True Love Awaits

by Maria
(San Antonio TX )

One day, Erica was lying on her bed when she got a call from her boyfriend, Kyle.

Kyle: Baby, we need to talk.

Erica: What do u mean, Kyle?

Kyle: Something has cropped up…

Erica: What? What’s wrong? Is it bad?

Kyle: I don’t want to hurt you, Baby…

Erica suddenly got a sinking feeling in her stomach. Oh my God, she thought, I hope he doesn’t want to break up with me. I love him so much.

Kyle: Baby, are you there?

Erica: Yeah, I’m here. What is so important?

Kyle: I’m not sure if I should say it…

Erica: Well, you already brought it up, so please just tell me.

Kyle: I’m leaving…

Erica: Baby, what are you talking about? I don’t want you to leave me, I love you.

Kyle: Not like that, I mean, I'm moving far away.

Erica: Why? Your whole family lives here.

Kyle: Well, my father is sending me away to a boarding school far away.

Erica: I can't believe this...

All of a sudden, Erica's father burst into her bedroom.

"Erica!" he yelled furiously. "What did I tell you about talking to boys?! Get off the dang phone!!"

Erica pretended to hang up and her father glared at her angrily for a few moments, then left, slamming her bedroom door behind him.

Kyle: Wow, your father sounds really mad.

Erica: You know how he gets... Anyway, I don't want you to go.

Kyle: Would you run away with me?

Erica: Baby, you know I would. I would do anything for you, but I can't... You don't know what would happen if I did. My dad would kill me!

Kyle: Its okay... I guess... I understand...

Erica: I can't believe what's going on.

Kyle: I need to give you something tonight because I am leaving on Flight 180 in the morning. I need to see you now.

Erica: Ok, I'll sneak out and meet you at the park.

Kyle: Great. Meet you there in twenty minutes.

The young lovers met each other at a nearby park. When Erica laid eyes on Kyle, she rushed over and gave him a big hug. He squeezed her tightly and kissed her on the cheek. Erica was speechless and began to cry. Kyle tried to comfort her.

"Baby, don't cry," he said, soothingly. "You know I love you. But I have to go."

"Okay," replied Erica sadly and they both walked away.

As Erica sat down on the sofa and turned on the TV There was a breaking news flash.

"An airplane has just crashed. Over 47 young boys died and there were no survivors. This is a tragedy we will never forget. The plane that crashed is Flight 180. It was on its way to an all-boys boarding school..."

Erica stared at the TV, open-mouthed as the remote control fell from her hands. She couldn't believe it. Kyle was dead and now, she had nothing left to live for. She began shaking and crying uncontrollably.

An hour later, with tears streaming down her face, Erica went out to the garage and fetched a can of gasoline. She stood in the middle of her front garden and poured the gasoline over her head, then lit a match. She went up like a human torch.

When her father came home from work, he discovered her charred remains in the driveway.

Later that day, her phone rang but there was nobody there to answer it. Someone left a message on the answering machine:

"Hi, Baby! It's Kyle! I guess you're not home. I just called to let you know that I'm alive. I missed my flight because I wanted to see you one last time. I hope you are not worried about me. Guess what? I had a talk with my dad and he said I don't have to go to the boarding school after all. So, I am staying here for good. Isn't that great?"