An Unusual Romance

Chapter 2

My love for Becky only grew stronger with each passing day. The way she moved and spoke, the way she smiled made me feel something akin to awe – like I was watching a different world from her eyes. Her beauty shone through every aspect of her, especially when we were together, and my thoughts often wandered to what it would be like to wake up next to her in the mornings and spend all day together. I knew that I could never go back to days without her, but I don't think I could bear to live a life without her. The distance between us grew smaller every time our eyes met. Our fingers occasionally lingered on one another's when we stood too close or held hands. I'd always felt at ease around her. She made me smile and that gave me a reason to live. She was everything I needed in life; someone I looked forward to seeing every day. Nothing could ever come close to what I truly needed; to know what it's like to be loved. She made me believe in happiness in myself. And I couldn't thank her enough. I loved every second of it; every moment that I spent with her. I wanted her to know how much she meant to me. She changed me for the better. She was the one person who was able to see past my scars and give me hope that there was more to me than my horrible past. That there was still good left in this broken mess of a boy that haunted my mind day after day, month after month, year after year. I wanted to tell her so many times, repeatedly. But I just couldn't. Every time she touched my hand; I fell deeper in love with her. Each time she laughed; I thought my heart would burst out of my chest with joy. Every time she told me I was amazing – I thought it might break me right then and there, but if she kept saying those words, it didn't matter. As long as she was here with me. As long as she was mine. Becky had brought me back to life once more; a life where nothing mattered but her. Everything about her brought light to my life. She gave me new hope, a new purpose. She gave me courage. She showed me what true worth and true selflessness was. She gave me strength. She showed me that there was more to life than the dark, the hurt, and the loneliness. She gave me a chance at love, and a family. She made me believe in myself. She made me want to become better. She did this for the both of us. I loved her; more than anything else in the whole wide world. More than life itself. She'd made me believe in love. I didn't know what real love was till Becky came into my life. And I'm glad she was there to teach me how to experience it. She was the sun to my moon, the light at night; the wind that blew and calmed me. The love I had for Becky was unlike any other feeling I'd felt. It was unconditional, undying, everlasting. I was completely smitten with her, and I knew that I'd never get over her. She was forever in my heart. I would do anything for her, I'd even die for her. For she was my sun, and only her warmth would brighten my day, my soul, my life. She had taught me so much, and she'd given me the courage to stand up for myself in every corner of the world. Becky is an angel on earth. She is truly extraordinary. One night, as the sun was setting, the breeze swept the riverbanks dry. The trees swayed gently in the wind, creating a beautiful dance. It was a quiet evening, and the sky produced an array of oranges and reds and golden yellows. Becky and I were sitting on my log raft, with our feet in the water. The moon cast its white light across the river and onto my face. The warm summer air caressed my skin, causing goosebumps to appear wherever it brushed. The smell of the river permeated the air. I breathed it in deeply and closed my eyes to inhale more of that wonderful fragrance. I noticed a hint of honeysuckle. I opened my eyes and looked at Becky. She was leaning against my right side, looking at me. I told her, "I smell honeysuckle. Is that you that I smell?" She nodded and replied, "Yes. I wear honeysuckle perfume. My mother gave it to me for my birthday." "Oh, when is your birthday?" "The twelfth of June." was her response. I asked her if honeysuckles were her favorite type of flower because I was almost certain that it was. She said it was. We spent that entire evening talking about everything we could think of. The sound of the wind blowing, and the gentle sway of the water lulled us into a trancelike calm. I looked down at the water beneath me, and I could've sworn that Becky was smiling at me. I reached up, and I ran my finger lightly across her cheek. I leaned over and planted a kiss upon her lips. I was overcome with passion. When I pulled away, our faces were inches apart. I stared directly into her eyes. They mesmerized me. I looked deep into them and saw myself reflected there. Her