*All stories are fiction for friends. Any resemblance to people, places, or events are purely coincidental!
Angie's Adventures
1st Corinthians 13:8a
Love never ends.
Angie pulled her hair back into a thick pony tail. She bundled up in her snow coat and snow pants, ready for a hike in the woods. The cold February air chilled her face when she headed out the door of her house. The cold air was exhilarating. She started along with some singing, the snow crunching under her feet. She hiked through the woods, excited to be out and walking. As she was hiking along, her thoughts drifted to the past year.
The previous year had been an adventure. She had gone to a party with some friends. There she met a young man named Zeke Olsen. She was getting a cup of juice when someone bumped into her. She tipped, and with her went the juice. All over her white kaprees. As all this was happening, she fell to the floor. "I'm so sorry!" Zeke said in shock. Angie, still on the floor, stared at her white kaprees and burst out laughing. "It's alright!" she said between giggles. Zeke reached out his hand and helped her up. She stood, and laughed, "I guess I'll have to tie-dye these the rest of the way!" Zeke laughed along with her. "How about we join the soccer game? That'll help!" he said with a wink.
They joined the soccer game, and with the fun, the evening passed too quickly. The next month was filled with BBQ's and picnics of their mutual friends, so they had fun getting to know one another, and everything was full of teasing. One of the picnics was by the lake. They rented a canoe and life jackets, then headed out on the lake. The sun was shining bright, so the entire lake glittered like diamonds. As Angie paddled along, Zeke was staring at her. "What?" she said, feeling his stare. "I'm not sure what's more beautiful, you or the lake of diamonds!" he said with a sweet smile. She blushed slightly and continued to paddle.
That fall they went for a hike up a mountain. They accidentally chose the hottest day that summer for the hike. Unfortunately it was the only day available for them to both hike up the mountain. So they went anyways. Zeke and Angie made it to the top, sweaty and hot, but they made it. They sat down at the top and surveyed their surroundings. The view was breathtaking. Zeke, carrying the backpack with water, gave a water bottle to Angie. "If it wasn't so hot up here," he said with a wink, "I'd put my arm around you." Angie smiled, "It's a good thing you aren't doing that, I melting as it is."
The hike down wasn't as good as the hike up. Near the bottom of the mountain, Angie slipped, tripped, and fell. Her left leg was injured, bloody and broken. Zeke carefully carried her with extreme caution down the rest of the way. Angie was embarrassed, but with all the pain, she couldn't care less. He drove her to the hospital where she was bandaged. Angie, absolutely exhausted from the ordeal, fell asleep in the car on the way home. So Zeke carried her into the house, where her anxious parents greeted her.
Zeke knew he was falling in love with her, but he couldn't bring himself to say that to her. He tried many times during the couple weeks she rested. She did light work around the house the next couple weeks after that, but even then, Zeke couldn't bring himself to say how much he cared for and admired her. Angie knew he had something to tell her, but he never did. She too, found herself falling in love. He was kind and compassionate, his loving actions never ending. She did her best to return the love, by making special treats for him, or encouraging him.
By the time Angie was almost back to normal, Zeke had to leave for the holidays to stay with his family. It was bittersweet to say goodbye, for a while, to a man she had met only months before. But those months were the best she had ever had. He was gone all during Christmas, but he did call a couple times, to wish her a Merry Christmas and chat with her. She kept busy during Christmas so she wouldn't notice how much she missed him.
When the holidays were over, Zeke came home to a great big hug. "Angie!" he said with a loving shout of exclamation. Angie was waiting at his house with a home-cooked meal and a Christmas present. He also had a present, for Angie. They sat down to a delicious dinner, catching up on news of friends and each others families. They talked long into the night, then realized they hadn't exchanged presents. Zeke opened his present first, a knit scarf made by Angie. Then Angie opened hers, it was a scarf, knit by Zeke's mother. They laughed.
The past couple months had flown as they went out with each other, shopping or just out for coffee. Yesterday, it had been Valentine's day. They had agreed to meet up for a lunch at Panera. Angie arrived first. She waited at a table by the fireplace. Soon Zeke arrived, and they ordered lunch. They had a pleasant lunch, eating, laughing, and chatting. After lunch, they decided to take a walk. Halfway through the walk, Zeke finally got the courage to say how much he loved Angie. So he did. "Angie, I love you. I promise my love for you will never end. Will you marry me? Now I don't have a ring, but will you please marry me?"
Angie smiled at the recollection. She had said yes. She continued her way through the snow and looped her way back towards her house. She could hardly wait to see what adventures were in store for the coming year.
