As Beth slowly recovered from the horrid illness that had plagued her, she found herself appreciating what she had so much more. True, she had been very scared because she felt that she had so much more to give. Thankfully, she did not have to say good-bye just yet.
It was a slow night when all was still. Most of the family had gone to sleep already. Jo sat writing and Beth did not dare disturb her while ideas flowed from her mind to the pen in her hand to the paper she wrote on.
There was a small knock on the door, and since there was no one else to answer it, Beth slowly stood up and went to answer it. There stood her next-door neighbor.
"Laurie!" Beth said with a smile.
"I'm sorry, am I disturbing anyone?" he asked.
"No, come in."
Laurie crossed the threshold and the two of them went to the living room. "I only came to return a few books Jo had left at my house earlier today."
"Don't worry, I'll get them to her. She's upstairs writing right now, and I didn't want to interrupt her session."
Laurie chuckled softly. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better."
"I'm so glad to hear that. We were all so worried about you. And what would I do without my little sister?"
Beth laughed. "Don't worry. You won't be losing me any time soon. I haven't…I haven't done anything for people to remember me by yet…"
"Oh, Beth, that's not true. You're kindness has been unlike anything any of us have ever seen. You are always putting other people above yourself, even if it means putting yourself at risk. You're a beautiful girl with a heart of gold. And we all love you more than you'll ever know."
Beth smiled at her friend. "Laurie…I know I'm never going to be completely well again. What if I don't get to experience what most girls get to? Like marriage or even…a first kiss?"
"I'll tell you what," Laurie said as he slid closer to her on the couch. "I promise to kiss you before you die."
The second Laurie heard about Beth's deterioration, he went as fast as he could to the March home. He had a promise to fulfill.
When he walked into Beth's room, he was met with the terrible sight of seeing her paler and weaker than he ever had before.
"Laurie," Jo said softly at the sight of her old friend. His heart broke even more at the sight of the girl, now a woman, he had loved in such a broken state. Despite the events that had transpired the last time they had seen each other, Jo went up to him and hugged him tightly, tears escaping from her eyes just as fast as the last time they had hugged because of Beth's health.
"She's fading," Jo whispered.
"I know. Could you give us a few minutes alone?"
She sadly nodded and left the two of them in the room.
"Oh, Beth," Laurie sighed. "Dear Beth."
"Laurie?" Beth said weakly. "Is that you?"
"Yes," he said, taking her fragile hand in his. "I'm here."
"I was afraid I wouldn't see you again."
"I came as soon as I could. I couldn't let you go without keeping my promise, now could I?"
Beth looked at him. "What promise?"
"This one." Laurie leaned over and let his lips gently touch hers.
It was hard to describe exactly how Beth felt when she was allowed the experience of a kiss. It was something she had always secretly been longing for and now Laurie had granted it to her in her final moments. His lips felt so warm on her cold ones.
For Laurie, it was the most meaningful kiss he knew that he would ever experience for the rest of his life. His dear little Beth was dying and it pained him to know that within days, she would be gone from this world. Nonetheless, he had given her what he had promised to give her that night on the couch all those years ago.