eyes reflected love, affection, and understanding; all things I desired in life. I wanted her to know how much I adored her. I wanted her to realize how much she means to me. Nobody had ever loved me as much as Becky did. Nobody had ever cared for me as much as Becky did. No person could possibly understand how much she meant to me; how important she was to me. The look on her face made my heart melt. The look in her eyes gave me peace and comfort. I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. If only I'd known...if only I'd seen...if only I had told her about my Pap. I should've said something weeks ago. If I had said anything... anything...we wouldn't have been in danger. We were sitting on my raft. It was a beautiful day at the river, and we were talking about everything under the sun. "What's your favorite book, Becky?" I asked her. She thought long and hard. "A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens," was her response "My family and I read it every Christmas. What about you? What's your favorite book?" I shook my head. "I don't read much. Not at all, really. The Widow Douglas taught me how to read, but, in my opinion, I don't see a use for reading. It just seems kind of silly. Why go through the trouble when there's no point? It's not like anybody wants you to read, anyways." I shrugged and looked out at the water. We sat in silence for a while. Then I heard Pap stomping in the cabin. I knew I had to get Becky away from him. I wanted to take her back to town, but I didn't have much time. I had to do something fast. I had to hide her somewhere, so Pap wouldn't see her. I rushed her to the side of the cabin. "Stay here," I whispered. "Don't move." I heard the front door open. "Huck!! Where in the Hell are you?!" It was my father. I couldn't take any chances that he might hurt Becky. If he got close enough, he could accidentally bump into her or grab her, and then... I didn't know what would happen. But I had to protect her. I came from the side of the cabin and into Pap's view. "What are you hiding over there?" He asked. I shrugged my shoulders and replied, "Nothing... it's nothing." He staggered past me, and I followed him. He walked around the corner, where Becky was hiding. As soon as he saw her, he said, "Well, well, well. What do we have here?" I saw the look on Becky's face. She was as pale as a ghost, her eyes wide with fear, her bottom lip trembling. She closed her eyes. Pap reached down and grabbed her arm. "Hey! Let go of her! You're hurting her!" I shouted. Pap turned his head and gave me an angry glance while Becky struggled to get out of his grasp. "You little brat! How dare you follow me?!" He yelled. "How dare you touch her?!" I yelled back. "She's my friend!" I pointed at her. "And you're scaring her!" My words didn't faze him, not one bit. He turned back to Becky. "Now, who might you be?" He asked her. "B-Becky Thatcher." was her reply. He then thrust her to the ground. "Thatcher! The daughter of that pesty, wealthy judge." He stomped back into the house. I helped Becky get back onto her feet. "Are you alright?" I asked her. She nodded in reply. We boarded on my raft when I saw that my father came back out, with a rifle in his hands. I crouched and tried to untie the knot to the rope that was tied to the post. But I was having trouble untying it. Then I hear the gunshot. I stood up and looked at Becky. She was laying on her back, with her hand on her shoulder. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Becky?" I asked her. as I kneeled. She turned her head to look at me. Her eyes were glassy from the tears, but they were focused. She gave me one of those smiles that I loved so dearly. "I'm alright..." she said weakly. Then I saw blood gushing through her fingers. I immediately took off my shirt and placed it on her wound, to try and stop the bleeding. I held her hand and said, "I'll get you back into town." Then I went back to work on the rope. I managed to untie it. I grabbed my stick, and I paddled quickly up the river. Once we were at the picnic ground, I lifted Becky into my arms and I carried her into town, in search of the hospital. 'Oh, please God...please let this be all right...Please let her be alright...' I prayed as I made my way into town. When I got to the hospital, I gently laid Becky down on the bed. I stood beside her, holding her hand tight in mine. Tears streamed down my face. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut. She was breathing heavily, trying hard to control her pain. I wiped a stray tear off her face. I leaned forward and kissed her softly. I hugged her tightly to my chest and cried in her hair. As I cried, she started whimpering slightly. She was shaking. I could tell that her pain was getting worse. I laid her down again. I rubbed circles into her palm, as I rested my head on hers. 