If Only for one night

This is not a dream that I actually had, but an idea I had for a music video??? haha

"Let me hold you tight...if only for one night......"

Tonight is the night, she thought. Tonight I will tell Kori how I feel about him! She had it all worked out in her mind. He had invited her over to his parent's beach-front house. It was the perfect time - she had waited so long!

Kori and Jade had been friends since high school. They were rather inseperable before Kori left to go on his full-time mission and Jade wrote to him religiously while he was in the mission field. And every so often, Kori would reply.

"Dear Jade

I can't believe that two years have almost gone by already! I'm trying not to think about it, because I love my mission so much and I love the people of the Philipines and teaching them about Jesus Christ and his true church on the earth. They are so teachable and humble.

But hey, I have to be honest and say that I can't wait to see you again. Girl, I've missed you so much, especially your chocolate chip cookies. We've got a lot to talk about when we get home. But! Enough thinking of home and you for two more weeks - I've got some soul saving to do. I think I've changed from the tall, skinny, immature 19 year old best friend I used to be. Hopefully, you'll be happy with the changes. I think the Lord is.

Eternally your best friend,
Elder Kori Richards"

He had changed, Jade thought to herself. Changed to an amazing young man. One whose testimony had been strengthened ten fold, and one she she could see spending all eternity with. HUH?! Jade suddenly realised that she was slowly developing deep, romantic feelings for her friend. Or maybe they had been there all along?

It was at the Sacrament Meeting where Elder Richards gave his homecoming talk, when she knew with her heart that she was in love with him. But he's just come home from his mission, she thought. I need to give him time to 'come home'.

One month went by, then another week and another. Kori and Jade spent a lot of time together as usual, just like before his mission. There was certainly a chemistry between them, or so she thought.

"Hey Jade, here's a silly question for ya, but do you love me?"
"Of course I do." The words flowed so naturally from her lips, yet she knew he would think 'just as a friend' loving way.
"No, I don't mean like that-." He chuckled.
"I was right - silly question! Of course you do."
She smiled at him and squeezed his hand.
"Now whose turn is it to make the popcorn? The movie starts in ten minutes!"

He looked at her differently now. Like he was on the verge of baring his soul to her, yet he seemed to be holding back as if he wasn't sure how she was feeling.

Jade had been out shopping for a gift of love for Kori when she came home and found a note from him.

"Jade,

I've got something really special to tell you tonight, it's a surprise, so don't be late. 7pm sharp!

Love
Kori x"

Yep, tonight's the night. Put the poor boy out of his misery. I'm sure he feels the same way about me! And he is going to put me out of my misery too!

She thought of the time when Kori had only been home from his mission for a couple of weeks. He had taken over his mission photos to Jade's place to organise into scrapbooks together.

"Who is this beautiful girl beside you in like 100 of the photos?"
"Oh, that's Rachael, remember I wrote you about her? She was my first baptism."
His eyes smiled.
"We kept in touch throughout my mission. But, in her last letter to me, she told me that she had deep feelings for me and that she wanted to come over when I got home. "
"Wow, how did you react to that?"
"Well, it was easy really. I was a missionary. I was on the Lord's errand. Plenty of time to think about all that girly stuff when I got home."
"Ooh, so you think anything will develop if she does come and visit?"
"Hmm I'll have to pray about that one!" he teased, "but if it means no more of your yummy chocolate chip cookies - she doesn't stand a chance!"

That's right, no other girl stands a chance tonight, Jade smiled.

She spent time getting her make up and clothing just right and finished wrapping her gift to Kori. It was a tie pin that read: choose the right. She finished with the finer details and looked at her watch. 6.45pm. She prayed to her Father in Heaven for strength and it was time to go. Her tummy all in knots with mixed emotions travelling wildly through her entire being. A wave of calm overwhelmed her. Everything will be just fine.

When Jade arrived at the beach house, several cars were already there. She caught a glimpse of Kori and a beautiful young woman at his side, talking to a group of his friends.

She was close enough to hear the conversation.

"Hey man! Congratulations! Talk about not wasting any time. When's the big day?"
"Well, if everything goes smoothly, hopefully June!"
"That's awesome! You guys are perfect for each other!"

It dawned on her. It was Rachael. She had come to visit. This must be their engagement party. This was the big surprise.

Kori turned to see Jade's pale face. He smiled excitedly at her then immediately recognised her shock and unbearable pain by her countenance. His own face dropped...

Blinded by tears of rage and pain, she sprinted to the water's edge.
I can't breathe. I can't see - I gotta get out of here! My chest is pounding I have to run. Why can't I breathe?? He didn't love me after all. He was just being my best friend. Why couldn't I see that? Why can't I breathe?

She reached the water's edge, her head buzzing with confusion, her eyes stinging with tears of rage and the deepest hurt imagineable. The water felt like jagged icicles stabbing her temple as she plunged head first into the dark abyss of the sea.





Prologue

"My sweet, beloved Jade,

It's been a year since the worst night of my life. And still, I can't get your facial expression out of my mind. It was the last one I ever saw of yours alive. It was an expression of the deepest hurt I have ever seen, an expression of betrayal and I could almost hear your heart stop beating.

It took me all of five seconds to recognise that night, that you loved me, and that you were going to tell me how you felt about me. But then you saw me standing with Rachael.

They said your death was accidental but no-one knows for sure. I keep on replaying through my mind what I could have done to change the events of that horrific night. I dove into the water after you but by then the rip had already claimed you. I finally saw you face downward, and took you to shore, attempted to revive you, but I knew you had gone.

That night was supposed to be the most special night of my life. It ended up becoming my greatest fear and worst nightmare.

On the night that I was supposed to ask my best friend, my love, to be my companion for time and all eternity, was the night I lost her to the depths of the sea.

Eternally your best friend,
Kori Richards.

"Let me keep you near.... to ease away your fear.... I'll be at your side....

If only for one.... night........"


(I know I know, Romeo and Juliet, but hey I was about 21 when I came up with the idea!)