Started July 5, 2002

Love can be a cure or an illness.

I know this is a fact because I’ve been there, done it. I am Teresa, 28-year-old Chinese woman. I am a forensic document examiner of 6 years. However the fact above does not concern my present. It concerns my past.

I was born on Long Island, New York, September 22, 1984. My family was the average suburban family with 2 brothers and a younger sister. I was the quiet, shy, intelligent one in my family. I was the one that knew what to do and how to do it. My childhood was very dim though. I was always the weakest and always the one who got picked on. I was always the last to be picked, the last to know. I spend most of my nights, wondering whether I belong here. I was so different in personalities that I still remember the times my brothers always teasing me saying I was adopted.

By the time I graduated I was a loner. I never had a boyfriend. I was only asked out once my entire school career, (that’s including elementary school). I never knew what French kissing felt like, or even what any kiss ever felt. I felt so alone, so depressed. I looked at my best friends and their boyfriends and I wondered, What would it be like to be in their positions? I could barely watch them when they were together.

When I was a junior in high school, I took a physics course in my school. There I met several seniors, but one in particular I could never forget. I don’t know what happen, but for some reason I just ended up keep staring at him. I ended up sitting next to him. O how I felt so warm and comfortable, despite the air conditioner turned on in the wintertime.

I remember one day when there was a 90-minute course in physics. I brought in some colored pens to use in physics, just for fun. Of course, Skye, (a name as sweet as the sunset in the spring sky) was interested in the pens too. O, he was so funny. He would take my pens and drew on his hand as if he was making a hand puppet. O I wish I touched those hands, even if they were just for a moment. In that moment all my dreams were transformed into reality and my reality into a dream. From then on, I just stared at him. Of course my crush… no, my love… lasted forever. On the day of the regents, he ended up sitting a couple of seats in front of me. I was a few feet behind him, just a few feet from being united with a lost soul mate. O I remember that day…. he was finished with the test after about 2 hours. I tried to pay attention to the test but…and a huge BUT…. He handed in his test and he walked towards the back of the classroom. When he past me, his eyes matched mine. His eyes seemed to say, “I like you too”. O MY GOD! I swore my body temperature just shot up and my heart beat as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.

But I realized one thing, I was never going to see him again. Talk about disappointment! The last time I did see him was at his graduation June 30, 2001. I remember sitting with the band, performing, as was custom for the combined bands to perform. When his name was called for receiving his diploma, my heart was shot down with an icy splinter. It pained me to see him leave so soon, when I barely got to meet him. Since I didn’t need a yearbook until my senior year, I decided to make my own. His was the only guy I took a picture of, and was I so ecstatic to have. I asked him to sign my “yearbook” and he wrote:

Dear Teresa,

Good luck next year as a senior. You’re amazingly smart and I wanted to let you know. Good luck as a senior. It will be you graduating, that I’m making college devious. Have fun.

-Love Skye

I found out that he never wrote “Love Skye” in any other yearbook except mine. I knew then that he liked me too…except it was too late, he was gone from my life…or was he?

Seven years had gone by, I had graduated from Cornell University with masters in Forensic Psychology, my dream career, and bachelors in computer science. By then, I didn’t have a boyfriend but I did go on some dates, some good, and some bad. I still had a flame for Skye but it was as little as a match, almost at its end of its stick. I never could keep a steady boyfriend because of my perfect dream guy was Skye. I knew it but I knew that it couldn’t control my destiny or my future. My love life is under a weak foundation of false hopes.

In the summer of 2008, I was shopping at a local supermarket in Edison, New York. As I entered through the soup aisle, a slender man who was looking at the labels of the cans, had left his cart out, expanding it across the aisle.

“Excuse me.”

“Oops, sorry”, he said.

“No problem, Skye”, I responded. I was aghast when I mentioned his name. I didn’t know why I said it. I was not even sure I said it.

“Um…excuse me??” he asked.

I turned around. He looked at me with his eyes questioningly, as if he was examining and trying to relate to someone he knew.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I thought you were someone else,” My eyes adverting his, while that matchstick flame just started a whole forest fire in my heart and soul.

“No, nothing to be sorry about. I was just wondering how did you know my name?”

“Um…” I was becoming so flushed that I swore my face was covered with the dust of Mars. Was this the man of my dreams? His name isn‘t really that common, “um…you just reminded me of someone from my high school.”

“Huh, well! You do look like someone I recognized too. I guess since you know my name, what’s yours?”

“I’m Teresa,”

“Teresa…. Teresa…. Why does that name sound familiar?…Wait! Did you go to Middlestretch High School?”

