Again (Brandy Jeffus)

you," Eli confessed in a whisper. Bonnie felt her heart stop. She turned around slowly but didn't say a word.
    "About a month ago at that graduation party I went to with Eddie. I was drunk. I told you I slept over at his house, but I really passed out at the party. I woke up next to some chick. I don't remember all of it, but I know I cheated on you." His words tumbled out fast, while he stared at the ground.
    She felt like she was drowning. The acid in her stomach started lining her throat. She wanted to be mad, but the only emotion her heart allowed her to feel was anxiety and fear.
    She took a deep breath and said, "Okay, well we…we can get through this. Okay? Shit happens, right? You always say that," her voice faltered. She felt light headed. She took a step toward Eli, but he stepped back.
    Agony hit her heart hard. He never pulled away from her, never in five and a half years. Finally, he looked up, and his eyes showed a mixture of pain and humiliation.
    "No," he spoke softly, "I need time to think."
    Bonnie started to feel dizzy, her heart pounded in her chest. "Have you been cheating on me with her? Are you wanting to be with her?" tears started trickling down her face. She didn’t make a move to wipe them away.
    "No B, nothing like that. It was just that one time. But for me to do that… it just means something's wrong. My heart isn't in the right place. Now that you know, we can't just act like it never happened. I just need time and space to think," Eli said.
    His voice was calm and steady. He was relieved that his secret was out in the open. It had been eating away at him all these weeks. That girl’s face would fill his mind every time he was with Bonnie. Uncontrollable sobbing wracked Bonnie's slim body and she slumped to the sidewalk. She felt Eli's strong arms go around her, but it was different this time. They were stiff and awkward. They sat that way on the ground for a while.
    "I...I can feel my heart breaking, Eli,” she stammered. “I want to go home. Please take me home," she finally said in between sobs.
    Eli's body went rigid. She was in so much pain, it wasn't right. He picked Bonnie up and put her in the front seat of her Dodge Neon. She curled up like a baby and continued to sob.
    When they arrived at Bonnie's, Eli carried her up the front porch steps and rang the doorbell. Cindy came out looking confused and worried.
    "Elijah, what happened? Is she okay?" the slight framed woman grabbed her teenage daughter from Eli's hands and held her as if she were an infant. "Open the door so I can get her in the house. And for the love of God, tell me what the hell is going on!”
    Inside, Cindy laid her daughter on the couch and straightened up, "Now tell me what happened. Is she hurt? Did y'all have a fight?"
    Eli tried to speak, but instead started crying himself. Cindy pulled him to her and he buried his face into her shoulder. "It’s okay, baby. Whatever happened, it'll be okay," Cindy whispered, patting Eli’s back.
    "I cheated on her Ms. Cindy. At that graduation party I went to. I had to break up with her. I need some time to think," Eli croaked. He pushed himself away from Bonnie's mom and aggressively wiped his eyes and grabbed a folded up note from his pocket.
    "Please give this to her when she calms down. I'm really sorry."
    He ran out of the house and down the sidewalk. Like Bonnie, he could fee his heart ripping in two.
    That night, after her mother had finally fallen asleep, Bonnie opened the note. Her head was aching, her eyes swollen from hours of nonstop crying. Her hand shook as she held the note and read:
    Bonnie,
    This is my prayer for you:
    That you laugh more than you cry.
    That you love more than you hate.
    That you have less fear and more confidence.
    I pray that you realize you are the most beautiful girl ever. You are perfect for me, but I'm not right for you. Not right now. I hate letting you go. I know it's for the best though. It's going to hurt you and it's going to kill me. But I have to. I just have to. I pray that one day you'll forgive me. You will always have my heart. I pray that you remember THAT always.
    I'm so sorry.
    Eli
    PS We will be together again. I know it in my heart. Just be patient with me.
    Chapter One
    Six Years Later
    "Don’t turn it to channel 7, Nikki just texted me. Apparently that slimy entertainment channel is doing a story about you and Mick," my sister quietly says, not looking up from her phone as she quickly types a text message.