APRIL 1, 2009 UNITED FRIENDS CHALLENGE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE... TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY...

APRIL 1, 2009
 UNITED FRIENDS CHALLENGE
 ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE.

 TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY...

Kittigory's Challenge Choose a favorite popular ballad, and write your own version of the story it tells. Give your story a title, and, as an added, though no required bonus, post the actual song lyrics. The rain continued to pour down relentlessly on my head as I sat there listening for the sirens. Tears were mingling with the rain water running down my face as I held on tight to Joshs' hand. How could this have happened now?  Why now, of all times in our marriage, when things were finally starting to actually feel like we were going to make it? My mind flashed back to just the day before, when things had finally come to the crisis point and I had ran away from him
. Josh and I had married right out of high school, we were so sure that the world was ours and nothing would ever stop us from creating the life we both wanted, or thought we wanted. Who could ever imagine what happened. That a guy who was so popular and such a sweet heart in school, could have a childhood history that would tear both of us into little pieces in just a few years. His jealousy of me with anyone began with small things. He would question me repeatedly about where I had been any time I was without him. Then it escalated into him following me and watching my every move. The accusations became intolerant after a while. I was miserable and so was he. He always seemed to be searching for something I could not give him. I could not fathom what more I could do, that would make him secure in my love for him. I became a non person. I could have no friends, they were all trying to lead me into secret affairs. I could not visit my parents, they were all trying to make me hate him, come between us. This last year had been so bad, we didn't go anywhere for Christmas or Thanksgiving as I knew it would lead to him becoming a monster when the car door shut on the way home. He bought cell phones for us and called me constantly all day. If I turned it off or was out of range, he would become frantic and when he did reach me, the accusations and uncalled for suspicion and fear were more than I could handle. I hung up on him once while I was trying to interview for a new job.
That night he hit me for the first time. He arrived at the doorstep within two hours of the fight with a dozen roses and fell to his knees with apologies. It was the first time we really talked about what made him the way he was. With many tears he told me of the way he grew up with a mother who was a manic depressive. He never knew what person he would be living with from day to day. She would swing from wild behavior with drugs and many strange men, to pious and spouting Bible Scripture at him the next week. She finally took her own life when he was 13 years old. I forgave him and he promised to try harder to trust me. It was great for a while and then he started to slip back into the old behavior.
 I let it slide and slide and slide.. until yesterday, when I was late by 5 minutes getting home from work.
 The only thing that saved me from a beating that would have put me in the hospital was a vacuum cleaner salesman who rang the doorbell and distracted him.
I scrambled to the door and threw it open and literally grabbed that poor man, and drug him with me to the outside of our apartment building.  I didn't stop to explain.. I just ran.. and ran.. I ended up at my parents house, they wanted me to call the police, but I just could not do it. I love Josh, I want to be with him always, I married him and I took my vows seriously. In sickness and health I would stand by him, but I also realized I would not let him continue to treat me this way, when I was innocent of all his imaginary crimes. Instead I called the hot line for help with a person who is mentally unstable. I made an appointment for us the next day, and then called Josh.
 He was furious that I had left, and demanded I return home immediately, get out of my parents house where they were poisoning my mind against him.
I had turned on the phone messaging recorder at the beginning of the conversation and just let him run his usual outrage against me till he was spent. I told him if he wanted to save our marriage to meet me at the hospital the next day and that was the only way I would agree to see him period. He said he would be there.
 I prayed he would. I arrived early for the appointment and to my surprise he was already there. He started the usual apologetic diatribe as he always did complete with tears and begging. I stood firm this time... no more... no more..  We went in to see the counselor and he listened for a while to me tell my side of this story and then he looked to Josh to begin his.  Josh was a stone wall. He was admitting to nothing. He wasn't going to be made to be the bad guy, cause he actually was thinking he wasn't. Then I pulled out the tape from our phone conversation the previous day. His face turned red and then white.
He began to pace the room, and then he finally exploded. The counselor looked at me in the midst of the tirade, and asked if I would sign to have him involuntarily admitted and I shook my head yes, then quietly, I left the room. I filled out the paperwork and I could hear Josh yelling and screaming, fighting them for all he was worth.
Then it just got quiet.
Really quiet. I got in my car and headed home to our apartment, and the rain started to fall, I thought perfect weather for this kind of day. And then my own tears began to fall, it hurt so bad to have to do that to him, my strong, loving, mentally ill man. I love you more than you will ever know, I did it for you, for us, for the future. The rain was really falling hard now, and I was not paying attention to the road, from my tear blurred eyes and anguished heart, when suddenly from the side of the road an image darted in front of the car.. I threw on the brakes and the car slid sideways hitting the figure solidly.
 I watched in horror as it flew through the air, and landed in the ditch. I had to use my feet to kick the door open, then I flew to check on the man I had just hit. .
 OH MY GOD!
JOSH!
I dug my cell phone from my pocket, and called 911.
 He was breathing.. barely. He had gotten free somehow and ran to catch me.

WHY JOSH.. OH WHY!!!

Dear God Why ?

 I sit here feeling numb, in the pouring rain, holding that beloved and now cold hand.
Why.. Joshua.. Why...

The End Terri McCain/lockerridge
   
TRULY, MADLY,, DEEPLY
Savage Garden
I'll be your dream I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy. I'll be your hope I'll be your love Be everything that you need. I love you more with every breath Truly madly deeply do.. I will be strong I will be faithful 'Cos I'm counting on a new beginning. A reason for living. A deeper meaning. I want to stand with you on a mountain. I want to bathe with you in the sea. I want to lay like this forever. Until the sky falls down on me... And when the stars are shining brightly In the velvet sky, I'll make a wish Send it to heaven Then make you want to cry.. The tears of joy For all the pleasure and the certainty. That we're surrounded By the comfort and protection of. The highest power. In lonely hours. The tears devour you.. I want to stand with you on a mountain, I want to bathe with you in the sea. I want to lay like this forever, Until the sky falls down on me... Oh can't you see it baby? You don't have to close your eyes 'Cos it's standing right before you. All that you need will surely come... I'll be your dream I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy. I'll be your hope I'll be your love Be everything that you need .I'll love you more with every breath Truly madly deeply do...    
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