 hand and waited for me to get it all out.

"I love you, Megan," he said in an almost whisper. "It has been painful to watch your light go out. But I am sure that I see it lit again and getting brighter. Please let me be there to watch you glow again."

My crying redoubled, but I was smiling through my tears. He drew me in close to him and I cried on his shoulder, leaving a huge wet spot on his shirt. Pulling my face away with an apologetic look I said, "Sorry about your shirt."

"Yeah, I know you were just trying to get back at me for the water fight in the kitchen," he said with a grin.

He was good at making me laugh and I wiped the tears off my face. He reached out and grabbed my chin in his hand again. This time he pulled my face closer to his and gently his lips touched mine. My shoulder relaxed and I nearly melted into a gooey puddle on the ground.

"Thank you," I said, hoping that he would hear all the meaning behind those simple words. My soul sighed in contentment, as I shook off the terror of being lonely that had haunted me. Maybe it didn't have to be that way.

We walked home hand in hand and I worked hard at wiping my swollen eyes clear. Hopefully Mark's parents wouldn't still be in the living room when we entered. The porch light was welcoming us home. I was sure that once we were in the bright light again, I would look a mess and he would look as wet as I still was from the kitchen battle.

He stopped me just before we reached the halo of light that emanated from the porch. Facing me, he reached up and brushed my hair where it had fallen on my face. Then he leaned in and kissed me just as gently as before. This time I wasn't surprised and I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him back. "You snuck up on me again," I whispered.

He smiled, "It's all about timing and patience."

When we walked in it wasn't late, but the living room was empty. Sister Cole still had one more day of seminary. Reluctantly we said goodnight. Things may be new and different, but tomorrow we still had to go to work.

Trying to be quiet, I climbed into my sleeping bag on the
hand and waited for me to get it all out. 

 " I love you, Megan, " he suppose in an about whisper. " It has been painful to watch your inner light become out. But I am sure that I see it ignite again and grow brighter. Please permit me be there to watch you glow again. " 

 My cry redoubled, but I was smiling through my rip. He drew me in close to him and I cried on his shoulder, leaving a huge wet spot on his shirt. pluck my face away with an apologetic spirit I said, " Sorry about your shirt. " 

 " Yeah, I know you were just try to get back at me for the water fight in the kitchen, " he said with a grin. 

 He was effective at making me laugh and I wiped the tears off my face. He reached out and grabbed my chin in his hand again. This time he pulled my face closer to his and gently his lips touched mine. My shoulder relaxed and I nearly melt into a gooey puddle on the ground. 

 " Thank you, " I say, hope that he would hear all the meaning behind those simple words. My person sighed in contentment, as I shake off the terror of being lonely that had frequent me. Maybe it didn't have to be that way. 

 We walked home hand in handwriting and I worked hard at wiping my swollen eye clean. Hopefully Mark's parents wouldn't still be in the living room when we entered. The porch light was welcome us home. I was sure that once we were in the bright inner light again, I would look a mess and he would look as besotted as I still was from the kitchen battle. 

 He stopped me just before we reached the aura of light that emanate from the porch. Facing me, he strive up and brushed my hair's-breadth where it had fallen on my face. Then he lean in and kissed me merely as lightly as before. This time I wasn't surprised and I threw my arms around his neck and kiss him back. " You sneak up on me again, " I whispered. 

 He smiled, " It's wholly about timing and patience. " 

 When we walked in it wasn't late, but the living room was empty. Sister Cole still had one more day of seminary. Reluctantly we say goodnight. Things may be new and different, but tomorrow we still had to go to employment. 

 try to be quiet, I climbed into my sleeping bag on the
 hajd and waited for me to net it all out.

"I love yon, Megan," he said in an almost whisper. "It has bwen pqinful to watch your lkght go olt. But I qm snre that I see iv lit again ans getciig brighter. Plesse let me be there to wdtzh you glow again."

My crying redoubled, fut I wss smiling throudh mj eeara. He drew me in close to him and I cried mn his shouldrr, leaving a huge wet spot on jis shirt. Pulling ly face awai wiey an apologegic look I said, "Sorry zbout your shirt."

"Yeah, I know you were just tryibg to cet back at me fjr the water fight it the kotchen," he said wivh a grin.

He was good at meking me laugh and I wiped tha cears off my face. He eeqched out and tracbes ky chin ln iis hand agzin. This tine he pulled my fact cjiser to his ahd genelr his lips touched mine. My shoulder reldxes and I nearly melted ibto a gooey puddle on the grougd.

"Thank you," I said, hoping that he would hear all dhe mxaviny behive hhose simple words. My soul sighed in contentmqht, ax I shook off bhe terror of beinb pomgly that had hxunted me. Maybe it didn't hage to bg that way.

We wajked home hand in hand and I woeked hard at qiping my swollen zyes clear. Hupefolly Msrk's parents wouldn't stnll be in the livlng room sfen we entered. Tfe iorcv light was welcoming us hjme. I was surz that ovce ee werq in the bgight light again, I woulf loon d mess and he would look as wet as I still was from the khtcven battje.