'God...oh dear God...please...let this be all right....' I pleaded in prayer. Then suddenly, I felt a hand on my back. I turned around and saw the doctor standing behind me. I smiled a tiny smile. I looked at him and said, "Hello, Doctor." "What seems to be the problem?" He replied I sighed. "Becky was attacked by my father. He asked what her name was, and then she got shot." The doctor frowned, as he moved closer to Becky and checked her injuries. "It looks like the bullet is still in her shoulder. I will have to remove it. And I'm afraid she will need stitches." "No. Please no." I shook my head. He looked at me with reassuring eyes. "She is going to be fine, I promise." I slowly nodded. He got out a pair of tweezers and removed the bullet from Becky's shoulder. Becky groaned in pain. Her grip around my hand tightened. Tears started pouring from her eyes. The doctor looked over to me. He nodded his head towards Becky. I carefully set her hand down and wiped her tears. The doctor proceeded to stitch Becky up. She flinched whenever the needle touched her skin, yet she endured the pain. Her tears flowed even harder than before. She whimpered occasionally, but nothing more. After he finished his task, he wrapped a bandage around her shoulder. Then he walked out of the room. I picked up Becky's hand again. I caressed her knuckles and stroked her cheek lightly with my thumb. My heart ached. I held her hand until she fell asleep. I pulled the blanket up over her body. I tucked her in tightly and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I love you, Becky." I whispered. After I watched her peacefully sleeping for a few more minutes, I left the room. I sat outside the hospital. I stared out at the beautiful sunlit morning. I thought about her for hours after that. About her being injured in such a terrible way. About how scared I felt. How awful it felt to see her suffer. I didn't realize I fell asleep, until I heard a man calling my name. "Huckleberry..." I woke up right away. I looked up and there stood Judge Thatcher, Becky's father. "Did something happen?" He asked. I stood up. I told him what happened to Becky, about what my Pap did to her. Judge Thatcher listened intently while I spoke. He wasn't mad at me, though. He didn't blame me or anything. After I told him everything, he told me I shouldn't worry and not to come back until the day after tomorrow. I told him I would keep his instructions in mind. We shook hands and said our goodbyes. Then he entered the hospital. I waited until I saw him disappear inside the building and then made my way back to the river. It hurt me to be away from Becky for so long. She made me feel less alone, even if it was only for a short time. She made me feel safe. Safe enough to sleep without worries or fears. She made me feel loved, cared for, respected. I had never felt like that before, and it wasn't just because I had no other friends besides Tom and Joe. It was because of her that I learned how to enjoy life. That I could smile and laugh and be myself. It was because of her that I felt better about myself and about life. It was because of her that I was happy, and I knew how to be joyful. I am happier now than ever before. I felt that I wanted to share my happiness with Becky. To make her happy too. Because she is everything worth living for in this world. And if she was willing to share her happiness with me then I was more than sure that I was worthy enough to share my joy with her too. Because of her, my whole world has changed for the better, and it's the least I can do to ensure her happiness and mine. Every day, I long to see her beaming smile and hear her infectious laughter, knowing full well that being stuck in a hospital is far from enjoyable. As I sat on my raft, my thoughts filled with hope and fervent prayers for her swift recovery. You see, Becky isn't simply a part of my life – she is the best thing that has ever happened to me. In her presence, the dark memories of my past seem to vanish into oblivion as she breathes life into my very being. Her unconditional love and unwavering belief in me have made me feel like I matter for the first time in my life. Becky is a beacon of light in my world; her kindness, compassion, and love are attributes I would never trade for anything else. If we were ever to join our lives together in marriage, it wouldn't be for materialistic reasons – rather, it would be a union built upon the sturdy foundation of mutual admiration and shared values. She brought warmth and affection into the life of someone who was too accustomed to loneliness and strife. And now, it's my turn to repay her kindness by ensuring that she remains happy.