“YES!” My heart started to beat so furiously I was sure that it was going to burst out of my body, “Are you Skye Coyote from Symphonic Band? The alto sax player?”

“Yes, so that must mean you’re Teresa Silverling! The flute player!” His smile then would have cured all my illnesses in my lifetime.

“O my God!!!! I haven’t seen you since your graduation in 2001! How are you?”

“I’m great! O MY GOD TERESA! You look great! Has it been seven years already? O my God! I can’t believe this.”

“Hey, I would love to chat with you but I have an engagement soon so I have to rush with these groceries.” I regretted to say.

“Here!” He reached into his breast pocket (O how I wished to reach into that pocket with my own two hands), and pulled out a business card and a pen. “Here!” he scribbled something on the card. “Take this! It has my office number and I wrote my home number on the back. Give me a call sometime and we can get some coffee and talk about our past! It‘s nice seeing you again!” Then with a snap of a finger, he left the aisle. Never had I imagined that that card in my hand would become the turning point of my life.

I just stood there, a cart half full of groceries, a card, a passport to heaven, in my hands. I didn’t know what to do. I stood and I stared at the hand scribbled number, “782-4398, 782-4398” My life had been in the dumps until that moment when he handed me that card.

O my GOD!! I thought, What is going on here? One minute I was shopping for groceries, the next, I’m in heaven! I got to get out of here and call!!

I finished my grocery shopping in a moment’s flash. I couldn’t wait until my day was over and my appointment was over. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and HIM. Afterward, I drove straight home, only thinking, Is this a dream? Am I really here? Did it really happen?

I reached my house in the swish of a bird’s wing. My mind was whirring with all these questions. Is this a dream? Shall I call him? What is happening? I decided to wait till after dinner to call him

At around 7:30, I went to the phone and dialed his number. Ring! What am I going to say to him? Ring! What if he wasn’t home? Ring! What happens if someone else picks …

“Hello?” a young female voice spoke.

“Um…Hi…Is Skye there?” My voice started to quiver,

“Who is this?” the voice questioningly asked. I was shocked that she could still hear my voice.

“Um… an old high school friend,” I replied.

“Hold on a minute. SKYE!!!”

A few seconds went by, then a click and, “Hello?”

“Hi, it’s Teresa,” My voice was barely coming out of my mouth.

“O Hi!! Wassup?” His voice was the ocean breeze on a hot day.

“Nuttin… I have a question, Skye. Who was that that answered the phone?”

“Oh, that’s my girlfriend.”

When he said that word, my legs went numb on me and I almost collapsed on the floor. I could barely hold onto the phone; my arms lost all its strength; my heart felt as if it had been stabbed with a dull icicle.

“Hello? Are you okay, Teresa? Hello?”

“I’m fine. Just thinking.”

“Oh, okay, I thought I lost you somehow. Anyway….”

The conversation continued on. I found out he lived just about 10 minutes from me, and how he became a CEO for Pollon Paradise Incorporated, and how his girlfriend is the daughter of the CEO of another company that he plans to merge with. However, my mind was thinking of something else

How stupid of me!!!!!! I should have known a guy like him has a girlfriend!!! I should have known that!!! STUPID STUPID STUPID, I thought to myself. My heart was definitely broken in two. I spent my entire life waiting for him. And he has a girlfriend! How can I be so ignorant!

By the time we finished our conversation it was 9:30, and we still had a lot more to say.

“Well, I got to go. I have to get up early tomorrow,” I told him over the phone.

“Well, how about I meet you for lunch tomorrow,” he replied. There was a glimmer of hope.

“Sure but what about your girlfriend? Won’t she be offended?”

“Nah, she knows about you and she knows that we only going to talk about the past that she doesn’t know about. She would feel uncomfortable.” An evil style smirk ran across my face.

“Okay, where do you want to go?”

“How about at Café Monique? A block from the supermarket?”

“Sure, see you tomorrow at 1pm at the Café Monique?”

“Sure! Adieu Teresa!”

“Adieu, Skye!”

The next morning, after my appointment, I dressed up as nice as I could. Since I don’t have to be in until 3, I was hyped about meeting Skye. Yes, I was distraught that he has a girlfriend still but it’s JUST a girlfriend. There can still be possible changes in their relationship. I was so excited about this “meeting” that I was forgetting many things like walking my dog and looking at any of my clocks in my apartment every minute. I just can’t believe that I was going to a meeting with my one true love that got away.

