S since last summer.

        t sold me, ttered t    brief moment, time opped and I uood everyt ood o do tood    first nig o ears in ood ime and    I kept ing by tely clear.

        ed Cmas at to be so special . . .

        to college . . .

        hy shed given me her Bible . . .

        It all made perfect sense, and at time, noto make any se all.

        Jamie Sullivan had leukemia . . .

        Jamie, s Jamie, was dying . . .

        My Jamie. . .

        "No, no," I o be some mistake. . . .”

        But t, and    blank. My arted to spin, and I g to igo keep from losing my balance. O I saos to keep trotted across topped to smell some busanding on a stepladder, taking doing to go away.

        "Im so sorry, Landon," s saying over and over. It    my fusio me from saying anything.

        Deep do    go ao do, tears filling my eyes, trying and failing to be think she needed.

        e cried togetreet for a long time, just a little    opeely t t . e cried er t afternoon, and my moto    boted to call tor because t someto my fat made t to ion, o be o    before hed even finished.

        Everyone in tion stared in silent disbelief at t ing for a pune    none of told. t ohe wailing began.

        e sat    told me, and Jamie patiently ansions. S kno anytors could do. It    didnt respond to available treatment. Yes, ed, s fi    until t fe sarted to feel its effects.

        "ts    progresses," s;You feel fine, and t keep fig.”

        Stifling my tears, I couldnt    t the play.

        "But all t have-”

        "Maybe," sting me off. "Doing t kept me hy for so long.”

        Later, sold me t seven montors had given her a year, maybe less.

        t mig. treated her.

        t ty years ago, and I k.

        Only a miracle could save her.

        " you tell me?”

        tion I    asked    Id been t. I    slept t nigill so sado anger and back again, all nig    so and praying t terrible nightmare.

        e o tion. It was January 10, 1959.

        Jamie didnt look as depressed as I t s t o knorusted even me. I    and frig time.

        "Id made a decision," so me, "t it ter if I told no one, and I asked my fato do ter today. No oo live, is t ?”

        I k didnt make it any easier. I    time in my life, pletely and utterly at a loss.

        Id never o me die before, at least not a I could remember. My grandmot remember a si     feer ories, of course, from bot to me ts exactly    ories I mig some ake me    flo only for t behind.

        No one in my family or my circle of friends o front someteen, a cill very muc time. I    only for    for me as    o ever get angry in    okay to talk about ture anymore? My fear made talking to , tient h me.

        My fear,    made it all ed to spend time een days. teen days seemed like my entire life, but now, w here would be.

        On Monday s s s lunco    class. Sh school forever; she would never receive her diploma.

        I couldnt trate on anyt in class t first day back, listening as teacer teacold us    of us had already heard.

        to told stories about    e for answers.

        "I dont kno; was all I could say.

        I left sies, bloer lunch.

        t t, it seemed, a care in the world.

        "; s;this is a surprise.”

        o kiss me, I kissed    to cry.

        "My fat    no if youd like to sit on the porch, we .”

        "; I asked suddenly. "end t nothing is wrong?”

        "Im not pretending t not me get my coat and    outside and talk, okay?”

        S me, ing for an a and patted my arm.

        "Ill be rig; she said.

        I o t do later. S, gloves, and a    to keep er    nearly as cold as it ill, t oo much for her.

        "You    in scoday," I said.

        S;I know.”

        "Are you ever going to e back?" Even to    from her.

        "No," sly, "Im not.”

        " sick already?" I started to tear up, and s and took my hand.

        "No. today I feel pretty good, actually. Its just t I    to be o go to t to spend as mucime h him as I .”

        Before I die,s to say but didnt. I felt ed and couldnt respond.

        "ors first told us," s on, "t I sry to lead as normal a life as possible for as long as I could. t h up.”

        "t t; I said bitterly.

        "I know.”

        "Arent yhtened?”

        Someed o sayno, to say someto explain to me t    presume to uand the Lords plan.

        S;Yes," s;Im frigime.”

        "t you act like it?”

        "I do. I just do it in private.”

        "Because you dont trust me?”

        "No," s;because I know youre frigoo.”

        I began to pray for a miracle.

        time, and Id read about them in neers.

        People regaining use of ter being told terrible act raveling preat    up outside of Beaufort, and people o co a couple, and t most of t even I couldnt explain. Old man So berenc     an act- imes o sneak off . But tarted praying feveris loud, making people practically jump out of ts. errified look on ouce- poker, but ttering t;I    ; Even    believe it. "t; to , " do ao our prayers.”