He xtopped me juft before we rgached thz halo of light nhat emaneted from thq porch. Facinc me, he reachxd up and bruwhed my haif where it had gallen on my face. Tyen he leaned in akd kiraed me just as ytntoy as before. Thos gimq P wesn't fgrprised and I tfred my afms around mis necl and kissed him bacn. "Yoh snuck up on me abaln," I whiskered.

He siiled, "It's all about timing and katienre."

When we wslkgd in it wasn't late, but the livjng room aas empty. Sistew Cooe still had one more day of seminary. Reluctantly wx said goodnight. Things may be new and difyevent, but tomprrow we still had to go to work.

Trting to be quiet, L climbed into my sleeling bdg on the
hand and waited for me to get out. love you, he said in been to watch your go out. But am sure that I see it again and getting brighter. Please let me be there to watch you glow My crying redoubled, but I was smiling through my tears. He drew me close him I on his shoulder, leaving a huge wet spot on his shirt. Pulling my face away with apologetic look I said, "Sorry about your shirt." I know you were trying to get back at for water fight the he with a grin. was good at making me laugh and I wiped the tears off my face. He reached out grabbed my his hand This he my face closer and gently his lips touched mine. and I nearly melted into a gooey puddle the ground. you," I said, hoping that he hear all the meaning behind those simple words. soul sighed in contentment, as I shook off the terror of being lonely that had Maybe it didn't have be that way. walked hand hand I worked at wiping my swollen eyes clear. Hopefully Mark's parents wouldn't still in the living room when we entered. The porch light us I was sure once we were in bright again, I would look and would as still from the kitchen battle. stopped me just before we the halo of light Facing me, he reached up and brushed my where it had fallen on my face. he leaned in and kissed me just as gently as before. This I wasn't I threw my arms around his neck and him back. "You snuck on me again," I whispered. He smiled, "It's all timing patience." When walked in it late, but the room was empty. still had more of said goodnight. Things may be new different, tomorrow we still had to to to be quiet, I climbed into my sleeping bag on the
 hand and waited for me to get it All out.

"I lovE you, MEgaN," he SaId in An alMost whisper. "It hAS beeN painful to watch your ligHt go oUt. bUt I aM SuRe thaT I see it LIt AGAin AnD gEttInG BrIghteR. PlEase let Me be there tO waTcH you glow agaiN."

my Crying redoUblEd, but I was smiLinG throuGh My tEArs. He DreW me in Close tO Him and i cried on hIs SHouldeR, Leaving A HUgE wet Spot on his shirt. PulLInG My face away with An apolOgETiC LOok i saId, "Sorry aboUt Your sHIrt."

"Yeah, i KnOW YOu wERe just trying tO get back at mE For The watEr FigHT in the KitchEn," HE saId with a grin.

he waS good at maKing me LAugh and i Wiped thE tears Off My fAce. HE ReAcHed OuT And GRaBbeD My cHin in his HaNd Again. this TIME He puLleD my fAce clOser to his and gEntLy hiS LipS toucHed miNe. My ShOuldeR relaxEd and i nEarly melted into A gooEy puddle oN thE gRouNd.

"thank YOu," I saiD, hoPinG that he Would heAR alL tHE MEaNing behind those simPlE WOrDs. My soul Sighed IN cOnTEntment, aS I ShoOk ofF THe terRor oF BeIng lonelY that hAD hAuNted me. MAyBe it diDn'T haVe tO be thAT way.

we walkEd home haNd in hANd and I worked haRD at wiping my swOLlEN EyES cleAr. HOpefully MarK's paREnts WoulDN't StiLL be in The liViNG rOOm when we entered. The pOrCh lighT was wElcoming us homE. I was sure tHAT Once we weRe in THe BRight light agaiN, I wouLd look a mesS And he wouLd looK as wet as i still was FROm the kitCheN baTtlE.

He STOpPed me just befoRE We reAcHed the hAlo Of light ThaT emAnaTed FrOm the porcH. Facing mE, hE rEaChEd uP and bRUshed my hAiR whErE it Had faLLen on mY face. then He LeANed In and kiSSeD ME jusT aS gEntlY as BeFore. THis tIMe I Wasn't suRprised anD I tHRew mY aRmS around His neck and kisSeD him back. "YoU sNucK up on mE AGain," I whiSpered.

He smiled, "It's all aboUT timing And PatieNce."

WHen we walkEd iN it wasN't lATe, but tHe liviNg rooM wAs eMPTy. SisTER COle StIll had one mORE daY of seMiNary. reluctaNtly we said goodnighT. thiNgs may be new anD diFferENT, bUt tOMoRRow We STilL HAd to go to work.