Soon, at about 12:45, I went to Café Monique, which was about 2 blocks from home. Of course I didn’t want to get dirty or ruined my looks so I took my car. It turned out that Skye just walked over. His house, I found out was a north block away. Anyway, of course, I was the first one to arrive. I ordered a table for two outside. My back was facing the entrance so I didn’t know when he arrived. Yet I felt a warm feeling creeping its way up my body. Then a strange voice whispered to me, “the next man that walks through that entrance is your soul mate. Now turn around!” I obeyed its command and sure enough, as my gaze focused on the entrance, in walks Skye! I caught his attention and waved him over.

“Hi Teresa!”

“Hi Skye! His cologne was so pleasing to me; the smell of the sea breeze surrounds his cleanly shaven chin and his red luscious lips. For the first time, I got to stare at his eyes, the color and sparkle of sapphires. His hair shined as a wheat field on a Sunday afternoon.

“You look lovely Teresa.”

“Thanks, you too…. I mean very handsome.” I just noticed that he was wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

“Well, thanks, I think,” he smiled, “A t-shirt and jeans are very fashionable now.” He chuckled like a bird’s call.

“Well, since I never been here before what do you suggest?”

“Most of the food is EXTREMELY fresh. The chicken is so fresh here, I’m surprised that you don’t see any feathers fly out every time the kitchen door opens,” he laughed, “but if you like, the fish is pretty good too.”

“I think I’ll take the fish as long as it doesn’t continue to breathe on my plate.” I laughed.

After we ordered our dishes, we started to talk about our present life. I had asked what he was doing now.

“Well, I’m a financial advisor on weekdays and I’m an Olympic track coach as a hobby.”

“WOW, you do a lot of work. Doesn’t it become a little hectic sometimes?”

“Yeah, but it feels great to know that you are helping someone whether mentally or physically. How about you? What do you do?”

“Well, I’m a forensic document examiner on call and I‘m a computer analytics engineer for Bloomberg during the day. I watch over the computers that does the trading of stocks, make sure everything runs smoothly,” I quickly replied, after I saw his quizzical look.

“Wow, you must have a busy life too! Now why did you want to become a forensic document examiner?”

“Well, ever since I was about 10, I always wanted to be in the forensics business. I always love to solve puzzles and riddles and those sorts. About when I was 17, our school had its first forensics course. That was fun to do. We even had a mock “crime scene”. I remembered that one of my jobs was to examine documents. I had also heard of things such as you can determine a person’s personality or their habits by their handwriting. So I decided to try that and well, here I am. What about you? Why did you become a financial advisor?”

“Um, well, I was always interested in money, like everybody else, but I like to help people with there problems as well. It is a good paying job and since I always liked math, I might as well give it a try.”

“Have you any big clients?”

“Not yet, just mostly small families and small businesses, like Smart’s Shop.”

“You mean Smart’s Shop with the jingle, ‘Shop smart at Smart’s Shop’?”

“Yeah. Why you sound so surprised?”

“Well, I’m not sure yet but there is word that Wal-Mart is planning to buy Smart’s Shop for 70 billion dollars, the largest merger with a small company and a large corporation.”

“I got 10,000 shares for being their accountant plus I get a 10% fee for doing their dealings.” His eyes lit up with a glistening shine, out of shock. O I wish his eyes would light up like that every time I appeared.

I hate to break up that look but… “Don’t get your heart set on it just yet. It is still in the works.” Our lunch just arrived so to the change the subject, “So let’s enjoy our lunch. I hope it is as good as you say.”

We talked and ate. We talked of the old times and the new. I didn’t know how we started into the conversation but we were talking about our love lives.

“So who is your girlfriend?” I asked.

“O, well, I met her through my office. It was more of a blind date actually. My co-worker’s cousin was moving here from Kansas about a year ago. I offered to show her around. I met her at the airport and we just clicked. A few months later we started to go steady. She just moved in with me about a month ago. Lately though, something has changed between us. Especially me, I feel that I can’t stand being with her for an hour and then the next hour I can’t get her off my mind. Anyway, enough about me. What about you?”

“Well, um… I’m not in any relationships right now. I had a few in the past but they never lasted long. I don’t know why but I feel like that they don’t meet my requirements.”

“What requirements are those?”

“Well,” I couldn’t say that it was him that was holding me back so with my gaze on my plate, “um, a romantic, loving guy who does spontaneous things but sort of plans them ahead of time, I guess. It is all based from the one that I let go.” I stared into his face at that moment to see what his reaction was. Nothing but a compassionate friend shone through. “ I feel as though that the one I let go was my soul mate and THE one.”

“Wow, that was really thoughtful. I hope that you will find him again.”

Yeah, I already did, I thought. “ I hope so too.” A big grin swept my face.

We continued to eat in peace. Around when dessert was served, I asked, “When will I meet your girlfriend, since you said that you told her all about me?”

