(Fourth grader)
Lulu and Leland met when Lulu was in fourth grade at a birthday party for her cousin. Leland was her cousin’s friend. He was tall, medium brown hair and brown eyes. He had a smile brighter than sunshine and he seemed to really love life. They all played cards and made a rainy day seem so sunny. They laughed and had fun and it was the greatest day she had had in a long time. When Lulu left, she didn’t know that she would have a friend in Leland. (As a seventh grader)
Three years older, Lulu has cared for her grandfather since she was nine years old. She has won her first real prize for a pro-life picture she drew and learned of her writing abilities. Her grandfather Hugh, who she had grown so close to, had died. She prayed several nights that he would live through Christmas, but she knew that was too much to ask for. One October morning, the dark, cold air was filled with the brilliant moonlight. It seemed as though nothing could disturb this quiet night. Then the phone rings…it was a message she had wished to send back, but she couldn’t. She heard mumbled voices of hopelessness and put her head back down on her pillow. She slept till morning so she could take care of her mourning mother. She woke up to utter silence besides what she already knew. She had to go to school to tell everyone she wouldn’t be at school the next day. At the wake, she sees the man she has loved for so long… the man she helped and grew up for because she was forced too. This wasn’t the same man though. They tried to make him look as normal as possible, but he was never white and cold.
During the summer, everyone thought it was a good idea for her to go to Lincoln for a new perspective on life. She spent the week with family and they had fun, but it wasn’t the same. Then the sunshine reappeared and moved the clouds away from her that night. Leland said hi to her. She was so amazed that he remembered her name that she finally realized he was on crutches. You would’ve never had guessed by his bright smile though. Leland had sat down by her and asked her how she was like they had been friends for years. The panic attacks of dying had gone away like a summer bird in the Fall. Did he really cure her though? Maybe, but right now she didn’t care. She was happy again and that’s all that mattered.
When she had to leave, she was scared. She didn’t think she would ever see him again. She didn’t want her past thoughts to become actions making her a ghost and not knowing if he may have felt the same way. He didn’t know this, but he was the only thing keeping her alive and that scared her. She hated not being in control of her own life
(Eighth grade year)
Lulu’s getting confirmed this year and she doesn’t even care. She doesn’t have much faith and doubts God a lot. It seems He has abandoned her. Her mom and her went shopping for her special day when she got a call from her cousin. She had told Lulu that Leland was coming to her confirmation. She was so happy that she could barley breathe. Maybe God hasn’t abandoned her completely. After the ceremony, her whole family went out to eat. When she entered the restaurant, everyone clapped for her, but she only saw Leland. He had told her something no one had ever told her… I’m proud of you. Lulu didn’t believe how much her life had turned around. She was truly happy. She looked at her grandfathers wedding ring on her finger and smiled to herself. The only question in her head was, Could Leland be my Guardian Angel sent by my grandpa?
(Freshman year)
Lulu made it to her Freshman year. It was hard at first in choosing schools because she couldn’t ask anyone their opinion without them being biased. She was being watched over by her guardian angel, though. Lulu’s friend Marie and her sisters took her underneath their wings though. None of them knew that she had actually hurt herself. She was too afraid to tell them. She was afraid they would judge her, but she knew she would never do it again because it wasn’t worth it. She wondered if she’ll ever get the courage to tell Leland though. She tried to stay away from him, but it was too hard. He had helped her through a lot of hard times and he made all the pain go away. (Sophomore year)
Lulu hadn’t talked to Leland for nine months and she finally got to see him at her cousin‘s graduation. There were rumors going around that he was going to the seminary. When she confronted him calmly about it, he said he was going. He acted so sad when he said it though. He further explained he was going to find himself… that maybe God would call him to the priest hood. He wanted a family, but he needed to do this. Lulu’s eyes filled with tears, but she waited till he left the room. She ran outside to the swings and let the tears fall down her cheeks. She was scared, again, that she would loose him this time, for good. The last thing he said to her was, “ Goodbye, and Be good.”
…Leland had left to the seminary without even saying goodbye to Lulu. Would they ever end up together or would they just restart their lives from here?
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