The air was thick with humidity as I walked up to the church doors. The air conditioning inside was very much welcome, and I took a deep breath before heading upstairs. i didn't need to focus on where i was walking, because i knew that place as well as anything. It was another home, a place to worship, a place to laugh, love, dream, and a place to just be. i loved it there. I had just begun speculating about the small number of Youth in my group, and thinking that I would probably be the only girl there tonight-again- when i heard laughter. That wasn't Christian's laugh, and in fact, it wasn't a boy's laugh. i was curious and stepped into the men's Bible study room to find 6 people playing Blokus. i knew all but one. The girl. i had never met her, but i knew her. Emily. The girl i'd been waiting to meet. She was Chirstian's girlfriend, ans impossible not to like. I introduced myself to Emily, and the evening began wonderfully. i watched Chrisian with Emily, and could easily see the love in his eyes. he shot me a glance that said 'How did i end up with someone like this?' i smiled in return. He was always too modest, anyway. After that evening, i knew this summer would be a good one.
and i was right. Obver the summer, i got to know Emily very well. She was an actress and an artuist- a very talented one at that. She was kind and sweet and beautiful-inside and out. you coulsn't help but love her. That smile that came strait from the heart, those eyes that were always alight with joy. one day, a group of us-Emily, Christian, anna, thomas, and i- were down by the dam, swimmind, playing around, the usual. Emily and i were taking our lunch out of the pinic basket and setting everything up.
"Emily?" i asked. She looked up."Can i ask you something?"
" Sure," she answered, looking curiously at me.
"It's going to sound really personal, I know, but...do you love Christian?" Emily stared at me and i worried that I'd gone too far. Then, her features softened and she looked me in the eyes. Blue met brown, and i knew the answer. i smiled at her.
" I thought so. You know, he loves you too, right?" She smiled.
"Really?" I nodded. "Yeah. Head over heels." i paused.
"one more thing," I said. "How in the world did you get him up on stage?" We both starting laughing, and neither of us wanted tostop. At that moment, I knew that the summer Emily came would be one i would never forget,a dn I had a feeling that she would be around for a lifetime.