“How about next week? She will be free on Thursday evening.”

“Sure Thursday at, let’s say, 8?

“Yep, 8 it is. How about Italian food? I know this great Italian restaurant about 5 minutes from here.”

“You mean Italiana Wolf?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. It‘s a date!” I thought about that statement for a second.

The Thursday came as quickly as s hummingbird’s wings in flight. I decided to walk to the restaurant in this pretty yellow cocktail dress. When I walked out of my apartment, the sky’s was swimming in red, yellow, orange, and purple paint, swirling by the sun’s own paintbrush. I arrived at the restaurant at exactly 8. I can recognize Skye with his hair the color of a wheat field at noon. His blonde hair caught my attention and I went to greet him. When I arrived, there he was, sitting and basking in the candlelight. His face, gathered all his warmth from the candlelight. I then realized that there was only one empty chair. Why is there only 1 empty chair? I wondered, They probably would get another chair later.

“Good evening, Skye!” I said as I stood there.

“Oh, good evening, Teresa! Please sit!” He got out of his chair and pulled back mine as I sat down.

“ What happened to your girlfriend? Is she coming?” I asked once he sat.

“O, well, she had an emergency out of town and she left this morning.”

“Oh, ok.” I replied.

Throughout the dinner, we talked some more about our lives and our past. Soon, we were finished with our dinner. (He was nice enough to pay for my dinner.) I realized when I walked out the restaurant that it was pouring out.

“Oh GREAT! It has to pour on the day that I walk over here! Well, I guess I have to go before it becomes any worse.” I told Skye.

“No, wait! Why don’t I drive you home? Here,” he handed me his umbrella, “ follow me.”

I obeyed him like I was his loyal dog. I will follow you to the ends of the earth. We arrived at his car and I hopped in. He started his car and off we went. We arrived at my house after 5 minutes.

“Here, I’ll walk you to your door,” he said as he opened his umbrella. He came over to my side and opened my door. I grabbed his hand that he had offered to me and climbed out of the car. Like he said, he walked me to the door. I had opened my door when I turned around, expecting him to walk away. Of course, I didn’t want him to leave but… he was standing there, umbrella opened in one hand.

“Well, thank you for dinner, driving me home, walking to my door, and….”

His hand has cradled my face and he leaned close. His lips had gently landed on its mark. His lips were of a silk pillow, soft and delicate. I was still in shock as he lifted his eyes to mine.

“Oops! I’m sorry!” he blushed. “I just…I just…”

It was my turn to place my lips onto his. I could feel his lips crying, “I love you!” the longer our lips were together. I felt my arms wrapped around his neck, and his wrapped around my waist. But, a little voice in my heart cried, Stop it! Not yet! Arms push him away. My arms obeyed. His eyes stared in mine in shock. My eyes started to tear up as I cried, “I can’t! I’m sorry!” and I ran inside, with tears flowing from my eyes and searing my heart. I locked the door and I slid to the floor for my legs could barely hold my weight, surrounded by a pool of fear, regret, and once again, painful unhappiness.

I could never face him again. My phone won’t stop ringing. My emails have been stuffed with questions from Skye. If only he knows why I had pushed him away. If only I know why I had pushed him away. I had finally decided to tell him the truth in a letter. So on a cold September night, I sat at my writing table and started to write:

Dearest Skye,

I am regretting to tell you that this will be my last correspondence with you. I can no longer bear this agony in which life has put me under.

First, I like to say that I am sorry for leaving you that Thursday night. I just could not bear that guilt. And what guilt you ask? It is the guilt of ruining your life and love. I was selfish in trying to win you over. Yes, I love you. I loved you since I laid my eyes on you and my love for you prevented me from loving anyone else. You were the one that I based my love on. I had waited for you for many years.

But Thursday night, I just couldn’t wait any longer. Our paths had crossed once more. However, those paths are different now. I tried to keep you for myself but I knew that your heart was with your girlfriend.

Don’t worry; I have no intention of killing myself. Just promise me that you won’t break your relationship with your girlfriend because of me. I don’t want to carry the burden of unhappiness in exchange for mine. Just continue your life without me. I feel much better once you are happy.

Goodbye my love. You are now free.

Sincerely yours,

Teresa

I couldn’t restrain myself from crying. A few tears of love stained the letter, and a kiss sealed my fate. I placed the envelope, with trembling fingers, into the mailbox.

A few days had passed. I had not been into work for a while. I was in a depression of love. I lost my heart and my soul that same day I mailed that letter. I only hope he understands what I am doing for him. Four days had passed before I decided to go back to work.

