Page 61 of Ghost

She smiled. “Open yours first.”

I opened the envelope, pulled out the card, and then reached inside. After removing the gift, I looked it over. A weathered piece of hammered brass had been formed into a bracelet. In the center, it had one word stamped.

Believe.

“I know you like to wear bracelets,” she said. “I had a lady make that one special for you. It looks old, but it’s not. I measured your wrist by wrapping my hand around it. I hope it fits.”

I tried to think of the last time someone gave me a gift. I couldn’t. I studied it for a moment, and then slipped it onto my right wrist.

“Believe.” I looked at her. “I like that.”

“In anything, and everything,” she said. “If it can be done, you can do it. We can do it. All we have to do is believe. Remember that.”

I rubbed the bracelet with my thumb. “I will.”

“Read the card,” she said.

The card had a photo of a pile of shit on the front of it. I chuckled at her selection and opened it. Printed inside, it said, you are not a turd. I laughed again, and the read the elegant hand-written script.

Ghost Porter-Porter,

I know how and when our relationship began is a matter of opinion, but I’ll give you mine. I’m sure it isn’t what you want to hear (because it involves God) but I’ve always had a problem with saying what comes to mind, and this is what came to mind.

Here we go.

I think God put you in my life because you were exactly what I needed. Consequently, I’m exactly what you need, too. You may not know it, but I am. I make you happy. I can see it in your eyes.

If you can’t see the joy that you bring me when you look into mine, it’s because you’re too busy paying me compliments (which I adore, btw). We’ve been together a month. I know it’s only the beginning, but something as devastatingly beautiful as the Grand Canyon started with one trickle of water flowing across the desert.

We have a beautiful future together, I’m sure of it. All we have to do is continue believing this is where we belong.

Believe.

Abby

With a lump in my throat and a swollen heart, I looked up.

“B-T-W means ‘by the way’,” she said. “I was going to cross it out and spell it, but I didn’t want the card to look crappy.”

“I knew what it meant,” I said, my voice straining from the emotion I was feeling. “Read.” I cleared my throat. “Read mine.”

Mine wasn’t as delicately written as hers. When she finished reading it, she laid it beside the flower vase.

She inhaled a long breath, and then let it out. “You asked me not to hurt you,” she said. “After we kissed. Remember that?”

“I do.”

She brushed her hair behind her ear and then scratched her nose. “I need to ask you to do something for me.”

I grinned. “Okay.”

“Don’t leave me. Please. No matter what happens between us, don’t make me live a day without you. If there’s ever something I do that makes you angry or sad or whatever, just tell me. I’ll fix it. There’s no reason for us not to be together, ever. Doing this.” She pointed to herself and then to me. “It’s easy. Too easy. I don’t even have to try. I’m just my stupid self and you accept me. Don’t--”

“I won’t.” I said.

“I can’t imagine what I’d do if--”

“I won’t,” I assured her. “Don’t worry. I’m not leaving. Now, or ever. I lay in my bed at night and think of you. I read and re-read your text messages. I’ll probably sleep with this card under my pillow. It’s crazy, but I can’t imagine living a life without you.”

“Neither can I,” she said. “So, it’s settled.”

“What’s settled?”

“You’re stuck with me.”

I slipped my arms around her waist and pulled her tight to my chest. I knew I’d never leave her. I didn’t have it in me. I feared, however that she’d one day leave me.

Every other woman I loved had.

Why would she be any different?