As the rain began to fall harder and faster, Annie attempted to pull herself together in order to make the long journey home. She knew that she would have to face her problems head on if she ever wanted to accomplish anything. But, as she slowly turned around, she was surprised to be stopped by a familiar face—William’s.
“What are you doing here?” Annie asked in the steadiest voice she could manage.
“I come up here to clear my head. Even with the rain, this has always been the place I could come and really think.”
It had been months since they had seen each other. This was all too surreal for Annie. As she gazed into his almond-shaped eyes and watched his lips open and close, memories began to rush into her head. She remembered gazing into those dark eyes and kissing those soft lips. She remembered how those same arms he now used to pull his jacket off and put it around her used to hold her close for hours at a time.
Annie thankfully took William’s jacket and threw the hood over her head. William did not seem to be bothered at all by the large drops of water that fell and rolled down his kindly face and soaked his tan, striped shirt.
They walked silently back toward her car. William did not ask what was wrong, and Annie was grateful for that. She did not want to talk. She just wanted to walk in his arms and occasionally look his way as he offered that casual grin that she had fallen in love with so long ago. He always knew what to say, or, in this case, what not to say.
When the two reached Annie’s car, they stood there for a minute and looked at each other. Then, they both looked down at the sun-baked sand beneath them. Each attempted to speak simultaneously. “Look,” William endeavored to say. “I know that,” Annie managed at that same moment. The two looked up at each other. A couple of minutes passed. “I’m sorry,” William said.
“I know; it’s not your fault,” Annie replied while tracing circles in the sand with the toe of her shoe.
“I miss talking to you. I miss spending time with you. Lately, so many things have been happening in my life that I have wanted to call and tell you about.”
“Me, too. I mean. . .with my mom. . . and my dog. . .and Hannah. . .and. . .of course, you. . .” Annie’s words trailed off; she had begun to weep again. William grabbed her and held her and told her it would be okay. He said that one day it would all make sense. He told her that it could not have been anything less than God that brought them together again at that moment. He said that seeing her on the edge of that plateau against the backdrop of the warmly painted sky, he realized she was the most important person in his life. And, even though, they had to be a part for right now because he just could not fight with his parents anymore, he knew that one day they would be together again.
Annie looked up at William with reddened eyes and teardrop stains visible on her flushed cheeks. She had never known anyone as kind or as compassionate. She had never loved anyone so much. Just looking at him, she knew things would eventually work out. She trusted his judgment, and she knew that God had heard her cries and sent William to answer them. “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice,” (Psalms 55:17).
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