Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Not Even Once


She was a beautiful, seventeen year-old. Her name was Merilee, and rightly so, for her laughter surrounded her as did the glow of her youth. Her light pink cheeks next to her long, dark, wavy hair gave her a look of sweetness and incorruptibility.  And yet, she had a bend toward evil, as we all do apart from the grace of God. But for the most all of her life, her trespasses were unnoticed, and this probably due to her tendency to smile and to care for the people around her. She certainly did have a desire to aid those who were hurting, and this is where her story begins to end.
            Joe grew up next to Merilee, and as children they would walk to and from Longfellow Elementary School every day. After obtaining their drivers licenses, the two friends quickly lost touch, even when living just a house away. When Merilee heard the news that Joe’s parents were getting a divorce, right after he had broken up with his serious girlfriend, Joann, she could hardly sleep, worried by the pain he may be feeling. After three nights of restless sleep, it was actually Joe who called, asking if Merilee would like a ride to school on such a cold winter day. Relief flooded her as she affirmed him and later jumped into his blue mustang. Her rapid rush to join him ironically began her dive into a reckless romance.
            In the eyes of almost every woman, Joe was considered extremely handsome. Standing at six foot two, having golden skin, dark curly hair, and intensely blue eyes, while exhibiting a respectful, caring personality, Joe appeared to be the perfect man for Merilee. In fact, she had already determined him to be the man for her by the time they reached school that morning. She convinced herself of this so completely that she didn’t second-guess his integrity when he introduced her to marijuana and his not-so-impressive friends a few days later. As weeks passed, Merilee was consumed with Joe, centering her identity upon him, and when she found herself pregnant with Joe’s child, she depended all the more on Joe’s display of affection for her.
            Joann was envious of Merilee since Joe first starting hanging around with her. She heard of Merilee’s secret when she was six months pregnant. In her mind, she hated Merilee and unconsciously plotted some sort of revenge. It was not until Merilee was eight months along that Joanna devised a scheme that was sure to have devastating consequences. Joann, employing a few friends, started a conversation when sitting near to Joann during lunch. Speaking in a way that Merilee could not help but hear, Joann glorified her experience in seeing Joe high on meth. “It wasn’t until he told me he loved me that I was able to witness him doing it.”
Merilee suddenly questioned Joe’s care for her, and begged him that night to show her as well. “That was nothing,” he said, “I only do it sometimes, and I wish you would just believe me when I say that I love you.”
            Merilee relentlessly insisted Joe to demonstrate his love to her in such a way. Considering the emotions of a pregnant woman, and his desire to please her, Joe brought her to his parent’s shed that weekend. He started to smoke the drug and after a few minutes, Merilee’s breathing started to quicken until she was wheezing uncontrollably. Joe was able to push her into his parent’s house, where they dialed 911. An emergency c-section was performed, removing the infant before the mother took her last breath. The child was placed in the neonatal intensive care unit until he was mature enough to live on his own. Merilee’s older sister, Iris, cared for the baby once he was released from the hospital until he was put into foster homes to be raised and nurtured by women who were willing to take care of him. This child was miraculously saved, although his mother was not. She experienced the fruit of her own pride and the envy of another.  
            

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