STORY A:

Diseased though she was, Kristine couldn't bare the thought of dying young. She had a rare cancer that was almost incurable. The only way for the doctors to heal her would be to kill her. Kristine wouldn't have it. She was given thirteen months to live and when she walked out of the doctor's office she would be living her life anew. She made a vow to never be mean again and she knew that she only had one chance to make it in this world… get married and have a baby. There was only one man that she would be willing to risk everything for, and his name was Jack. Jack was an ordinary boy with nothing on his mind. He was a farmhand, a good one too. He was probably the poorest man Kristine had ever seen. He never asked for pay, but his employer let him live in the stables where he worked for free and he was alotted free meals. Kristine used to care about money, but since she was diagnosed she never cared about it again. One day Kristine told Jack a secret, something she hadn't told anyone, not even her parents. Jack promised to keep that secret for as long as he lived. He asked her out on a date and they fell madly in love. On one Thursday afternoon, Jack took her on a picnic and asked her to marry him. Kristine looked him in his bright green eyes and thought I want to marry him and I want to have his baby. But…I don't want to hurt him. "Before I say yes," she said to him, "I have to tell you something…" And she told him everything. She told him how she only had eleven more months to live because of her disease. She told him how much she truly loved him and really wanted to marry him and have his baby. She told him how she wished she could spend the rest of her life in his arms, but how she knew she couldn't hurt him. After she told him, she cried and cried. Jack put his arm around her shoulders and said, "My darling Kristine. I know I do not have anything to offer you. I have no money. All I have is my love for you. I will do anything for you. I want to be your husband and I want so desperately to be the father of your child." Kristine looked up and smiled like she hadn't smiled ever before. One week later, Jack and Kristine eloped in Vegas. She discovered that she was pregnant six days after that. The doctors told them that there was a chance that Kristine's cancer would be passed on to the baby, but Jack had the prayer that it wouldn't, so they kept their hope. Nine months, five days, and seventeen hours later a baby girl was born to Kristine and Jack. She was perfectly healthy. She had Jack's eyes and Kristine's smile. Jack made the decision that she be named Kristine for his dying wife. Kristine had almost forgotten she was sick through all the excitement until the next month. She became so violently ill that she was in the hospital gasping for air. Jack and baby Kristine stayed with her day and night. On her last day Jack held her hand and cried into her bed. Before she passed she leaned over next to his ear and whispered "Remember the secret I told you?" "Yes," he said quietly, "You said to me: I want to fly into the clouds…and disappear." "I'm going to the clouds now Jack. Take care of our baby." Jack whispered, "Of course I will, she's all I've got now…" Kristine smiled, closed her eyes and never opened them again. The heart monitor flat lined and doctors came in and said distantly, "I'm sorry, Jack, she's gone."

Jack never completely healed from losing the love of his life, Kristine. But his daughter was so beautiful and gave him so much joy that he was able to make it. He remarried and had a few more kids, but secretly his favorite would always be Kristine.

THE END