David Wells is a thirty-four year old truck driver, whose life isn’t so spectacular. He leaves at home a girlfriend, that he has been with for ten years, and two young son’s. However, his children are the only things that tie him to the relationship. He suspects his girlfriend of ten years of getting pregnant with their youngest son purposely, in order to hold onto him. For, when he announced his leaving, that’s when she made him aware of her pregnancy. As a result, he is only home for days at a time, then back on the road he goes. While he is gone, the only thing that really gives him comfort is his reading, and by one Author in particular. Her name is Shine, and he finds her books captivating. He is currently reading one of her stories, entitled “Secret Heartache”. It’s a story about a young girl, whom meets a guy from the wrong side of the tracks, and falls for him hard. Although she tries to turn his life around, he always seems to take her love for granted, and leave her brokenhearted. As, David is reading her story. He can’t help but think back. For he has only known love like that once in his life, and just like the guy in Shine’s story. He also took her love for granted, and caused her a great deal of pain. Amanda was her name, and she was the best thing that ever walked into David’s life. He’s aware that letting her go, was the biggest mistake, he’s ever made. For it has been thirteen years, and not a day has gone by that he hasn’t thought about her. He smiles suddenly, when he thinks about their time together. Her smile, her long curly auburn hair, and her eyes. Just the way she looked at him was amazing. He has never had anyone look at him the way she did.
David has read everything Shine has ever written, and he is a huge fan. Her stories, seem very familiar to him. Although, he has noticed that her picture is never displayed, instead a broken heart symbol is in its place. He would love to get the chance to meet her in person, but figures reading her stories is the closest he’ll ever get to it. Therefore, with that in mind. He pulls into a truck stop, marks his place in the book, and tries to get some sleep. Yet, it appears that the story hit too close to home, and he begins to dream. There he is, walking hand and hand with his one true love. They’re smiling, and laughing, but just as she leans in for a kiss. Her face became distorted, and changes into something indescribable. He backs away slowly, wondering what is taking place. He stares at her in confusion, as tears fell like raindrops from her eyes, and blood poured from her mouth. ” I loved you so much. How could you walk away from me?” She cried. Suddenly, she began to diminish. David screamed. ” Amanda, I’m so sorry. Please don’t leave me again.” He sprung from the sleeper in his truck, while screaming out in fright. The dream was so real, that it frightened him tremendously. Once David finally realized, it was simply a dream, he finally drifted back off to sleep.
After being on the road for fifteen days straight. David is now headed home. Even though he looks forward to seeing his children, he doesn’t like the idea of returning to her. The instant he arrives, his oldest son, whom is nine years old, jumps into his arms. David squeezes him tightly. Next he watches as his seventeen month old, comes running out of his house, screaming. ” Daddy, Daddy.” David bends down, as the toddler runs towards him quickly. Abruptly, something descending in the distance, catches his attention, but he can’t believe his eyes. He had to wipe his eyes, to make sure it was real. There stands Amanda, running at a steady pace for him. He hasn’t smiled that big in years. He runs to her quickly, extends his arms, and picks her up off the ground. However, when he goes to kiss her. She’s not there. Instead it’s Trish, his girlfriend of ten years. He quickly backs away from her, and glances into the distance, but nothing’s there. ” What’s the matter with you? What are you looking for?” Trish says sarcastically. David scratches his head, glances around, and says. ” Nothing, I just thought I saw something.” He then picked his baby boy up off the ground, and with his oldest son holding his hand, they venture towards their house.
The next morning after David, finally got a good night’s sleep. He went out in the backyard to play football with his oldest son. They were having so much fun, and his oldest boy was enjoying the father son time they were having. Unexpectedly, there she was again. Amanda just appeared from out of nowhere. He was certain, she was really there this time, and began walking at a steady pace for her. ” What are you doing, Dad?” Shouted his oldest son. However, David’s steady walk, quickly turned into a slow run. Amanda was standing there with her arms extended, while wearing a massive smile. David instantly opened his arms, but just as he is in arms reach of her, she disappears yet again. David is at a loss for words, as he glances around confusingly. His son quickly approached him, and utters. ” Dad, you’re scaring me. What is wrong with you?” ” Nothing son, I guess I’m just tired.” David replied in a trembling tone. He couldn’t understand why now, after thirteen years, that Amanda was appearing to him. David thought abut her constantly over the years, but now he was seeing her everywhere, and it was really starting to take its toll on him. For, every time he seen her, it was like loosing her all over again.
