Love is

Ashley Coulson

I had three friends. Eric, Cathleen, Carol. Eric was chased by all the girls in our high school. Cathlyn was one of those popular girls. Cheerleader, sexy, and stylish. Carol was just one of those plain and average girls but still awfully pretty.

Cathlyn and Carol were both totally crazy and wacko over Eric. Cathlyn didn't have to do anything to attract Eric, for she was already attractive enough. Carol on the other hand, showered Eric with love and care. Carol wasn't ugly at all. In fact, she looked sweet and pleasant. However, she wasn't a cheerleader and she didn't wear spaghetti-straps or tubes.

So like everyone expected, Eric chose Cathleen. While Cathleen was labelled as the cool and attractive type, Carol was just one ordinary and plain girl.

Eric always insulted Carol. He was always telling her what a 'Plain Jane' she was and how dumb she looked. It made Carol felt hurt and useless. Despite Eric's insults, Carol never gave up. She wanted to prove something to Eric. She wanted to prove that looks aren't everything. She studied hard, really hard. She became the top girl in her school and all the guys who once ignored her went after her.

Regardless of her success, she never forgot Eric. Everyday, she put a red rose in Eric's locker with the same words.
'I care for you, and I always will' Because she knew that Eric was facing a hard time.

Soon, Eric began to realise how dumb he had been when he saw his beloved girlfriend Cathleen flirting with other guys. He regretted choosing the wrong girl.

Cathleen broke up with Eric some time later for she had found a wealthier guy. Eric felt cheated, stupid and dumb. He went to look for Carol. He knelt on his knees, and said.
"Carol, please forgive me. Do you want to be my girlfriend?" Carol rejected him, much to everyone's surprise. She only uttered these words.
"You've suffered a great loss, so I don't want you to face another one"

Eric felt disappointed. He didn't understand a word that she said to him. However, they became good friends and did everything together. Eric began to change into someone better because Carol showered him with the love he had never experienced before. His ex-girlfriends had never treated him that way as they just accepted him for his looks. In comparison, Carol accepted him for who he is and changed him to become a better person. Carol continued putting a red rose into his locker everyday with the same words. She never forgot.

One day, Carol didn't turn up in school. She didn't come for a week. At first, Eric thought that she was on a vacation with her family because she told him that she would be going Hawaii with them. He thought nothing about it until he received a call from the General Hospital. They told him that Carol was about to die. She had been suffering from cancer but Carol forbade them from telling him because she didn't want Eric to worry about her.

Now that she was about to die, she wanted to see Eric for the last time. Eric rushed to the hospital immediately. When he saw how weak Carol was, tears streamed down his cheeks.
He whispered, "Why didn't you tell me earlier? Why did you hide this from me?"
She looked at him and smiled weakly.
"When I said that I didn't want you to suffer from facing another loss, I meant this. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to worry. I wanted to spend my last days with you cheerfully." Eric looked at her.
"You can't leave me!" he said.
"What will I be without you?"
"You'll be who you are now. I will always be there by your side. Never forget that. Cherish those times. Live life happily. And one more thing."
"Yes?"
"I love you"

And she died. Eric screamed. He still couldn't accept Carol's death. He had only spent a month with Carol. One short month was enough for Carol to change his life in a way that no one could ever explain. Eric had many regrets but he knew that Carol would always be keeping an eye on him from Heaven.

Sometimes, we just don't appreciate those people who really care for us until they leave us or until we lose them. Then, it would be too late for regrets. Outer beauty doesn't matter; it's the inner one that counts. It's better to tell someone how much you love them now rather than to not tell them and lose them without telling them.

Love is when we fight till the very last minute just to show and tell someone how much we love them to live life without regrets.