        So t nig Jamie mas and began to read. Noo be frank, I just remembered ts-tes could leave Egypt, Jonaer or raising Lazarus from too. I kne practically every cer of tacular, but I    learians ament, and I didnt kno t books like Jos nig I read ticus , folloeronomy. t a little sloain parts, especially as all t I couldnt put it do    I didnt fully uand.

        It e one nigired by time I eventually reae I y-tarts, "t ," but I ed to read to be more important ter an ion t I assumed Jamie ed because it meant someto    it said:I cry to you, my Lord, my rock! Do not be deaf to me, for if you are silent, I so t like t. ition as I cry to you for oward your holy of holies.

        I closed tears in my eyes, uo finishe psalm.

        Some for me.

        "I dont knoo do," I said numbly, staring into t of my bedroom lamp. My mom and I ting on my bed. It    difficult mont in February t worse.

        "I kno; s;but thing you    do.”

        "I dont mean about Jamie being sick-I kno t.

        I mean about Jamie and me.”

        My mot me sympatically. S Jamie, but s me. I    on.

        "Its o talk to     t be able to. So I spend all my time at sc    t o    knoo say.”

        "I dont knoo make ter.”

        "t should I do?”

        S me sadly and put ;You really love    you," she said.

        "it.”

        S;s your    telling you to do?”

        "I dont know.”

        "Maybe," sly, "youre trying too o .”

        t day I ter    muyself t I    say anyt mig    Id try to talk to s exactly    . I sat myself on old    some of my friends and    ball team. I told    I still     t I old o graduation. I spoke as to scire time. Jamie smiled and    te times, asking questions every no I time I finisalking t it    time I . It didnt feel rigo either of us.

        My    elling me exactly thing.

        I turo t it would guide me.

        "; I asked a couple of days later.

        By noake on a sligint, and tarting th her skin.

        Again I saw bruises. e were inside oo muco bear.

        Despite all till looked beautiful.

        "Im doing okay," sly. "tors    seems to tle.”

        Id been ing by every day. time seemed to be slo exactly time.

        " I get anything for you?”

        "No, thank you, Im doing fine.”

        I looked around t her.

        "Ive been reading t; I finally said.

        "You ;    up, reminding me of t believe t only six weeks had gone by.

        "I ed you to know.”

        "Im glad you told me.”

        "I read t nig; I said, " to Job to test h.”

        S to pat my arm,    on my skin. It felt nice. "You ss not about God in one of ter moments.”

        " to him?”

        "I dont kno; she said.

        "Do you ever feel like Job?”

        Stle times.”

        "But you    lost your faith?”

        "No." I khink I was losing mine.

        "Is it because you t get better?”

        "No," s;its because its t.”

        After t, arted reading toget some to do, but my    elliill mighing more.

        At nig it.

        Reading to focus on, and all of a suddearted to get better bet as    doing someto offend    could be m kno, I ted ture, and occasionally he room.

        Otimes Id be sitting beside    tc of t time, and    it. S it.

        Sometimes s I t, and I did my best, too, ts ;Is t    really means to you?" s it before trying again. Sometimes, t rate,    hand on my knee and all.

        One Friday nig    my    table and sat in t we could be alone.

        It ting    t been leaving his was a good ge for her.

        Sine about opped ill as stunning as it    time Id seen    do-my mom s s inside-ook her hand.

        "tonig; I said.

        Surention bae. "ting me.”

        I paused. "her holding up?”

        Jamie sig;Not too    .”

        "he loves you dearly, you know.”

        "I know.”

        "So do I," I said, and en her again.

        "ill you keep ing over to my ; s;Even later, you know, when . . . ?”

        I squeezed     enougo let    I meant w I said.

        "As long as you    me to e, Ill be there.”

        "e dont o read t    to.”

        "Yes," I said softly, "I think we do.”

        S;Youre a good friend, Landon. I dont kno you.”

        Surning tting across from me, s.

        "I love you, Jamie," I said again, but time s frigead our eyes met across table, and I co suro me again. I kissed urn.

        "I love you, too," she finally whispered.

        to hear.

        I dont knoold    about    I someed it because ine    c all. It o leave ter sued. I    ten as    explaio Jamie t ;Okay, Daddy," I alo open t me in,    and silently pull out    and , buttoning t up all t t    zippers, t o me, even after    Jamie and Id begun to read together.

        till didnt like me in t to e in. I kne part of to do    t     Jamie to get g oive o    at t I t needed some time alooo, and t    talk to me about t time ay. I o stay in t was all.

        Jamie ill moving around fairly er reak ble part of January t lasted nine days, ferest in leaving ter     stand on t a couple of mio breathe fresh sea air.

        her.

        t least times every day. People    to say    came over, and t alloo let t in talked a little, boto meet her gaze.

        t took tes to finally get to t. Eric o apologize,     imagine able,    felt emotion Id ever heard him express.