Once David and his son were finished playing. They return inside, and David was made aware of his next load. He was to pick up a load of apples the next morning, and deliver them to Jacksonville Florida. Then from there, he was headed to Idaho, and Washington. He would be gone for a while. Therefore, he spent the remainder of the day with his children.
He left early the next morning, and as he was getting loaded. He heard an announcement on the radio. It seems the Author Shine has written a new book, and was going to be doing a book signing in none other than Jacksonville Florida. He became very excited, and couldn’t believe that he was finally going to get the chance to meet her in person. With each mile, that he grew closer, the more excited he became. Instantaneously, something appeared from the corner of his eye, and as he turned to see what it was. There sat Amanda in his passenger seat. He stared at her in disbelief, as she viewed out the window. She had tears falling down her face, and she was uttering to herself. David listened, as she spoke in an emotional state. ” Why didn’t he love me? I loved him with everything I had in me. I never knew loving someone could hurt this much. I feel like a part of me has died.” David began to weep as well, as he reached for her hand and said. ” Amanda, I did love you, and I still do. I guess I was just too young and stupid to realize how much.” Then in an instant, she was gone. ” Why?” David cried out loudly. He didn’t understand what was going on, but he was starting to see just how much his leaving her, had affected her after all.
David had finally arrived in Jacksonville, and was looking forward to meeting Shine. He even stopped and bought himself a new outfit, specifically for the occasion. He couldn’t believe his eyes, whenever he pulled into the Book Store parking lot. There were millions of people waiting to get their autographed copy of Shine’s new book. David, however, had his book in his hands, and waited patiently in line. Yet, the closer he got to the front of the line. The more familiar faces he began witnessing. He felt as if, he was in the twilight zone. For, he was surrounded by a lot of his old friends from his old neighborhood, and none of them looked happy to see him. He was very confused. He hadn’t seen any of them, since he left Amanda years ago, and moved away. Unexpectedly, one of them approached him, and with tears in her eyes, said. ” You killed her.” David was beside himself with shock, and wasn’t really sure how to react to her cruel words. Nevertheless, with confusion in his voice, he replied. ” I didn’t kill anyone. I don’t even know what you are talking about?” Abruptly, the emotional woman, scarcely glared back him evilly, and merely walked away. David gazed around, and noticed everyone glaring his way. Not knowing how to react, he frantically made his way through the crowd. However, when he reached the front of the line. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Shine wasn’t a woman at all. There sat a man, and when David looked to the right of him, he hit the floor instantly. For he witnessed a big poster with Amanda’s face on it, that read. ” In Loving Memory Of My Wife Amanda.” Instantaneously, Shine, better known as Tommy, picked David up off the floor, and said. ” You must be David. I heard you were here, and if you don’t mind. I would like to speak with you after the signing.” David stood there with tear filled eyes, staring at the poster of Amanda, but agreed to speak with Tommy. He sat in the back of the room for the duration of the signing, gaping at her beautiful face, in denial that she was really gone.
Once the signing was over, David and Tommy sat down at a coffee shop. It was silent for a few seconds then David broke the ice, by saying in a tear-filled tone. ” I’m very sorry for your loss.” He got choked up whenever he said. ” I had no idea she was gone.” Tommy also became teary eyed, and replied. ” Thank you, but I didn’t write these stories, Amanda did. These are her words from her own personal journal. I just put them into print, to keep her memory alive, but honestly she died a long time ago. You see, I loved her more than anything, but I couldn’t make her love me in return. I tried, but her heart belonged to someone else. I loved her, the same way she loved you. You were the one she wrote about, not me, and regardless of what I did, she just couldn’t love me the way she did you. You were, and still are a very lucky man, because she was a wonderful person, and all this time. Her heart belonged to you.” David couldn’t bear hearing anymore, and ran out of the Coffee Shop frantically. He returned to his truck, and began his journey back on the road. He couldn’t believe how he could’ve taken her love for granted the way he did, and now, everyday that goes by, he is haunted by distorted images of his one true love.
THE END