Long Winter’s Night

Working Title: Long Winter’s Night

By: Sandy Steele

Chapter One

Carly Jones loved the snow on a brisk winter’s night in her hometown of Rexburg, Idaho. Tonight wasn’t any different. The snow was lightly falling as her boyfriend Justin Owens was driving home from their latest date. It was the perfect last date. He didn’t know it yet, but tonight was the last night that he would see Carly. She had to let him go.

Since they were young Justin had always talked about going on a mission for their church. He would be gone for two years, once he turned nineteen. First, he had to repent. They loved each other too much. Carly knew that if she didn’t leave now he would never go on his mission. They would keep having a relationship that was meant for marriage. Something they both had been taught was sacred.

“You are very quite tonight,” Justin said to her turning down the volume of the car radio.

“I’m just enjoying the moment is all.” Carly replied.

“Penny for your thoughts?” he inquired of his lovely girlfriend. In a year he would be nineteen and off on a mission. How could he leave her knowing all they had done together.

“I’m not sure you want them.” She looked out the window just in time to see how close they were to her house.

Puzzled Justin asked, “Are you sure you are okay?”

“I’m a little tired is all.” She replied. Justin pulled his car into the driveway, turned it off, got out and walked around to open the passenger side. He truly was a gentlemen.

“Want me to help you to the door? It is a little slick out right now.” He said reaching for Carly’s hand. She gently took it and he pulled her up. With his free hand he closed the car door.

“Sure.” Carly said as the glided across the snowy driveway to the pathway that led to the brightly decorated patio. Even though it was nearly midnight, the Christmas lights shone brightly of the holiday season.

Just as they were getting closer to the door Carly slipped on an ice patch and with a thud they both went down. “Oh, naturally,” Carly muttered.

Justin reached for the nearest snow. He surprised Carly by shoving it in her face – softly. Reaching for some snow herself she managed to do the same right back. They both tried not to burst into laughter as they laid on the cold concrete. Carly pulled her camera out wanting to document the occasion.

Right before the flash went off Justin made a funny face. She planned at that moment that wherever she ended up she would get this picture printed and framed. Justin embraced Carly and gave her a kiss on the lips. “I love you Carly Jones.”

Knowing what she was about to do a single tear slid down the side of her face. “I love you, too.” She told him.

Carefully, he got up from the freezing sidewalk and turned to pull Carly up toward him. With one last kiss goodnight Carly walked through the front door. “Good night, Justin.”

“Night,” Justin said and returned to his car.

Carly went straight to her bedroom and watched his car drive away. When it was out of sight she went to her closet and pulled out her blue duffle bag she used mostly for going to soccer practice. She filled the bag quickly with shirts, pants and other necessities. She quietly headed to the bathroom and pulled out her travel kit. She decided she would just buy new bathroom essentials when she got to wherever she was going.

Upon returning to her bedroom she wrote two letters. One for her parents and one for Justin. She placed them on the kitchen table on her way out the door. With keys in hand she turned out all the lights and went out to her car that her Grandparents bought for her sixteenth birthday a year and a half ago.

She started the car and headed off.