The Power Of Love- PART 1: A LOVE STORY FROM THE PAST- Chapter 2

It was my first night of counseling and all that I could think of to tell my counselor, Mark, was, "hi, I'm Amy Lee."1

He looked at me like he understood all of the shy gestures I made.2

"I know who you are." He smiled at me as he continued reading my records.3

My mom put me in counseling because I was quiet and didn't have many friends. She says that I was no average teen, and if I were, she'd know. She must not have knew me that well anymore.4

"Okay," Mark began. "Anything you say to me is just between you and I. The only way other people will be involved is if I see or hear of any sort of abuse or signs of suicide. We're going to start off with drawing."5

He got out coloring pensils and a piece of white paper.6

"First I want you to draw a girl. You can not use anything but these coloring pensils."7

I began to draw a girl.8

Mark looked about forty-five years old and was quite good looking for his age, I thought as I finished what simple piece of art I could think of to create.9

After drawing, he asked me questions like what is her name, where is she at, and what is she doing. I also had to draw a boy, a house, and a tree. It took me about thirty-five minutes to draw. We had nearly ten minutes left.10

"Wow," Mark said. "These drawings are fantastic!"11

"Thank you."12

"You and my son would get along. You have so much in common, even though he is sometimes too stubborn to show his great qualities."13

"How old is your son?"14

"He's nineteen and just graduated from high school."15

"Really? I did, too. What is his name?"16

"Justin Williams."17

I looked at Mark and, now that I knew who his son was, I saw the resemblence. I've had a crush on Justin since my Freshman year in school.18

"Do you know him?"19

"Yes, I know him."20

My heart began beating rapidly and I just wanted to cry. Not because he was the father of my crush, but because of the pain of wanting to be in love again. The pain of losing someone you truly love. 21

Mark gave me a card with the date of my next appointment and as I was walking out the door, he stopped me, giving me his home telephone number.22

"If you don't call him," he said, "then I'll have him call you."23

How did he know? Could he see it in my actions or by the look in my eyes? I just politely took the number, after he reminded me that he was the counselor, and then met my mom outside.24

"So how was it?" She asked.25

"Shocking I answered."26

"Why shocking?"27

"I'd rather not talk about it right now. I think I've had enough counseling for one day."28

"Get used to it," she said. "If you'd only use me as a counselor, we wouldn't be traveling back and forth to a complete stranger."29

"I'm eighteen, mom. I don't need a counselor." 30

"Sweetheart, there are thousands of people out there who seek professional help, or have someone they need to fend to, and half of them are older than you. You should start thinking about these things."31

"Is that what daddy was talking about the other day, when you two were in conversation?" Macenzie asked, her head resting on her hand.32

"Yes. It was our anniversary. He reminded me of how small the world really is, that you never know who you're going to run into, or who can make miracles happen."33

I sat at my bedroom desk, writing poetry. Poetry helped me ease my pain, even though the pain came back later. Afterward, I looked through newspapers and ads for an apartment or cheap enough house to rent. I circled some that may just be the winners.34

"Amy," I heard my mom call out for me. 35

"Yes, mom," I answered, walking toward her.36

"Telephone."37

I picked up the phone.38

"Hello?"39

"Hi, this is Justin."40

"I felt my face turn beat red.41

"Oh, hi Justin."42

There was a pause.43

"So how are you?" He asked.44

"Okay." Another pause. "I really don't know what to say," I told him.45

"Neither do I. Maybe we can get together and hang out sometime," he said.46

"Maybe."47

"Are you doing anything today?"48

"No. I was just searching the paper for a place to live, that's all. But if you want to come over and hang out for a while, you can."49

"That's cool," he said. "What's your address?"50

I gave him my address. I quickly freshenes up and cleaned any visible mess around the house. I felt nervous. I haven't had any guy over since my first love, which was about three years ago. Adults say that teens don't know what love is because they're too young. I may not know what love is, but I know the feeling.51

When I heard him knock at the door, I answered it, and said, "hi, come in, please."52

Gosh, he looked as great as he always had. Those tight, blue faded jeans that showed off his shapely lower part of his body and a flannel shirt to bring out his georgous face sent tingles throughout my whole body.53

"It looks really nice here."54

"Thank you."55

We sat down in the front room. I sat on the sofa while he took a seat in my mom's rocking chair.56

"So do you have any brothers or sisters?" He asked.57

"Yeah, I have three sisters and one brother. Brielle, Shianne, Andreah, and Alex."58

"Younger?"59

"Brielle and Shianne are twins, both are four, Andreah is twenty-three, and Alex is sixteen."60

"Oh."61

"Bri, Shy, and Alex are living with my grandma."62

"Cool."63

"So what about you?" I asked, not really knowing what to say.64

"I don't have any siblings. I get lonely at times, but I live."65

We learned a lot about each other that day. Somewhere in the middle of our conversation, I felt a spark. My second taste of love and was thankful he was taking things slowly. 66

He took me out a couple nights for dinner. He took me to where I needed to go to fill out applications for apartments and transported me to and from work. Not one time did he make a move, until about three months later. 67

It was after a night of romantic songs and dancing in candle light. It was a night I'd never in anything I do from here on out, forget. He walked me up to the front door of my mom's house. 68

"Well here we are," he said to me.69

"Yes...here we are...mom's house," I said, smiling, and we both laughed. "Thank you so much for this night."70

"No, thank you," he said, gently touching my cheek with his hand.71

I closed my eyes at the warmth of his working hand, and then it happened. It was a soft kiss that opened everything. I was happy but at the same time I felt so scared. A kiss changes everything in a relationship.72

I often thought about it, and I cried on and off before sleeping because I feared losing another love, even though I yearned to have it. I feared the coldness in a man. 73

My dad was a horrible man. I respect him and love him for bringing me into this world, but I can not bare to think about what he did to my mom. Every night I'd lay asleep in my bed, knowing that I'd be awoke by the aching wails of my mom, pleading him to let her go. I was only a child and I didn't know what I could do to help. Alex would run into my room, and we'd cry ourselves to sleep, holding each other, and wake up to a mom who had bruises all over her slim and weak body.74

This had me thinking, will it happen to me?75

"So how are you and Justin?" Mark asked me during my next appointment.76

"Let's put it this way," I said. "I love him."77

"Do you?"78

"Yes. With almost every part of my heart," I laughed. "It seems like each moment that passes that bond grows stronger between the both of us."79

"Do you have any plans together?"80

"Not that I know of. But, in a way, I am afraid to get into a deep relationship with him."81

"Why?"82

I told him about my dad. I told him about my ex-boyfriend, whom it took what seemed a lifetime to get over. I told him everything.83

"Justin isn't like that," he said. "I raised him better than that. He would never break your heart."84

"He doesn't seem that way."85

"Well," Mark said, glancing at the clock. "It's time for my next client. Here is your next appointment and I'll talk to you later."86

"Thank you Mark," I said, giving him a quick hug and then out the door.87

My mom was sitting outside, as usual.88

"Justin called and asked if I could drop you off at his place. Do you want to go?"89

My mom drove me through a friendly looking neighborhood. Children were outside playing with each other. Mothers were sitting on porches and dads were fixing cars, mowing their lawn, or sitting next to their wives. It was beautiful. 90

We stopped in front of a white house that had a rose bush by the driveway and a flowerbed under the windows. Justin was sitting on the porch.91

I quickly jumped out of the car, ran up to him, and hugged him while my mom drove away.92

"Hello sunshine," he said.93

"Hi sweetie."94

"I wanted to show you our new home."95

I looked unbelievingly at him.96

"What do you mean, our home?" I asked.97