I was walking with a group of girls and their mothers that I had never seen before. We went in this building that looked like a power plant on the outside but was a theater on the inside. I sat down and all the other girls sat in the row ahead of me, leaving me all alone. The movie was an old one that I had never seen before. I watch interested for a while until a voice gets my attention. “Is that seat taken?” I’m not interested in the movie anymore. I recognize that voice! I turn to see if I was correct in thinking I knew this person and I was face to face with Zach. I was in total shock. I had lost my voice so I just shook my head with my mouth gaping open like an idiot. He chuckles and slides into the seat on my left. As soon as he sits, he takes my hand in his. I hadn’t seen him in months, and this little act of affection made me whole.

I laid my head on his shoulder and let out a sigh of pleasure. I feel him move and I open my eyes in alarm, wondering if this position is bothering him. But then I feel his lips press against my forehead, and all my worries disappeared. His hand was warm and soft, just like I remembered. I started to dose off on his shoulder I was so at peace. He laughs quietly and whispers “Don’t fall asleep, you’ll miss the movie!” I open my eyes and I try to focus on the movie again, but was unsuccessful.  Zach noticed this, and he stood up and led me out of the theater.

We didn’t want to do anything but spend as much time together as possible, so that’s what we did. We walked holding hands and we talked about anything that came to our minds, like memories of our childhood together. Soon I had to go to the bathroom. I hurried as fast as I could, dyeing to get back to him. I walked out the door, looked around, and I didn’t see him anywhere. I when running around the building looking for him, panic rising with each step I took. And then I found him, sitting on the floor with my brother and sister, my parents standing around laughing with him. My panic left as soon as I saw him. He smiled and stood up, as I came toward him. He took my hand again and we began to walk again.

Soon my parents drove the car around and told me it was time to leave. My fear came back and I began stepping backwards shaking my head. “I just got him back! How could they take me away?” I screamed in my head. Zach let go of my hand and turned me to face him. He put his hands on my shoulder, looking me in the eyes. “You have to go. It’s ok; we’ll see each other again soon.” He spoke surely but I knew he was lying, his voice was quivering and tears flooded his perfect brown eyes. “I can’t lose you again!” I cried, tears streaming down my face. “You won’t lose me. You can’t lose me. I’ll be with you wherever you go. When you feel the wind blow, you’ll hear my whisper. When the rain falls, you’ll feel my touch. When the sun shines, you’ll feel my kiss. And when it snows, you’ll remember that I love you.” Then, he kissed me like he never had before, pouring all his love into his kiss before he released me, kissing down my jaw line and down to my neck. “I love you.” He said sincerely. “I love you too.” I said back, my voice cracking with the newly formed tears rolling down my face.

He pulled back, looking at me and said “You need to be strong. I know you can be. Can you be the girl I fell in love with for everyone elts? Can you do that for me?” Not trusting my voice, I nodded. “That’s my girl!” he said smiling at me, the tears still flowing. He kissed me again and took me to my car. He opened the door and helped me in. I kissed him one more time, hoping he felt my love for him, and he shut the door. I scrambled to the back seat and watched him get smaller from out the window. I sobbed his name and reached my hand out to the glass, pressing it firmly as though I could reach him by doing so. I saw him running to me and then fall to his knees with his head in his hands. He was getting smaller by the second and my breath became ragged and the tears were falling continuously. I feinted in the car, with my face still stained with tears.

3 days later, Zachary died of heart failure. Everyone new this would happen but it still didn’t prepare me for it. Weeks after the funeral I became dead to the world. I said nothing, I cried silently and constantly, I never smiled, I hardly slept and a rarely ate. I was dying inside slowly, but surly. It was December 24 when I first when outside again. I walked timidly out into the cold. A soft gust of wind blew and I heard Zachary whisper my name. Another hit my face and I remembered what he told me. “You won’t lose me. You can’t lose me. I’ll be with you wherever you go. When the wind blows, you’ll hear me whisper. When the rain falls, you’ll feel my touch. When the sun shines, you’ll feel my kiss. And when it snows, you’ll remember that I love you.”

Another gust of wind blew, “I miss you.” He whispered to me. And then the sun broke through the clouds, shining down on my face. I felt his lips again, kissing me softly. I closed my eyes, seeing him in my mind, and then I felt something cold land softly on my lips. I opened my eyes and snow was falling all round me. A sob escaped me as I looked up to the sky. I found my voice again, and through my tears I whispered, knowing he could hear “I love you too.”