Page 87 of The History in Us

Levi had somehow imposed images of me within the slides. He even had a shot of him and me at the scholarship fundraiser that I hardly remembered being taken by the official photographer.

My mouth hung open, dry and gaping.

“The assignment was to discover something historical about this great city, and what I learned was history found me.” Levi paused, as he clicked to another slide.

“See Katie Carter and I knew each other once upon a time.”

The castle in the Science Museum.

“And then I went off to slay an enemy,” Levi paused, flashing another scene, a dragon from the Field Museum and then a clip of Soldier Field, a place that commemorates those who fought in wars abroad. My eyes shifted to Levi who was focused on me.

“Professor Erickson said the project had to be a discovery, and so I discovered Katie Carter. She and I have history.”

A sigh to my right triggered me to sit forward. My heart raced within my chest and my hands clutched the curved edge of my desk.

“History isn’t out there being lived and lost by some other people. It’s in us. In what we did this morning, what we did yesterday, what we did ten years ago. History isn’t about the dead, although they can certainly dictate some of it. History lives in us while we breathe, and it changes course and turns around and doubles back before taking two steps forward. It’s a reckless, weaving road, but it always leads somewhere. Sometimes we learn the path, sometimes we fail, and have to find our way back to start over again.”

Levi included a Welcome to Michigan sign, as well as a Welcome Back to Chicago one.

“History doesn’t come from perseverance, although that’s certainly part of the equation. History comes from love. Love of self, love of God, love of country, but most importantly, love to and from another person.”

An image of only me projected on the screen, my hair blowing wildly over my face.

“Your love drove me forward,” Levi said, addressing me. “Sitting in that desk in front of me or standing on that sidewalk didn’t matter. Our histories collided back together.” Levi walked toward me, and I swallowed hard, my throat still dry but my eyes welling with tears.

“But I don’t want only history with you, Katie, intertwined, and crossing over and doubling back.” His hands twisted and turned, one over the other, emphasizing his words. “Let’s not be the past. Let’s live the future. Together.”

Another gasp sounded and a pair of hands clapped somewhere to my left, but my eyes didn’t leave Levi’s.

“You don’t have to answer me yet,” he said, getting down on one knee beside my desk. “But I have a question I need to ask very soon. Think of me, Katie. I think of you.”

With tears slipping down my face, I bit the corner of my lip.

“You know I already do,” I whispered.

I love you, he signed with stiff fingers and the tears poured forth unabashed. I couldn’t answer him before I was engulfed in a hug, wrapping myself around him. He whispered in my ear, “I love you.”