where would I be if you were to leave?

    You are there… here, my love, my peace…”

    Justin sang under the tree, strumming away at his guitar. Rachel looked on at him in pure adoration. On top of the green hill, under the grand oak and the sun setting in the sky, the young couple sat content, peaceful, grateful. He leaned back on the rough bark of the tree, and she laid her head on his shoulder. Justin smiled and closed his eyes, taking in the scent of her beautiful sandy hair, her warm body resting on his and a fluttering in his stomach… his heart practically beating out of his chest.

    “Thank you,” Rachel said, closing her eyes too and basking in Justin’s glow.

    “Thank You,” Justin said, his eyes raised toward the sky. He set his guitar on the soft grass and relaxed his entire body.

    “Justin… do you remember now?” Rachel asked him, lifting her head and turning to face him. He grabbed her hand and smiled back at her.

    “Remember?” he asked in return, confused. Rachel smiled, her eyes searching in his and glossed over with water. “Rachel…” Justin said, now concerned and gripping tighter to her hand.

    Rachel put her forehead on his, looking down, she whispered, “I think you know. And you can’t keep going on like this… God wants something more for you. I want more for you.”

    “I know,” he replied, a sad smile painted upon his face. “I know…” he said again, almost inaudibly. Rachel leaned forward, and lightly kissed his lips, then backed away. He peered into her bright green eyes, and felt water filling in his own.

    He attempted to blink away the tears, but to no avail. So instead, he closed his eyes. I don’t want you to see me this way…he thought. But as soon as he closed his eyes he was stricken by the unpleasant sounds from his memory.

    There was a loud screech, from tires of a speeding car. A loud clangor, like thunder followed, and then a jumble of other noises… sirens, shouting…

    When he opened his eyes, he was standing in front of the tree, on top of the hill. It was dark, and the stars along with the moon lit the night. There was snow on the ground, and the tree was grey and barren. Justin’s guitar was strapped on his back, and he pulled it forward then began to strum away.

    “Angel of mine…

    Hard as I’ve tried, I can’t stop

    Can’t stop these tears of mine…

    Oh anger has taken me over, wrong I know

    Without you I didn’t know if I could go…

    Go on with this life of mine,

    But I know His plans divine…

    How I’ve longed and lived for your smile…

    Could you stay longer? Just a little while?

    I know… I’ll trust you with Him,

    And I’ll meet you again… wait for me in Heaven.”

    Justin took the strap off the guitar, and set it down against the tree. There was carving on the guitar; it read “Rachel Aarons, Angel of Mine. We’ll meet again in Heaven – Your Justin.”

    And Justin turned away from the tree, and walked down the hill. The snow glistened in the night and he stared up at the sky. He smiled at the moon then looked back down, smile still on his face and hands in his pockets.

    “Lord, I know. Until the day comes when you want us to be reunited, I will serve you and work for you. Thank You,” he said, looking up, moving forward.

    The End.