"Alison's Jem"
Story by Lisa , for Piumini Sri_Lanka

REF#_ab13-3/PiuminiA1.GIF

My eyes wandered across the bright colors of the painting.
"Look Jem," I said, showing Jem the pretty colors of the painting.
"What do you think?" I asked him.
His big blue eyes met mine and a smile crossed his face.
"Look Mommy," I cheered, "Jem is smiling."
"Well of course he is, he's so happy to see his little sister after so long," My mommy said, happiness lighting up her face.
Jem reached down picked me up and held me so I could see the picture better.
"So Jem what do you think?" I questioned again, waiting patienty to hear his vioce again.
He was silent for a moment as though he was still thinking it through; I wanted to hear his voice once more to know this was real, that he was actually here. When he finally spoke his voice sounded tired but strong as though he had traveled forever but still was ready for the forever he had left to go, yet happy as though this was the only place he would ever want to be.
"I like it he said," smiling down at me.
I smiled back. But then burst into tears as my eyes met his again. Mommy ran to be and and asked me if everything was allright. Jem just held me tightly in his arms as if to say he everything would work out in the end, looking at me in that way only he could, making me cry even harder.
I kept staring into his eyes and crying, until I finally was able to choke out, that I didn't want him to leave. Mommy stroked my hair, trying to soothe me into believing he wouldn't. But it was Jem's words that dried my tears away.
"I will always be with you, no matter how far away we are, when you truely love someone they will never your side."

That's the last thing I remember about Jem, because when one week later, after he left to go back to college he was hit by a drunk driver and I never saw him him again. I used to blame myself, but now, after years have gone by and time has set in. I realize he's still with me where ever I am and always will be.

The End

Story by: Lisa, age 14, USA