Always And Forever
A little boy sat on a swing at the park, his dad standing behind him, pushing him softly. He clung to the long chains that held the swing up tightly and he closed his eyes, feeling the wind rush through his hair. He enjoyed swinging, as did any other 6 year old boy. But not as much as basketball. Him and his dad played basketball together every day and he was getting pretty good at it. His dad had lowered the net because although he was tall for his age, at his height of 3 feet 6 inches, he was still too short to be getting any baskets in when the net was so high.
When the little boy had been born, his father had made him two promises. The first one was that he would do everything in his power to protect that little boy. The second one was that he would help him to grow up an amazing basketball player like his dad, his grandpa, and his uncle, while still remembering what was really important in life.
Nathan had learned the hard way that there was more to life than basketball, and he wasn't about to let his little boy learn that way too. Nathan's father had never been there for him, but Nathan was always going to be there for his son. Even after he was dead and gone, he'd be there, watching over his son, and that was a promise. A promise that he intended to keep.
"James." Nathan said, "It's time to go."
The little boy frowned, but he hopped off the swing anyways. He took his father's hand and together they walked home. Nathan had matured a lot since James had been born. It was just after the end of his senior year in high school when the boy had been born. Six years later, he was a grown man and he knew how to be a good dad for James. Which was a miracle, having never had a real example of what a father should be.
"Mommy, we're home!" James yelled, walking into the kitchen.
He waited, but there came no reply.
"Daddy, is she ever going to come back?"
Nathan frowned at the child.
"James," he sighed, pulling the boy on to his lap. "Mommy's gone. She's in heaven with Great Uncle Keith."
The small boy's lower lip trembled.
"But why did MY mommy have to leave me? I love her."
"I don't know, James. But you'll get to see her again some day. I promise."
"Oh. Okay then." And with that he ran off to play, still too young to fully understand what had happened.
Nathan quickly wiped the tears away before James saw them. He had to be strong. But it was hard to carry on, knowing that you were all alone. It was hard to keep reassuring James that everything would be okay, when he didn't know himself if things would work out.
"God," Nathan whispered. "Why'd you have to take her from us? She wasn't ready, she hadn't said goodbye. But you took her anyways."
"Why her? Why my Haley" He continued, staring to the ceiling so the tears wouldn't fall down his face, "I'm not strong enough to raise this child on my own. Haley would know what to do, but I don't think I can do it alone."
He sighed, leaning back in the chair.
"Haley, if you can hear me. I want you to know that I love you with all of my heart and so does James and we both miss you very much, more than you will ever know." He whispered, "James wants his mommy back. He just doesn't understand why you left. I want my Haley back. I love you, baby. Always and Forever."
He closed his eyes, knowing he couldn't cry. Ever since Haley had died, things hadn't been the same. It had only been a few months, and Nathan still couldn't bring himself to believe that Haley was gone forever. She had to come back, for James, for him. It was then that he remembered the promises he had made to James. That was the only reason he kept going.
He worked full-time and still had to take care of James. His friends had been helping as much as possible. Peyton babysat James when he got home from school with hers and Lucas' son Keith, who was a year younger. Peyton and Lucas would invite James and Nathan to stay for dinner most nights, because Nathan didn't have the time to cook. He barely had time to keep the house clean and get all his work done. Brooke made clothes for James, when Nathan couldn't afford to buy him new ones. Nathan didn't know what he'd do without his friends.
Life had become a mess, but he would keep going. For Haley and for his son. It wasn't Haley's fault that she had died. But no matter what happened, no matter where life took him and James, there was one thing that would never change. Nathan would love his Haley. Always and Forever.