About a week later, I came home from work. Attached on my door was a red rose with a little card saying:

“ ‘Each’
From A Secret Admirer”

O my god, was I ever ecstatic! I was so hoping that it was from Skye. However, me being a forensic document examiner and all, I realized key differences in the handwriting (I get so caught up in my job). That was very disappointing to me. I didn’t want anyone but him.

The next day, there were two flowers attached to my door with a card saying, “Red Rose”. The following day, there were four roses with a card saying, “Represents My”. Every day for the next four days I found roses, two more than the day before, each with a card attached to it. Each card had two words written on it with the same signature “From A Secret Admirer”. After a week of roses, the cards showed a message. It read, “Each Red Rose Represents My Love To You. It Continues To Add Up Each Day.” The seventh card however had another message. “Meet me in Café Monique at seven on September 22. I will be carrying the last of your roses. Ask for table reserved for LOVELY.” My heart leaped with joy. A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PRESENT, I thought! And that was in five days!

September 22 finally arrived. My life could not be any slower before then. Well, of course, I dressed up. I cancelled everything that I had planned to find who my secret admirer was. All my friends forgave me for this. So the night was finally beginning! I arrived at the café early. I went to sit at the table. The table was decorated with a candle in the center in one of the darkest corners of the restaurant. My heart started to pound so heavily. My chair was facing away from the entrance so I had no idea who was coming in. At 7, a familiar smell of cologne waft into my nose. I recognize that fragrance but I could not pinpoint it. A tape recording played out, “Close your eyes.” A warm smooth hand covered my eyes. “Open your hands,” the voice played. I didn’t recognize the voice but that hand that covered my face felt so comforting. A single rose was placed into one hand, in the other a small box. “Open the box but don’t turn around.” the voice soothingly said. I obeyed. In the box, there was a beautiful gold necklace with a locket and a small mirror. “ Happy birthday Teresa. Go ahead, I know you want to look.” the voice finally said. I picked up the mirror and looked behind me. I slowly tilted it. First, I saw a pair of gray pants, then a gray jacket and then to his face.

It was Skye.

There he stood, his hair a golden sunset, his eyes a pair of sparkling blues oceans. My eyes swelled with tears when he leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek, the same smooth silky lips that have touched me a couple weeks ago. He took the necklace and placed it around my neck. He had sat down across from me. I could see that his eyes had never left mine. He did not say anything at all. I wish I could hear his voice right now. Prove to me that this is not a dream! However, it was I that had started to speak.

“I can’t believe that you did this! Thank you! I mean WOW!” I started to examine the locket. “Roses on my doorstep, a surprise birthday dinner, and this beautiful locket. What did I do to deserve all this?”

“Nothing but to fulfill my heart’s desires.” he spoke with a serious tone.

“O Skye!” I burst with a heart full of content. But my face winced at the thought of his promise to me being broken. “I…I …I can’t accept this! What about your girlfriend?” My face turned, destroying our continual gaze.

“Well, remember that I had said that she left because of an emergency? It turns out that she was having an affair and that she had left to go to France with him. I found this out the day after she left. So I was heartbroken. I had lost my girlfriend and a close friend within 24 hours. When I kissed you that night, I felt it was Destiny that was pushing me towards you. Since I met you at the supermarket, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I then received your letter. I realized then that when I’m with you, I was complete and every minute we were apart, my heart ached. Only you were the cure. The letter showed me that you had the same strong feelings as I do. Then I knew that you are the one! I knew that you love someone who was romantic so I thought of the roses idea. I knew you were a forensics document examiner so I asked one of my friends to write the notes and tape their voice.”

“You went though all that trouble just for me? All I needed was to the word ‘Hello’ from you and I would have been satisfied for the rest of my life. Skye… I loved you since high school. If I can wait for you for 7 years, you not knowing I loved you, then I could wait for you for eternity, knowing you do. Skye…I loved you, I love you, and I will always love you.”

My eyes flooded with tears of painful memories being put to rest. He leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

We continued to date steadily for the next year. On September 11, 2003, I had solved a high profiled case and created an important standard for future document examinations. To celebrate, Skye asked me to meet him in New York City at 4. So I took the train in and I met him at the station.

“Ok. First up, I have tickets to see Les Miserables. We have to be there at 5 so we better hurry. We walked the way to the theater. We arrived early and went in to find our seats.

After the show, we walked out of the theater and there, in front of us, was a horse drawn carriage. Its carriage was decorated with many roses in shades of red, pink and white. That would be so wonderful to sightsee the city in a horse drawn carriage like that, I thought.

