From Blue23Rose (Vickie) - FIRST PLACE WINNER
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ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Thinking back to that cold February 14th morning in 1855, MARGARET can REMEMBER feeling as IF she were walking on CLOUD NINE that day. It was AFTER ALL, her WEDDING DAY. She and VICTOR, the LOVE of her life, stood SIDE BY SIDE at the altar and pledged their troth to each other. It was a BLISSFUL BEGINNING to a TIMELESS ROMANCE.
A faint smile crossed her lips as she remembered that FATEFUL ENCOUNTER that had brought them together so MANY MOONS ago. MARGARET had never believed in LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT until that FLEETING MOMENT when Victor’s eyes met hers on the FOREST PATH one sunny JUNE afternoon. CUPID’S ARROW had struck them both with TRUE LOVE that day. It was that moment when MARGARET realized that LOVE COMES QUICKLY to those who are willing to take the LEAP OF FAITH.
VICTOR was a doting husband and showered her with STRAWBERRIES AND CHOCOLATE to celebrate every VALENTINE ANNIVERSARY. One of her FAVORITE THINGS was when he would quote verses from love poems to her. She never tired of hearing him say, “How do I LOVE thee? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS.”
She reminisces about all the JOY AND HAPPINESS they shared THROUGH THE YEARS. INTIMATE talks, trips across the COUNTRYSIDE, and afternoon strolls HAND IN HAND through their BEAUTIFUL garden, are all just TREASURED MEMORIES NOW. Their LOVE and ADORATION for each other grew with each passing year.
The years flew like QUICKSILVER though, and AFTER more than FIFTY YEARS OF LOVE, VICTOR was suddenly struck with a grave illness. Nothing COULD BE done to save him. With his dying breath he said, “SWEETHEART, you have ALWAYS been my ONE AND ONLY VALENTINE. I will be WAITING FOR YOU and we will be TOGETHER AGAIN some day.”
The snow is gently falling NOW as MARGARET sits and stares out the window. Without her ONE TRUE LOVE, LIFE’S JOURNEY here on earth had lost its JOY. So she waits for A GATHERING OF ANGELS to take her to PARADISE. Then, ONCE AGAIN she will be on CLOUD NINE and her eyes will gaze LOVINGLY into Victor's as they stroll HAND IN HAND through the ETERNAL garden of HEAVEN, ALWAYS AND FOREVER.
