PROLOGUE

High school sweethearts – or so, they once were. Liz had never felt so passionate about anyone in her entire 20 years of life. And Jason, who was just a year older that her; had always possessed a mysterious charm; one that had only made her love for him grow by days.

She inched closer to him and tried to speak but she could not utter words to express just how much he meant to her. She sat down on a chair nearby, tears now streaming down her cheeks before she finally managed a sentence: “You know, I never stopped loving you – I never will”. She watched his expressionless face and slowly continued; “You mean the world to me Jason. You gave me hope when all I had was doubt. You always managed to be there for me in my times of need: always. And I’m so sorry I didn’t return the favour. I wish you could have turned to me for help but we always seemed to be having ups and downs. I just didn’t see it ending like this.”

Liz paused for a moment, remembering how they were as kids. They had always been fighting with each other, ever since they were young, but in that funny way from second grade when they fought over a blue crayon; it seemed like arguing was the only way they gained each others attention. It appeared to be that the one thing which had brought them together was the very thing that would tear them apart.

Gradually, Liz adjusted her self in the chair, wiped her cheeks using the back of her palm and rose to leave. But as she began to walk away from the man that had once been hers, she felt a firm hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you Elizabeth.” It was Mr. Russell, Jason’s step father. “Jason would appreciate you being here.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else in the world Mr. Jason. I just wish I could have been there, to do something. I can’t help but feel responsible-“

“No, no... Don’t blame yourself. You had no idea this would happen.” He shook his head and turned to face his son; surrounded by flowers, lying peacefully in the mahogany carved coffin just meters away.

Liz felt her eyes water yet again: how could she ever continue her life if it would never be normal again? Her head was pounding: compressed memories screaming at her and her conscience flooded with guilt for something she had neither done nor had control over. But her train of thought was brought to an immediate halt by Mr. Russell who had uttered something about Jason wanting her to have something of his. Seconds later he was rummaging in his pockets before he revealed a little black box. He placed it in her palms and turned to take care of the rest of the ceremony; leaving Liz there on her own with an unknown box clutched beneath her fingers.

Her eyes transfixed on the box, she wondered what Jason might have left her; though in reality the only thing she wanted was Jason himself to wake her up and tell her this was all a bad dream. She looked up at the gathering of people around his coffin and then at the velvet box that she had received moments ago.

Here heart was racing in the same way it had done when she heard about the tragic accident involving her true love. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and effortlessly lifted the lid off the box. When she opened her eyes she felt a rush of ecstasy, grief, amazement and sorrow all entwined into one.

There in front of her lay a gold engagement ring with three simple words embossed on it: “I Love You”