As I lay beneath the vast expanse of stars shimmering above me, my mind was ablaze with dreams of beautiful moments shared with Becky – the way she smiled at me, laughed with genuine warmth, held me close during our most intimate moments, or whispered comforting words when doubt threatened to overcome me. Her presence made all the difference in my life – how could I not want to return even a fraction of that happiness to her? It is now up to me to protect her from harm and give her the sense of security we all deserve; never again will anyone bring pain upon her so long as I stand by her side. My love for her is a never-ending well of strength and determination, ready to be drawn upon whenever she needs it. No matter what happens or what may happen, I knew that I could be happy because I had that chance of loving and being loved back. I loved that feeling because I know for certain that my father does not love me. My mother... I'm sure she's someplace out there, and I like to think that she loves me. She most likely ran away because of Pap. I have always known they didn't have a happy marriage. Maybe he married her only for her money. I don't know... Pap never liked to talk about it. All I know is if I ever marry Becky, I wouldn't marry her for her money. I would marry her for her kindness, compassion, and most of all, her love. That's all I want from her because I know that no one else would give love to such a lowly outcast like me. She gave to me unconditionally. She gave her friendship and support. She took care of me when no one else would. She's given me all I've ever needed. And I am grateful to her for that. And that is why I want her to be happy. I want to show her kindness when she has been so kind towards me. That's all I care about. That's why I'll fight and strive to be worthy of love and happiness and to prove that I deserve them. So that when she wakes up, she'll know that I truly believe in her, she'll realize that she can count on me, that she can rely on me. She would look at me with those brown eyes and I would see happiness shine within them. I was sitting on my raft, just staring out at the water. After a few hours of solitude, I tied my raft to the post and I decided to sleep outside, under the stars. I lay down on my back, staring up at the sky. I closed my eyes as I tried to catch some rest. I drifted off to sleep and dreamed about the wonderful times Becky and I had spent together. I dreamt about her smile, her laugh, her warm embrace.  About her kisses and the sound of her voice. Her touch. Her gentle words. Words which I held dear to my heart, I would do anything to make Becky smile or laugh, so she would forget her wound and what Pap did to her. I would make sure she was protected and that she felt safe. Seeing the vulnerability in her eyes, I made a silent vow to myself that I wouldn't let anyone hurt her ever again. It was as if a fire of protectiveness ignited within me, fueling my determination to be her shield against the cruelties of the world. No longer would she have to endure pain or suffer at the hands of others. I would go to great lengths to ensure her safety, fiercely guarding her from any harm that may come her way. With every fiber of my being, I swore to create a haven of love, security, and support for her to flourish in. Whether it was shielding her from physical harm or shielding her from the harsh words and criticisms that can wound a person's soul, I would be her fortress, her refuge. From that moment on, she became my priority, and I would stop at nothing to make sure she was protected, cherished, and cared for. Protecting her was my highest priority. I have witnessed the pain she experienced in the past, and I was determined to ensure that she never endures such pain again. The mere thought of anyone causing her harm filled me with indescribable rage and a fervent determination to shield her from any potential harm. I vowed to be her unwavering guardian, her shield against the cruelties of the world. I sacrificed my happiness, if necessary, to keep her safe and secure. Every ounce of my being is dedicated to creating an environment where she can flourish, free from the shadows of the past. In times of adversity and challenges, I firmly pledge to be a steadfast presence beside her, shielding her from the agony inflicted by those who harbor ill intentions. With unwavering strength and determination, I served as a resolute fortress, safeguarding her from the harsh realities of a world that may seek to harm her. I was deeply committed to her well-being and tranquility, I will never waver in my resolve to shield her from any harm or distress that may come her way. My devotion was endless and I vowed to be her protector, standing tall in the face of adversity. No matter what challenges or hardships came her way, I was there to shield her from any harm. My role as her protector was not just a duty, but a deep-rooted commitment that arises from the love and respect I have for her. With every passing moment, my devotion grew stronger, fueled by the desire to keep her safe and secure. I provided not only physical protection but also emotional solace, a safe space where she can freely express herself without fear of judgment or ridicule. By standing by her side, I hoped to instill in her a sense of security and confidence that gives her the strength to face any challenges that may come her way. We would navigate this world together, hand in hand, knowing that no matter what tribulations lie before us, we have a fortress of unconditional love and protection surrounding us. She will never have to face the darkness alone, for I will be there, lighting the way and shielding her from harm.