“Well, milady, your carriage awaits. After you.” Skye spoke as he walked towards the carriage and opened the door. I was so astonished that this was for me. I entered the carriage, and with Skye beside me and his arms closing around my body, we went sightseeing of the city. It was a BEAUTIFUL night. Not a single cloud in the sky; the sun was setting as we toured the city. I never saw the stars so bright and glistening before. I was in a dream. I thought it was a dream until we stopped inside Central Park. As Skye, carried me off the carriage, I noticed a small picnic blanket and a basket in front of me. Skye led me to that area as the carriage went off.

“Sit, my dear Teresa, here is another surprise for you, a picnic dinner in Central Park.”

I sat. I noticed that there was only one tree within a ½ mile radius of us, so I could see the stars. Skye took out of the basket, 2 candles and holders, 2 plates, 2 sets of forks, knives and spoons, 2 napkins, 2 wine glasses, a chilled liter of coke (I don’t drink any alcohol), and a big dish of spaghetti and meatballs that he had prepared himself. He lit the candles, place the spaghetti and meatballs onto the plates, and pour the soda into the glasses. I watched with amazement as he set out our dinner. I just fell in love with him 3 times over. His eyes glistened like the stars above. His face was hit with so much warmth as he lit the candles that I wanted to make love with him that instant. As he placed the spaghetti onto my plate, I came over to sit beside him and stroked his hand. We ate dinner in peace, absorbing the candle’s light and the stars’ atmosphere.

After dinner, I laid my head on Skye as he lay against the only tree around. I stroked his chest as he played with my hair. He would whisper sweet nothings into my ear. I laid my head against his chest and would listen to his breaths of love enter in and out. I looked at him and his eyes cried out, “Let’s do it.” I shook my head and muttered, “No, not yet.”

A few minutes passed by, or was it eternity?

“Teresa, may I ask you a few questions?” spoke Skye. “If you had a choice whether I was ugly or handsome, who would you love more?”

“I will never stop loving you. But if I had to choose, I rather you be ugly.”

“Why?” asked Skye.

“Well, if you were handsome, I had to worry that many girls will try to charm you. And besides, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference if you were ugly or handsome. You are always handsome to me.”

“Okay.” he hesitated, “ Well, if you had a choice whether I was rich or poor, whom would you love more?”

“Doesn’t really matter to me. But if forced to decide, I would choose to be poor because I am already rich when I’m around you.”

“So if I only had just enough money for us to live together for the rest of our lives, you will love me forever?”

“Yes.”

“What if I was a millionaire?”

“To me, a millionaire is someone who can afford more goods to make them happy. Money is a temporary thing. I don’t need it. I already got the one thing that will make me happy forever.”

“Okay, well, I guess then you don’t care that if I had $1,000 a week or if I had $100,000 a week.

“Yep.”

“Not even if I’m $18 million richer?”

“Yep. I’ve got something more valuable.” I pointed to him.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you, too,” I whispered back.

He reached into his jean pocket and pulled out something.

Of course, I was curious. “What did you pull out?” I asked.

“Just want to see what time it was.” He hesitated a little bit. “Teresa, have you ever heard of the tale of Serina and the star?”

“No, tell me.”

“Well, there was this little girl named Serina who was very lonely. One day she had heard a voice telling her, “Point to a star tonight with you left hand. If you answer its question correctly, it will grant your heart’s desire. So that night, skeptical Serina pointed to a star with her right hand, and closed her eyes. Nothing came to her. So she tried her left hand with the same star and closed her eyes. A small voice entered her mind. It asked her a simple question. Serina answered its question. The star created a path to her fingers and became her friend for the rest of her life.”

“What was the question?” I asked.

“No one knows. She was told never to repeat it otherwise she will lose her friend. Anyway, I thought that since it is a beautiful night, we could try it. Go ahead, you go first.”

“Ok, so I just point my left hand to a star and close my eyes right?”

“Yes, but let me attach this string so the star can glide to you easier.”

“Ok, here goes.” I closed my eyes.

A gentle breeze picked up at that moment. Will you marry me? I was smiling. I knew the story was too good to be true. Will you? Will you become my wife?

I muttered, “No.”

Why not? the voice replied in shock.

“Because I don’t want to marry a star. I want to marry the Skye.” I opened my eyes and looked into Skye’s eyes. I smiled a big smile.

“Will you marry me?” Skye asked, “ Will you become my wife?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly I felt a little weight on the string attached to my finger. I turned to my hand and there was the most beautiful engagement ring I have ever seen. The center of the ring had one large blue sapphire surrounded with a ring of diamonds. I gave Skye a big kiss.

“This is so dazzling.” My eyes filled with tears as I spoke.

“I know that your favorite jewel was the sapphire because it’s your gemstone. And I know it’s in your favorite color, blue.”

