"Red and Black Roses: Vignette 2" by Lauren

　　
　(Middle of Sophomore Year)
It has been almost eight months since Leland has contacted Lulu. On Thanksgiving day, she received a message from him saying Happy Thanksgiving and that he was doing okay. She asked him how he liked the seminary, but there was no reply. Her family didn’t see through her sad eyes even though they thought they knew everything. The holidays weren’t the same without him there. All she could think about was when she could see him again. She was scared because her house had finally sold, but she hasn’t told him yet. Would he be able to find her now?
(Junior Year)
No word from him for over a year. It had never been this long before. She turned to writing sappy love poems about him. She even did something she swore she would never do…she cried over him. She knew she needed to get herself together. Her cousins wedding was coming up so she decided to ask someone to be her date.
(April 14, 2012)
Lulu helped her cousin, Sarah, get ready for her big day, and then she went over to the boys cabin to help the guys tie their ties. She had kept herself abnormally busy, trying to forget Leland. So far it had worked. After she was done doing her part, she went to get ready and get to the church. She had asked a guy named Alex to come with her to the wedding. After the ceremony, they all went to the reception. It was your usual family gathering: loud, lots of food and laughter. Everyone seemed to love Alex and Lulu was thankful for that. They decided to get on the dance floor and have some fun. After a few songs, Justin(the bridegroom) asked Alex if he could have a dance with Lulu. While they danced, Justin proceeded to tell Lulu something she didn’t want to hear. She didn’t exactly seem to mind it thought. She looked up from Justin and saw the sunshine smile she knew and loved. She had never smiled so big in a very long time. She ran over and gave Leland a big hug. She introduced him to Alex and his smile suddenly fell off his face. He said hello and walked away. Around midnight, Lulu went outside, as she always did in the mountains, and walked to the river. She saw Leland on the rock she and him sat on their last trip to Colorado. They sat there all night and talked about everything he had missed. He finally said he was sorry for not being there for her. They stopped talking for awhile to admire the stars they haven’t seen in so long. Out of the blue, he told her he loved her. She said it back and never felt so happy. They went back to their separate cabins and before Lulu knew it, it was morning. She went to the boys’ cabin to go see Leland. When she asked the guys where he was they said he had to leave for Air Force Training.
(A long trail of tears later)
Lulu graduated and went off to college. Her boyfriend Alex went with her. When they arrived, he proposed to her and they decided that after they graduated, they would get married. Word spread like wild fire and everyone was excited except for two people: Justin and Matt(her cousin). They knew she still loved Leland, but she told them she couldn’t love a ghost. Four years went by and she started her wedding plans.
(The Wedding)
She looked out to all of her family and friends, but didn’t see him. The priest said the final blessings and it was done. Lulu was kissed by her new husband. She looked out to the cheering crowd, but saw one lonely face. Her sunshine was finally covered by a dreary cloud. She let Leland walk out of the church and go on with his life.
She had her dream house, dream job and soon had a child. She felt so empty still even though she had a baby inside her. She always told herself she would rather be poor and happy than rich and without Leland. She went to get an ultrasound at the Air base. When she was in the waiting room, Leland had walked in. They did not speak, but he stared at her growing belly. After her appointment, her was gone until she went into the healing garden. She almost turned around, but he begged her to let him explain. He always talked with the women whose husbands had died or whose boyfriends didn’t stick around. She never knew he worked in the same area as her husband. He asked if he could feel the son he wished was his. Lulu shook her head and that’s all it took. Her son kicked when he gently touched her stomach. He smiled and asked his name. Lulu hesitated because she thought Leland would leave her life forever. Once again, he knew her silence as the answer. He wished her well and said goodbye yet again. He always said it, but never meant it. Would this time be different?