Love Of A Lifetime

By Gabriel Chua
Dedicated to Xin Yu

Foreword

Love comes in many kinds , family , friends , and couples . This story is about these 3 kinds .
Love can be mutual , single sided or silent . Love is the greatest power on Earth , it can create and
destroy . Love is selflessness and desire to make ones loved one happy always no matter what .

The Story

Silently she sat in the corner of her room , obvious to the shouts outside her room .
This meant that her brother had returned ... again . He had always treated his home as a hotel ,
coming and going at will . She glanced up at the clock that ticked on the wall . It was night , 8pm to
be exact . 5 months ago , at this time she would be watching a drama on tv . Now she was in one ,
a tragic one , and it was no drama .

"Slam" sounded the door , following it was sobbings ... Sally got to her feet automatically
and dragged her feet to the door of her room , turning the knob slowly , unlocking the door with a resounding click that echoed through her silent room . Mum was on the floor , as usual , clutching her bag to her chest , curled up on the floor sobbing . Sally went forth and helped her to her feet after glancing towards her brother's room to make sure he was not about to come out at any moment . With one hand , Sally supported her by the arm , the other clutching her bag for her . They walked into Sally's room which she locked behind her . Sally helped her mum to her bed before moving the cupboard , against the door .

This was unusual for Sally , 5 months ago , now it was common , happening almost
3 times a week , each time Lucas returned , he would ask mum for money . It started out with asking her nicely , when she did'nt give it to him , he would snatch her bag and empty her wallet of her money before
he headed to his room to rest , only to set out in the middle of the night again . Tears now welled up in Sally's eyes , things were not like that before , when dad was around ... Sally remembered how her dad used to take the family out for meals , then to the park , now it just seemed like a beautiful dream .

Sally's dad had passed away in a car accident 5 months ago . Ever since then it was never
the same . Mother had to work and could no longer spend time at home . Brother had now resorted to returning home late at night , he had joined gangs and smoked just to numb the pain . Sally on the other hand had nothing to do ... On the day her dad died , she was sitting on the beach with her boyfriend ,
watching the sunset as she held on to his hand , resting her head on his shoulder . She still remembered it clearly , he had shrugged her off and held her hands , looked into her eyes and asked her for a break up . "I don't love you anymore , lets break up Sally , i am sorry" these were the exact words he said to her , she was shocked and had no idea , she was unprepared and didnt take it too well , crying she begged him not to leave ... which he did ... leaving her on the beach alone as the sun set into the horizon . She was at the very place and spot which Ben had then asked her to be his girlfriend . Just then her phone rang , her mum then dealt her another blow . "Hurry Sally , daddys in hospital , he had an accident ." cried Sally's mum . Stumbling with tears in her eyes she ran to the main road to hail a cab . Desperately she waved but cars just went pass her ... finally at long last she hailed a cab and rushed to the hospital .

"Boom , boom , boom" went Sally's heart as she rushed to the operation room , her mum was crying badly to the doctor standing there ... he had just came out of the room ... Her heart fell as her mum stared at her with those pitiful eyes and said " hes gone" . Sally's vision blurred and she heard a loud thud before she no longer remembered anything . She had fainted .

She woke at long last , in a hospital bed , mum beside her , hugging her when she woke ... tears coming down both their cheeks ... her brother , Lucas was standing back towards her facing the window . He left the room shortly after . Returning home only 3 days later . That was really the last time she saw her brother for who he was , now her brother was no more then a hooligan . Her mum had to work 2 jobs a day ... being a very popular girl in school once . Sally now had become quiet and kept to herself not talking or smiling . Slowly she gave up on school . Their dad had been the pillar of strength in the family always positive and cheerful .

Gary , Sally's classmate and the guy who sat next to her in class , had a little thing for Sally ,
he had not seen her for quite a long time ... He had tried to call Sally and text message her in vain . No reply at all ... He called on her one afternoon after school , as she stayed only blocks away from him .
"Bang , bang , bang" it sounded as he banged on her door . She open the door and Gary saw her ... broken , tired and helpless , she looked so worn out and haggard . He glanced down and saw her hands ... she had drawn a "barcode" there with a pen knife . He immendiately grabbed her hand and led her into her own house . He asked her where the medicine was but she just kept quiet . Blood was ozzing out of her cuts , suggesting that she had just cut herself . He rummaged through her drawers and found a tube of anticeptic cream . He applied it for her as he held back his tears seeing what had become of her ... They had been friends since primary school all the way till now almost 8 years . He had fell in love with her but dared not tell her as she was attached . Now all he wanted was to help her . Her house was dark and stuffy with no one at home . From that day onwards he went to her house after school and teached her what was taught in school that day . He said all sorts of things to cheer her up brought her cheese cake , her favourite cake , and talked to her as much as possible although he got no reply .

