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I really believed

—do believe—

that God brought us together.

And if God would do that

—bring us together—

then he’d surely help me get into college

so that we would be together…

And if I did get into R.I.T.,

then why would you need to know

what a complete f***-up I’ve been?”

What If: Vol 4-3

Immediate Aftermath 2

Never speaking this type of language in front of Susan

seeing her wince at the word,

fighting for control again,

“I love you so much!”

Taking her hand,

I  kissed her palm.

“You can’t know how hard I’ve worked!”

I said.

“That’s why I didn’t care if I saw you on Saturdays  

because on Saturdays I was being tutored.

God, Susan,

I’d do anything for you, honey!

Anything in the world.”

Quiet,

concentrating on his every word,

“I know you would,”

Susan said,

“But what are we going to do about college?”

We!

His heart lifting,

What are “We” going to do about college!

“I’ll have no problem getting into Wright.

And I’ll keep working on it,

and as soon as I can I’ll reapply to R.I.T.”

Lifting her chin,

looking into her eyes again,

“Please, baby,

please don’t let this hurt us.

I promise I’ll make it, Sue.

I don’t know how I’d be able to live without you,

if we weren’t together.”

“It’ll be okay.”

Caressing his cheek,

“I just don’t know what I’m going to tell my parents.”

“let me do it!

I’m the one that lied.

Let me talk to them!”

“They think the world of you,

and knowing that you lied

is going to let them down terribly.

No, I know how to handle my folks”

—though, really,

she had no idea of what she was going to tell them—

“I’ll do it.”

“Susan,” I asked,

 “do you love me?”

“Of course I do!”

Susan answered without hesitation.

“Okay,

It’s our lives!

We love each other

and can’t let this come between us.”

June 19, 1952

On commencement day

Susan came with my parents.

As the scroll was handed to me

My eyes met Susan’s and,

smiling,

she threw me a kiss.

Oh, God!

I thought,

All’s right with the world.

To be continued

©March 6, 2012 / Mark M. Lichterman