Story I'm Writing

CHAPTER 1

Hi, I’m Shayla and I’m 23 years young. I live in Boston, Massachusetts in a huge white house with my husband, Chris, our son Logan, and our yellow lab pup, Jay-Jay. I know it sounds like a good life, but I didn’t think it would turn out quite this way. In my mind it’s a miracle me and Chris were brought together. Let me take you back to when things weren’t so great…

I was 15 years old and in the worst stage of my teenage life. Love. Yes, I know every teenager thinks they’re “in love” at one point or another, but I was totally there and completely buried in it from head to toe. His name, Chris. For those of you wondering, yes. This is the Chris I now call my husband. I talked to him everyday and couldn’t help thinking of him constantly. It seemed all I could do was fall asleep at night and dream of him.

I hadn’t seen him for 2 weeks. For me, an eternity. Usually we see each other about 2 or 3 times a week. It was pure torture. Why? I was visiting my dad in Missouri (the state and I was totally miserable). Then the Thursday before I came back, he left for Georgia. Not fun trying to keep up, but I couldn’t wait until the next day. I would see him at youth group. Yes, in so many ways that youth group and church changed my life. I was anxious and excited. I felt as though my heart was going to tackle him while he was still in Georgia! I wanted to see him so bad.

I skipped to the next best thing. Writing poems, stories, and listening to music that reminded me of him. Yes, I’m a poet. He was an inspiring guy, what could I do? I couldn’t help writing about his gorgeous eyes or loving smile. I mean I could fall asleep in his arms like cozy fire on a harsh winter night. Ok, I’ll admit. I’m also a hopeless romantic when it comes to all this, but what was I to do but fall asleep and wait for Wednesday evening to fly into my life.





CHAPTER 2

The next morning I awoke a little late, but seems how it was summer, I didn’t really care. I lay around for a few hours online waiting to see if he was home yet (knowing he wasn’t). No luck for about an hour so I figured I had other stuff to do. I cleaned up my mess in the living room from the night before (I had fallen asleep watching The Notebook, go figure) and then hopped into the shower. I had skipped breakfast as I do everyday because I figured it would slow me down (from what I didn’t quite know yet). But I turned on the radio while I was in the shower and listened to some station that kept playing love songs. Wasn’t a bad station actually…Anyway, after about a half hour, I hurried out of the bathroom and sat on my bed.

I stopped and looked around. I had forgotten (being gone for 2 weeks) that there was a hanger with pictures on it dangling from the middle of my high, blue ceiling. It contained about 4 or 5 pictures of Chris from different youth events and others from our church. Wow I thought to myself. This seems strange even when I try not to think of him he pops up. But without further thought, I sprang from my bed and fled across my room to my dresser. So many clothes, but what to wear? Was my first thought. Then, I saw my camo Capri’s. I had bought them while in Missouri and figured they’d show off my legs well since I’d been watching my diet lately. I looked down awkwardly, felt my legs, and grabbed my Capri’s.

I threw everything left and right out of my shirt drawer. Finally. I thought to myself as I pulled out my white shirt. I read the front. ARMY it read in large green letters. I picked up all my clothes and quickly began to dress.

My hair. What to do with my hair…I hadn’t planned that out like everything else that was going to happen that day. But how different was this day than any others? Oh, that’s right. I was seeing CHRIS! For the first time in 16 days. (I had counted Monday and Tuesday). That made me even more energized. I wondered if he was this thrilled to see me. I had “asked him out” a few weeks earlier, but then denied that it was me who had messaged him when he replied with this response:

I’m sorry, but I don’t want to lose your friendship if we ever break up. That’s what happened last time I tried to have a relationship with a girl I knew really well. I just think that a friendship that lasts forever is more important than a relationship that lasts a few months.

I knew it was sweet that he had cherished our friendship more than just a fling, but I was in love and it was written all over me. Over the next few weeks I analyzed this trying to find a loophole through all the words. It was hopeless and I knew he meant what he said.

Until a few days later when I thought of something he hadn’t written in it. I went back and looked “YES!” I screamed. I went back and checked a second time just to be sure I wasn’t getting ahead of myself. No, it was real. I knew it. No where what so ever in this document that had just led me to the brightest day of my life, did it say he didn’t feel the same way about me. It seemed to me he could give all the excuses in the world except for that one thing. “I knew it! I knew it!” I exclaimed as I read the message over and over from the small LCD screen of my laptop. It was true, he loved me too.





CHAPTER 3





Later that night, I walked into youth group and peered around the room. I went breathless and almost a bit teary-eyed. My love, my addiction was only about 5 yards away. I brought my head back into the hallway with the rest of me, but my heart stayed in that room. All the sudden I heard a laugh. I knew that laugh and it was getting closer. Soon enough, Chris popped himself into the hall and spoke. “Why are you just chillin out here?”

“I don’t know. I’m bored, why?”

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

“What do you mean?” I was confused and hoped I wasn’t crying or letting a tear drip.

“Your eyes are kinda watery like you’re gonna cry or something.”

I was shocked. I couldn’t let this happen, but at these words, I almost cried. He was concerned.

“Oh, just allergies. You know from spring to summer. That type of thing.” I was hoping he’d buy it. I turned and walked quickly outside. It was raining, so I sat down under the little roof, and cried. About only 30 seconds later I heard the door behind me open. It was Chris. Oh my God! Stop crying stand in the rain! Do something! Don’t let him see you like this! I seemed to scream at myself from my subconscious. He walked up and sat down beside me.

“Allergies, huh? Doesn’t look like allergies to me and don’t even tell me that’s rain all over your cheeks and in your eyes.” He said with a smile. I smiled back. “You know you can trust me.” He told me. I leaned over and gave him a hug. He was a bit drawn back at this, but hugged me back anyway. He gave me a tissue to wipe my nose and another for my face and eyes.

At that moment Beth came outside and looked down on us.

“Is everything okay out here?” She asked gingerly. “We’re about to start.”

“We’re fine. We were just talking.” Chris covered. “We’re coming inside in a few.” We stood up and followed Beth inside.