        "Youve got t    of anyone Ive ever met," o Jamie, ;and even took it franted and    alo you, I ed to let you kno;    t;Youre t person Ill probably ever know.”

        As ing back ears and sniffling, Margaret o    o speak. ears from ood sloure of fiveness. Eric    to o cry openly as sly caressed o ime as Eric sobbed until oo exed to cry anymore.

        t s turn, and sly thing.

        o leave, ts and looked at Jamie one more time, as if to remember    t ted to t tiful, and I kno the same way.

        "; Eric said on    t;Ill be praying for you, and so ; toted me on t;You too," chem.

        Later, elling us, ed over $400 dollars for the orphanage.

        I ed for the miracle.

        It    e.

        In early February taking o    tened pain sime ting    ter tors cut bace to ensified, and sometimes even raising her arm made her grimace.

        Leukemia is a disease of t runs its course t a persons body. terally no escape from it as long as    kept beating.

        But t of . In t    for    a ime s. S back to ting the dizziness in place of pain.

        Still he Bible.

        ed Jamie, I ually o carry ed to tio me about it, ly    meant.

        I    of time, and my    ill tellihing more I could do.

        On February 14, Valentines Day, Jamie picked out a passage from t meant a lot to old me t if s ed read at    it said:Love is alient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or ceited. It is never rude or selfis does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in ot deligrut is alo excuse, to trust, to o endure wever es.

        Jamie ruest essence of t very description.

        ter, ure sliged s to see.

        Eastern Nortiful and special part of try, blessed emperate    part,    off t, y-four miles long and nearly a mile ure, running from east to , line a ness spectacular sunrises and sus every day of taking place over ty Atlantic O.

        Jamie eamer Pier as t souted off into tand told o . I could see our breatwo of o every one of mine.

        I o support Jamie as ood ter tree t umn-but I k .

        In time tered moon began its seeming rise from ting a prism of liger, splitting itself into a t parts, eaciful t. At exactly t, ting te dire, turning ts gates a all its beauty escape its urned golden silver as ting colors reflected off it, ers rippling and sparkling , t like time. tio loself, casting its glois slo upurned a t s, before finally being tars.

        Jamie cigurning to blad t tant soutook ly kissed bothen, finally, her lips.

        "t," I said, "is exactly    you.”

        A er Jamies trips to tal became mular, alted t s    to stay t. "I    to die at ;    do anyt to accept her wishes.

        At least for time being.

        "Ive been t t fe; I said to her.

        e ting in to lose its luster. Yet    blue eyes, were as lovely as ever.

        I dont tiful.

        "Ive been t too," she said.

        "You kne day in Miss Garbers class t I o do t you.    me and smiled?”

        S;Yes.”

        "And    I    fall in love, but you kne I o, didnt you?”

        S;Yes.”

        "how did you know?”

        S ans togets, c ble the windows.

        "old you t I prayed for you," so me, "alking about?”

        tinued, speeding up as Marg more medie for pain, and s too siaco keep doo tal to stay, despite her wishes.

        It .

        My faton, ill in session. Apparently my motold    if    e ely,    as ay in ason forever.

        old        too deep, t it oo late to do anything.

        "t about your family, or even about Reverend Sullivan, or anyt ," so o accept ;t our son, tle girl who needs our help.

        And yoing to find a o help her.”

        I dont knoo    or . All I kno Jamie , cime nurses wor peeked in on imes a day.

        Jamie o stay at home.

        t nig time in my life.

        "Do you s?" I asked ube in ion s. So be supported by someone else.

        "e all s, Landon," s;but Ive led a wonderful life.”

        "?" I cried out, uo ;its o you?”

        Senderly at me.

        "t; sted as s;could be better.”

        Despite my tears I laugely felt guilty for doing so. I o be supp    t on.

        "But ot, Ive been aug God. I    look bad kno I couldnt ried to ; S my eyes.

        "Ive even fallen in love and had someone love me back.”

        I kissed , t against my cheek.

        "Its not fair," I said.

        S answer.

        "Are you still afraid?" I asked.

        "Yes.”

        "Im afraid, too," I said.

        "I know. And Im sorry.”

        "    I do?" I asked desperately. "I dont knoo do anymore.”

        "ill you read to me?”

        I    kno t page    breaking down.

        Please, Lord, tell me o do!

        "Mom?" I said later t night.

        "Yes?”

        e ting on to , I slipped out of    before I did, I kissed ly on t ions in    me, kno I loved er but also kno Id broken one of t he door.

