Photo by James Cruikshank
A day had never gone by without her calling Lane to say goodnight to him...now he was busy with other things...
she understood. He didn't understand when he told her she should do other things too...get away from the
computer...and she couldn't. Sunny was happy for him, but at the same time a bit sad for herself.
Flirting would have to stop...oh it was going to be so hard, because she adored him. To stop getting those
incredible hugs was maybe a bit too much for her. Those hugs and his kisses were almost as real to her as any
she had ever gotten...she felt each and every one of them as she knew he did.
She was used to the calls...they slowed down. Sending a message to him on ICQ, she asked if she could call if it
was okay with him. His came back saying he was home...she could call if she wanted, which she did. It was
awkward for her, kind of like she was in the way. They didn't really say a lot, but, she did tell him that he had
pulled right away...he said he was moving on. Sunny knew then.
When they said good-bye, he didn't tell her to call later...all she could say was talk to you again sometime and
he said yep. When she hung up the phone, she covered her eyes with her hands and cried, letting the tears spill
through them...she missed the 'fun' him.
Some days were worse than others...Sunny craved his company when she took a break from work...cried because
she missed him. Withdrawals were agonizing, mentally and physically.
Weeks later, she started coming to grips with everything...Rick, there for her, helping her. He knew that it still
bothered her at times and was dealing with it the best he could. One day, out of the blue, he asked if she would
like to go away somewhere for the weekend, maybe to where Lane lived, to put her mind at ease for once and for
all...she agreed. He was taking a chance, but this had to be done.
The drive was long and hot, but all Sunny could think of was how frazzled she had once again become...now
thinking it was a bad idea.
Lane told her of his favourite climbing place at one time, she and Rick arrived late in the afternoon.
There were quite a few people...HE would be there with Amy.
Opening the door for her, Rick held out his hand, helping her out of the car, watching as she went up
the path to the base of the rock. Gazing upward in awe, Sunny wondered how Lane could hang up there like
that. Just once she wanted to be up there with him. Smiling, she knew he loved it, and it made him happy...
he'd talked about it for months now, describing the exhilarating feeling it gave him. She feared for him
when he engaged in one of those extreme sports, but he told her that if he were to die tomorrow he would
want it to be while doing something that gave him that much pleasure...she understood.
Turning to leave, their laughter caught Sunny's ears...she glanced back to watch them...tears fell. She knew
then that it was for the best that Lane and she hadn't met before...Amy could do so much more with him
than she could...the rock and ice climbing, the snowboarding, skiing...all of it. These were things that Sunny
would loved to have done...with him...but...it was never meant to be. She was happy for him and would
remain his friend as long as he wanted her to be.
She didn't feel the piece of paper in her pocket slip out and drop to the ground. Looking up once more at
them, then towards the road ahead of her, she made her way to the car where Rick was waiting for her.
Gently but firmly his hands gripped the steering wheel...Rick's thoughts agitated, as he watched for her to
come back. Wondering if he had done the right thing in bringing her here, had left his mind and heart in
a turmoil. Knowing how much he loved her and her feelings for him...were all on the line at that moment.
Anxiety wore furrows in his forehead...then he saw her slowly coming down the path, her head bent slightly.
Sighing with relief, he knew.
Reaching the bottom of the rock, still laughing and hugging, Lane kissed Amy tenderly. Removing their gear
and packing it up, they headed for the car, near the end of the path where she had just gone.
Noticing the paper on the ground, Lane picked it up, and opened it...he knew right away. Quickly looking
ahead of him, he watched as Sunny was lifted from the wheelchair, her arms slipping around Rick's neck
as she laid her head against him. Placing her in the car on the passengers side, he leaned towards her, softly
kissing her lips. Lovingly she watched him walk around to the drivers side and slide into the seat. Pulling
herself close to him, she smiled as his arms went around her, hugging her. He felt her tears soak through
his shirt and embraced her tighter. His strength and love were all that she needed. She knew this was right.
Walking up behind Lane, Amy slipped her arms around his waist...he turned, enclosing her in his, staring
in silence over her shoulder at those two words on the paper that read, "Hi sweetness".