Twenty Years Ago The Lovers Say Goodbye

Lizzie’s mind came back to the present and to the fact that she was sitting in a tree, escaping from the reality of having to move. The sun was setting, Liz felt the air getting colder and she wrapped herself in a brown wool sweater. It was Eddie’s sweater and it smelled of him.

She heard whistling below the branches. It was Eddie’s familiar impression of a woodpecker call. She saw his familiar dark brown curls and a flash of his bright green eyes. He knew where to find her. Liz was glad that Eddie found her. But she didn’t want to talk to him, she was afraid she would cry. “I know you are up there, Lizzie and I know why. Come on down.”, Eddie called to her.

“No way Eddie, I am not coming down. If I have to move away, no way.” So Eddie started to climb. Eddie had always been an active kid, a bit of a runt. But this summer he had a growth spurt. Liz noticed the muscles in his legs and arms as he climbed up to where she sat clutching herself. Eddie sat down quietly next to his miserable friend.

They sat together for a good ten minutes without saying anything. Eddie put his hand on Liz’s shoulder. She felt herself tingling. Her eyes started to well up. It is okay Liz I am going to miss you too. Liz turned to looking at Eddie. He wiped the tears from her cheeks. Liz saw that Eddie was crying too. She had not seen Eddie cry except for the time he lost his dog Ralph or Grandma Helen.

“Why are you crying, I am the one that is moving away?” “I know that’s why I am crying Lizzie. You are my best friend.” He reached out to hold her hand. She gave Eddie her hand to hold and with it some more of her heart. She felt tightness in her chest. She knew it that moment she was deeply in love with Eddie. Oh, no, she thought to herself. I want him to kiss me. In the next second, Liz kisses Eddie, gently on the lips. Eddie returned the kiss and kisses her again and again. She felt herself go weak at the knees.

“Do you like me a little bit”, Liz asked with a smile taking a breather. Eddie leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Yes I like you more than a little bit.” I want to stay home here on this branch kissing you until we die okay?” “Wow, you do? Oh, shut up and kiss me you fool”, Lizzie giggles. Eddie said, “I love you”, again and again and again with every kiss.

The sun was beginning to set. “Lizzie, I want to keep kissing you forever, but it might be safer down on the grass when the sun goes down. “You are right, Eddie.” Liz wiped away a tear and smiled at her closest friend. “Ed, you go down first and catch me.” Liz you know I am always here to catch you.”

As they found safe footing on the earth below, Eddie pulled his dearest friend into his arms under the birch tree. “You know something else we haven’t done Lizzie?” “There are many things we haven’t done? We may never get to do.” Liz is on the verge of weeping again. Eddie whispered in her ear. “Just be here with me Liz. Don’t think about tomorrow or an hour from now. We are under these amazing stars and our favorite birch tree is begging us to dance.”

Her heart was beating so fast she was convinced Eddie could hear her heart breaking. “Take my hand. I don’t want to go”, Lizzie sang. Don’t go stay with me right now. Liz rested her head on Eddie’s chest. “Eddie I feel warm inside. “It isn’t just making out. We have kissed a thousand times before, not like this. Lizzie. It is like I want to take care of you. Protect you and hold you until we both are old and kick the bucket.”

“Liz, let’s just feel this love. Let’s stop talking for a few minutes. But Liz is fearful of the unknown, fears the warmth between her legs and fears never seeing Eddie again. “Lizzie I don’t want you to run away into night away from me as he reached out to her crying. “ Let’s at least have this moment. Let yourself feel happy for a moment.
You will move to tomorrow but we still have this dance,” Eddie softly spoke in her ear. “Sweetie. Don’t run away from what you want, joy, from us.” “I am sorry Eddie I just can’t do this. It is too hard I have to leave you and I have to leave you right now or I wouldn’t be able to leave you at all. Eddie catches her hand. “Honey, let go.” Lizzie yanked her hand away and sprinted out into the darkness. Eddie cried out after Lizzie, “Come back!”, Eddie shouted several times before he collapses on the dark earth. He found their birch tree and leaned his back against it for support. His best friend was gone, Eddie felt lost and that nothing will be the same again.

Ruth and Ted discovered their son in the morning curled up under the white birch. They wondered what had happened. They saw their son’s tear stained face. “Eddie, do you want me to carry you home like a sack of potatoes,” his father asked after Eddie tripped over his feet as he tried to stand up. “Dad, that isn’t necessary. I can walk. I will be okay. “We know that son,” Ruth offered, taking her son’s hand in hers. “You are not alone and Lizzie will be a phone call away.”
“Thanks for saying that Dad. I don’t know. I don’t know anything. She ran away from me Dad, she felt hurt and ran away from me.” Ted and Ruth encircled Eddie in their arms and Eddie cried like a baby.