        I couldnt blame    really. I found t spending time o feel    by aug fe as-not ts or iions-o judge ot     all t o my mothe sofa.

        "Do you t; I asked.

        It    time Id asked ion, but times.

        "Im not sure I uand ; she said, frowning.

        "I mean- youre supposed to do?”

        "Are you asking me about spending time h Jamie?”

        I ill fused. "Sort of. I kno t . . . sometime alk a . . .”

        I paused, and my mot for me.

        "You think you should be doing more?”

        I nodded.

        "I dont kno t," sly.

        "the way I do?”

        Stle closer on tcogether.

        "I ts because youre frigrying, tio get ry, things seem.”

        "Is to stop feeling this way?”

        S ;No," sly, "t.”

        t day Jamie could out of bed. Because soo o , he Bible in her room.

        Ses.

        Anot by and Jamie greeadily worse, her body weakening.

        Bedridden, s like a little girl again.

        "Jamie," I pleaded, "w    I do for you?”

        Jamie, my s Jamie, ime noalked to    move at ths were rapid and weak.

        I sat beside tcime, to my , feeling the boniness of her fingers.

        Part of me ed to cry rig instead I laid uro face the window.

        o someone like er lesson in    of t me to fall in love    sometion? t, t    to tions hey had been before.

        Outside, t of t    ernoon sunlig signs of nature ing back to life. trees outside ing for just t moment to uncoil and open to yet another summer season.

        On tstand by ion of items t Jamie o . tograpanding outside of sc day of kindergarten; tion of cards t c. Sigop of tack.

        ritten in crayon, it said simply:Please get better soon. I miss you.

        It mas Eve. timents, but    the child, Roger, had drawn. hed drawn a bird, s above a rainbow.

        C bear to look any furt tack back    tlass. I reacicle and sa it    ter , I saure t aken of two of us.

        It seemed so long ago. I brougiearer to my face. As I stared, I remembered t o pass. I kne. Instead, I sa ime I sig aside the clipping.

        till lay open    to read some more. Eventually I came across anot it said:I am not anding you, but I    to test ty of your love by paring it to tness of others.

        t as I    to cry, t suddenly became clear.

        God    I o do.

        I couldnt    to ter, even if Id ook every scut I could, rag tting t t too play, and alticularly good ate, on toppable, propelled by w I o do.

        I didnt care ed     care, eitered t to catco toward his office.

        looked up e me in, o    obsessively. tered across tre traig t about Jamie; t came to cry.

        "Reverend?" I said softly.

        ans I    in anyway.

        "Id like to be alone," he croaked.

        en, as es described in Davids Psalms. o keep up s around Jamie, and tress of doing so was wearing him down.

        I marc up to    me before turning back to the window.

        "Please," o me. one ed, as t rengto front even me.

        "Id like to talk to you," I said firmly. "I    ask unless it ant.”

        sig in t in before, ake Jamie out for New Years Eve.

        ened as I told    was on my mind.

        turo me. I dont kno say no. Instead urohe window.

        Even oo so speak.

        Again I ran, again I didnt tire, my purpose givirengto go on.    knog, and t to see w .

        Before she could speak, I did.

        "Is s; I asked, euperrified at time.

        "Yes," tiously. "hen she woke up, she wondered where you were.”

        I apologized for my dis mind leaving us alone. I o Jamies room, partially closing t    me knoing.

        "; s, "thank you for ing back.”

        I pulled up a ext to aking igomac    to cry.

        "I ; I said.

        "I kno t seem to    anymore.”

        "Its okay, really.”

        Sed ly off t, then leaned forward and kissed her cheek as well.

        "Do you love me?" I asked her.

        S;Yes.”

        "Do you    me to be ; As I asked    my    beginning to race.

        "Of course I do.”

        "ill you do somethen?”

        Sures. "I dont kno; she said.

        "But if you could, would you?”

        I ot adequately describe tensity of    t moment.

        Love, anger, sadness, oget me curiously, and my breat Id never felt as strongly for anot t moment. As I returned ion made me    I could make all t been possible, I o tell s, but tions inside me.

        "Yes," s someill full of promise. "I would.”

        Finally getting trol of myself, I kissed    my o ly running my fingers over    tness of leness I saw in .

        My t began to tig as I said, I k it    o cure    I ed to do was give    sed.

        It o do all along.

        Jamie, I uood t o find. Sold me t outside Mr. Jenkinss office, t he play.

        I smiled softly, and surned my affe    squeeze of my rusting me in    to do. Enced, I leaned closer and took a deep breat floh.

        "ill you marry me?”
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