The Park

My Loving Josh,1

Do you remember this picture of us? The one taken at the park? We were sitting on the plastic bench in front of the jungle-gym. The trees in the background look as if they are making a barrier, closing us away from the rest of the world. There are no other people in the park with us, which just adds to the tree/barrier illusion. The sun is setting beyond the trees, making the whole sky light up purple and orange, our two favorite colors. 2

I love looking at this picture. It was one of the best days of my life. It was windy that day, do you remember? You can hardly see your porceline face through my golden locks. Your luscious chocolatey curls blow away from your face, showing your piercing blue eyes. Those wonderful eyes, they seem to see right into my soul. You always knew exactly what I wanted, even if I denied it. You're smiling in this picture, although you can't see it behind my hair. You can always tell when you're smiling, it reaches all the way up to your eyes and they crinkle at the edges. My smile is also barely visible through the hair blowing across my pale complection. The smile on my full pillowy lips does not reach to my hazel eyes, but shows how happy I am to be there all the same.3

We're leaning into each other on the blue plastic bench. It looks as though we are the best of friends, that we really love each other. My small white hand is enveloped in your own hands while my other hand holds the camera at arms length to take the picture. To anyone else we would look like the most lovey-dovey couple, but we know that this is just the way we act. Taking random pictures of the two of us, doing whatever whenever; it was just the way we were. Nothing mattered to us, we just lived in the moment.4

The tops of our legs are just visible at the bottom of the picture where the camera cut off. My plaid covered legs rest gently between your jean-clad legs. Through the holes in the seat of the bench you can see the lush green grass. It was hard to believe that grass would be that green during the fall season, but that small thing just adds to the beauty of the picture.5

I can still remember that day vividly. I hope you can still remember it like I do. That day was the first time I told you that I loved you. What made it all better was your reply; that you loved me too. I was the happiest that day than I ever had been in my life. But now those feelings of happiness have faded. The day you left was one of the hardest for me. I couldn't understand how you could just pick up and move away like that; move away from me. You promised that we would see each other again soon and that we would talk every night. Those talks late at night when everyone else is asleep hold a special place in my heart.6

The day you moved away left me heartbroken, and the way I got out of it was just looking at this picture. That's why I'm sending it to you. I hope this picture brings you the same happy memories that it brings me. Someday I hope that we can be together like that again. I look forward to that day, but for now I just have the picture.7

I know you will never forget me, and I will never forget you. I will see you again soon and we can visit that park, make some new memories on that bench. Until then, know that I love you, and I always will.8

Yours forever,9

Kari