“It also reminds me of your eyes when I fell in love with you.” My eyes met his. “This must cost you a fortune.”

“Well, I told you that I am $18 million richer. And all because of you.”

“You’re what???”

“I’m a multimillionaire. The Smart Shop stock skyrocketed 50 points then split 10 to 1 and then continued to grow. I sold all but 1,000 shares when it reached 120 on Tuesday. It then went down to 100 and I sold the rest. Now it’s worth about 50 per share. Plus I get 10% of the deal of 70 million.”

“You mean you made about $18 million from that?!?! O MY!” My mouth was opened as wide as a cave opening.

“Yes, I know. I actually have about 15 million after taxes. It doesn‘t matter though.” He cupped my hands; “I have something more valuable than all the money in the world... my undying passion for you.”

“O Skye!” My eyes shed more tears as he kissed my lips once more. “I can’t wait until my parents know about this! I‘m going to be Mrs. Skye Coyote!”

“Wait! Don’t tell your parents this yet! I have one more surprise for you AND your parents. We should leave now. It is almost 1. I rented a hotel room we can stay in for tonight. Come let‘s go!”

In December, Skye and I convinced his parents and mine to join us in Orlando. It was for an early Christmas present. So a week before Christmas, my parents and I arrived at Orlando. Skye told me not to tell my parents that his parents were coming and that he has to go there earlier for some business. So it was a surprise when my parents and myself met up with Skye and his parents at the luggage carousel.

We had warm greetings from both parties and they started a conversation when Skye pulled me aside.

“You didn’t tell them right?”

“Yes, I did not tell them. How long are your parents here for?”

“They will be here for another four days. What about yours?”

“For five days.”

“Okay, good.”

“So when can I tell them?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell them soon.”

We had fun the next 3 days. We went on roller coasters, shows, and wonderful beaches. However, nothing had been as wonderful as the last night of all of us together. Skye suggested that after dinner, we all would see the fireworks/ dancing show at Cinderella’s Castle. So that night, we arrived at that area at about the beginning of the show. It was a cool, crisp night with stars all around. Of course Skye was standing next to me, his arm wrapped around my waist. The fireworks started to go off. They brighten the sky with momentarily rainbows. Specks of red and blue and green sparkled with the stars. As the last of the fireworks were shot into the sky, a message of some sort was written from each explosion. “Oops, my shoelaces are untied,” muttered Skye.

“TS-

MARRY ME!

- SKYE”

My jaw just dropped. I can’t believe he did this! What a great surprise! I didn’t realize it then that Skye was on his one knee and a ring in his hand. All heads were turned towards us and all went silent. Skye took my left hand.

“Teresa, will you fulfill my heart’s desire? Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

“Yes, of course.”

Cheers and applause exploded like the fireworks in the night sky. I could see my mom and dad smiling with tears gently leaving its abode and strolling down their faces.

As we were leaving the park, both parents came to congratulate us.

“I am so glad that you guys are finally going to get married! You two are perfect for each other! For the past year, you guys can’t keep off of each other. I noticed that when we first met you, Teresa,” spoke his mom.

“Yeah, you guys are definitely in love with each other,” replied his dad.

“I am also glad we have a great son - in-law for our daughter.” said my dad.

“You definitely make my Teresa happy!” said my mom.

Christmas was just as spectacular as the night in Orlando. My entire family had gathered at my parents’ house to celebrate Christmas together. The house was decorated with boxes of red, green, white, blue underneath the speckling tree filled with lights and ornaments. Of course, I invited Skye to join us. It would be the first time that the rest of my family will meet my future husband.

We had a great time. My aunts congratulated me on my future marriage and finding the “right guy” as my Aunt Judy had put it. All my uncles loved him. They talked with him ranging with cars and electronics to his job and how we met. Soon it was time to open presents. Of course, it was tradition to let the little kids open their presents. So with Skye beside me, we watched the little kids ripped their presents literally in pieces and watch their faces glow to discover their hidden treasures.

After an hour, it was the adults’ turn. We let the eldest (my grandparents) to open their gifts. After a while it was my turn. I had opened presents from my parents, my aunts and uncles, and cousins. As I put away my last gift, Skye announced to the room that I had one more present. He left the room and returned with a big box wrapped with scraps of paper. I decided to rip the paper and opened the box. Inside there was a smaller box wrapped with wrapping paper with a card saying, “Keep trying”. I opened that box and inside there was another wrapped box, with a card and a gel pen attached that says, “Nope, not yet”. It continued on for another 4 turns, each opened box had a smaller one wrapped up and attached was a gel pen and a card: “Almost there”, “Next box is it!”, “I guess maybe not”, “This is it, I swear,”. I finally reached the final box. It was a small, square box, about the size of my hand. Inside there was a note that said, “ I love you. Turn around. Love Skye.” I obeyed the card’s contents and turned around. There was Skye, holding up this beautiful necklace that had dolphins circling a large diamond. My eyes started to stream tears.