It was only on the 3rd week of hes continueous effort to cheer her up that she spoke to him for the first time . She even gave him a weak smile . It meant so much to Gary at last he had cheered her up , Even if it was just a weak smile , it was a start . He continued to convince her to go back to school and even took her out to the movie on weekends arranging her to meet with her friends . Slowly she started cheering up again . This whole process took months but he had finally did it ...

It was sunday and Gary asked her to the beach , to see the sunset . As they sat side by side , she started tearing ... once again she was at the spot which her ex boyfriend broke up with her and her mum broke the news to her ... Gary noticed and sliped a tissue into her hand . He knew her only to well ... he did not need to speak nothing was needed to be said . She hugged him . He was shocked but happy . Finally she pulled back and Gary looked her in her eyes , he pulled out from his bag 3 roses . " Sally , each rose represents a word , together they say , I LOVE YOU , will you be my girlfriend ?" said Gary . Sally sobbed and nodded ... Nothing more needed to be said as they sat side by side her head on his shoulder his arm around her shoulder . Looking at the sun set as it set in the horizon ...

Gary took her to many places opened her heart up once more . She knew she had not made a wrong decision the moment she nodded . It was exactly a year from the day they had steaded . This day Gary asked Sally to a park .

They sat on the bench this was how they planned to spend their one year aniversy together . In each others embrace . "Sally your lips look dry , you are thristy right ?" asked Gary . "Kind of" smiled Sally happy at how dedicated Gary was and noticed even this small detail . " I will be right back , i will go get us some drinks across the road " said Gary "Orh" said Sally as she plated a kiss on his cheek . Gary stood up and went across the road . It was a long time before he returned .

Sally waited and waited and finally decided to go and see what had happened ...
She saw a crowd gathered at the road pointing and talking about something . She edged foward and saw Gary lieing on the ground blood coming out of his head ... Sally let out a scream and surged through the crowd kneeling at Gary's side . The paramedics rushed Gary to the hospital with Sally . Sally stood out side the operation room once more . Her heart filled with hopelessness and thinking about all that Gary had done for her . She felt herself in the same position as when her dad had died ... She sobbed and cried . Praying and wishing that Gary would not die . Hours later the doctor came out . "Hes in a coma if he does not wake in 3 days , i dont think he will ever wake ." he said as he handed her a white bag . These are Garys belongings when he had the accident . Among them was a packet drink , his wallet , handphone and a letter to Sally . She opened it up and it read :

Dear Sally , I really love you . I want you to know that the past year i have spent with you are the happiest days of my life . Ever moment spent with you is like a year on heaven . I thank god for letting me know you . I want to care for you forever Sally . Love Gary .

Sally cried and cried she spent day and night by Gary's side , holding his hand and reminding him of their time together , begging him to wake . It was the third day and the doctors wree going to off the life support system if Gary did not wake by 12am . Sally was desperate . She went to the chapel of the hospital and knelt before god . :Dear god , you let me know Gary , you let him help me , you let him make me whole again , please dont take him away please help him to wake ." she prayed .

It was 11.55 pm the doctor had gathered around his bed , Gary's mum and dad there too , they were crying , Gary's mum in Gary's dad's arms . Sally said a silent prayer as she held onto Gary's hands . The clock struck 12 and the doctors turned of the life support system . Sally' let out a big cry of sadness .

Just at that moment that the nurse was about to cover Gary's face , he sat up straight . And shouted Sally ! Sally hugged him and the doctors were shocked . They had turned off the life support system for a minute already how could Gary have lived ? Thus is the power of love that it moves the heart of god to help Gary .

They eventually got married and had children one boy and one girl . Sally's mum passed away 10 years after this incident and her brother had become like he was before . They were once again a loving family

The End

Xin Yu i want you to know that its not fake , i really love you . Dont freak out or anything . At first i really just treated you like a friend then when i got to know you better , the more i felt this special feeling . I really love you . You know how serious i am , i wont ever hurt you at all i promise , i just want to be there for you and make you happy . I really meant wat i said will you gif me a chance to prove it ? I wont hurt you , you know it rite ? Tink about it ok ? i really love you and want to share all your problems . I really love you . Will you be my stead ? .