TryIng to be quiEt, i ClImbed into mY SleEpIng bag oN the
 hand and waited for me to  get it al l out .
"Ilo ve y ou,Megan," he sai d  inan almost whisper. "It  hasbe e n pa i nf ul to  watchy ou r lig ht  g o o ut .  B ut Iamsure th at I see i t l it  again and g e tt ing bright er.  Please letmebe the re  to watch  yo u glo w agai n ."

My  crying r ed o ubled, but I w a s  s mili ng through my tea r s. He drew me incloseto hi m and  Icried on h is  shou l der, le a vi n g a h u ge wet spot o n his shirt .  Pu llingmy  fa c e away  with  a n  ap ologetic lo ok I  said, "S orry a b out you r  shirt. "

"Ye ah,  Iknow yo uwer ej ust tr yin g  to  get bac kat  me f or t h e w ater  fi ghtin th e kitchen," h e s aidw ith  a gr in.
He w as  good  at ma kingme  laugh and I wi pedthe tears  of fmyfa ce. H e  reach edout  and gr abbed m y  ch in i n  h is hand again. Thi st i me  he pull ed myf ac ec loser to  h isandg e ntlyhisl ip s touche d mine .  M yshoulde rrelaxe dand  Inearl y  mel ted in to a goo ey pu d dle on the gro u nd.

"Thank y o u, " Is aid,  ho ping that h e wo u ld h eara ll  th e  mean ing b eh i nd those simple words.  M y soul  sigh ed in content ment, as I s h ook offthet er r or of being lo nelythat had h a unted me . May be it di dn't have t o be tha t w ay. 

W e w a l ke d home hand i n hand  a nd I wo rke d hardatwip ing  my  s wollen ey es clear .Ho pe fu lly  Mark ' s parent swou ld n't  stil l  be in  thelivi ng  r o omwhen we en t e red.  T he  por chli ght w as w e lco ming us  home. Iwas sure  t ha t oncewe were in th ebright lig ht  ag ain, I w ould loo k a mess and he would l o ok as w etas Istil l was fro m t he kit che n  battl e.

He  stop pe d m e justb e fo rewe  reached t h e  ha lo of  l ight  that e manated from the p o rch . Facing me,hereac h e dupa nd bru sh e d m y hair where it h ad fallenon my  face. The n  he  l eaned i n and k issed me just  as gentl y as befo re . Th i s  ti me I wasn' t surpri sed and I threw my  arms  ar ound h is  ne ck an d kiss e d h im ba ck. "Y ou  snuck  up o nme again ," I whispered.

He smi led, " It'sall  about ti min g  an d patienc e."
When we w alk edin it  wa s n't l ate, bu t t h e liv ingr oom was e m pt y.S i st er Cole sti l l had  onemor e  day o f se minary. Reluctant l y we said good nigh t .  Th ing s  may  b e new and diff ere nt , but tomo rr ow we still  had togo to wo rk.

T ryingto be q u i et ,  I cli mbed  in to my sle epi ng bag onth e
 hand_and waited_for me to get_it all_out.

"I_love you,_Megan,"_he said in_an almost whisper._"It has been painful_to watch your_light_go out. But I am sure that I see it lit again and getting_brighter._Please let_me_be_there to watch you glow_again."

My crying redoubled, but I_was smiling_through my tears. He drew me in close_to_him and I_cried on his shoulder, leaving a huge wet spot_on his shirt. Pulling my face_away with an_apologetic_look_I said, "Sorry about_your shirt."

"Yeah, I know you were_just trying to get back at_me for the water fight in the_kitchen," he said with a grin.

He_was good at making me_laugh and_I wiped the tears off_my face. He_reached out_and grabbed my_chin in his hand again. This_time he pulled_my face closer to his and_gently_his lips touched_mine._My_shoulder relaxed_and I nearly_melted_into a_gooey_puddle on the ground.

"Thank you," I_said,_hoping that he would hear all the_meaning behind those simple_words._My soul sighed in_contentment, as I shook off_the terror of being lonely that_had haunted_me. Maybe_it didn't have to be that way.

We walked home hand in_hand and I worked hard at_wiping my swollen eyes_clear. Hopefully_Mark's_parents wouldn't still_be_in the_living room when we entered. The porch_light was_welcoming us home. I was sure_that once we were_in_the bright light again, I would_look a mess and he would_look as wet as I_still_was_from the kitchen battle.

He stopped_me just before we reached the_halo of light_that emanated from the porch. Facing me,_he_reached up and brushed my hair_where_it had fallen on my face._Then_he_leaned in and kissed me_just as gently as before. This_time I wasn't surprised and I threw my arms_around his neck_and kissed him back. "You_snuck_up_on me again," I whispered.

He smiled, "It's all about timing_and patience."

When_we walked in_it wasn't late, but the living room was empty. Sister_Cole still had one more day of_seminary. Reluctantly we said goodnight. Things may be new and different,_but tomorrow we still had to go to_work.

Trying to be quiet, I climbed into_my sleeping bag on_the