“Here, let me put it around your neck.” said Skye.

“Okay.” I replied as I lifted my hair up.

If this was what it was to live on earth I can’t wait to go to heaven. However, this dream did not last that long. A week before our wedding day…

RING RING RING I raced to the phone from entering the house.

“Hello?” I asked.

“Is this household of Skye Coyote?”

“Yes. This is his fiancée speaking.”

“Miss, I suggest you should sit down.”

“Ok.” I obeyed.

“I have some bad news regarding your fiancé Skye.”

“No…” I started to cry.

“Mr. Coyote was involved in a car accident.” I remained silent. “Are you okay, miss?”

“Where is he? Is he still alive?” I started to scream into the telephone.

“I’m sorry, miss.”

I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! I WON’T BELIEVE IT! I was screaming in my mind. Those last three words the speaker had said just tore me apart. I swore that I was in hell and this was torture.

“Miss? Miss?” the speaker called.

“Thank you for calling.” I hung up.

I was shot. I felt as though I was Prometheus, having my stomach ripped out of my body by vultures and having it regrown, just to be ripped out again. Everything related to Skye had my heart ripped out of my live body. I laid in bed, weeping and weeping. I could barely sleep. If I did sleep I had nightmares, dreaming of Skye’s last smile or his last laugh. My phone had been ringing constantly of “I just heard”, “I’m so sorry”, or “Are you okay?” Do you think you would be okay if your love of your life just died? There were flowers surrounding my bed. My parents came up to take of me while I was in a total depression. On the exact hour of the happiest day of my life, I walked down the aisle….of a funeral ceremony.

For a year, I was still not over my pain. Every night, I would fall asleep, no…crying asleep, next to an empty bedside. To end my tragedy, I’ve decided to get a masters in computer science. I went to NYU for my first class September night.

For our first assignment, just to know our fellow students, we were to interview them, ask them about their lives. My partner was a guy named Victor. As I got to interview him, I realized that he is just like me. We liked classical music, he’s Chinese, he’s my height. It was a weird coincidence. I mean what guy likes classical music. I also found out that he was in most of my other classes. It was the day after when I felt a little something going on. I had two classes that day. One was on the southern campus and the other on the extreme opposite northern campus. Of course, I didn’t know anyone, but Victor who was in my first class decided to walk me straight to my next class. No one has ever done that before, walking with me when they didn’t have to.

Something inside me felt warm. Something tingling and familiar but I could not name it. I know I felt that way before, but what was it? The day seemed to be cut short, I constantly thinking What is going on?. I went to my empty bed, not thinking anymore as a painful dream, but somewhat of a comforting feeling. I fell asleep, for the first time, without crying.

“Teresa….Teresa, wake up…” a voice was whispering in my ear.

“Who is there? What do you want?” I spoked without waking up.

“Wake up, my golden heart,” he replied.

No one but my Skye has ever called me “my golden heart”. I woke up in a heartbeat, and there stood Skye. I was afraid yet, estatic to see him. There he was standing, looking into my eyes.

“Oh Skye,” I gasped. I jumped up hugged him, trying to not let go. But he was cold to my touch, and he seemed to push me away. “I don’t want to leave you again!” I cried.

“Listen, Teresa, I love you, but you must let go. I know you still love me and I love you. But we were never to be. You are destined for another. But don’t worry. You will know who it is.” he spoke in a whisper as he stroked my hair.

“But Skye, I love you. I don’t want any other.” I cried.

“Don’t worry,” he spoke as he started to drift away, “I will always be around you, watching you. Good bye my golden heart! I love you and will always watch you.”

Beep Beep Beep I woke with a start. It was time for class. Was that all a dream? Did I really hug Skye? I got ready like I usually do. My mind however was drifting to those same questions. “We were not destined to be .” What was he talking about? I arrived on campus for my first class, and there was Victor, standing outside the classroom.

“Hey! Wassup?”

“Eh alrite I guess. How are you doing? You look a little pale.”

“I’m fine, don’t worry.”

We continued to talk after class as we walked to our other classes. As we spoke, a little voice inside me was crying out to me, “Go for it! Go for it!” I have no idea why I keep on hearing that. But after two weeks, that voice kept on getting stronger and stronger.

To Be Continued....

Added 07/08/2004