Chapter 1: Ten Years Later Part 1 of 2

Elizabeth's Goal

After graduating high school Elizabeth went off to college to get her teaching degree. For as long as she could remember she had always wanted to teach children and to help them succeed at school. She was graduating tomorrow and had started to look for teaching jobs away from her parents and to be independent and to support herself. A few months after graduating, she was offered a teaching Job at an Elementary School as a second grade teacher in Valley Springs, California. She was so excited to go out west and to build a life for herself and to fulfill her calling as a teacher. Elizabeth was planned on leaving in a few days for California to find an apartment and to get settled before the school year started next month as she got ready to start her first teaching job at Hope Valley Elementary. Elizabeth was excited and she could not wait to start her first job. As soon as she got to California she checked into a hotel and got right to work searching for apartments to rent and within her budget. She was quickly able to find an apartment and move in pretty quickly and they included all the furniture as well. A few days after she had arrived in California her father William called to check in on her to see how she was doing as he asked;

"so Elizabeth, how are you settling in California, I hope it is well" William asked his daughter

"just fine father, I am excited for this adventure in my life and starting my teaching Job in just a few weeks" Elizabeth replies

"that is great Elizabeth, I am so proud of you. I know you will do great" William responds

After Elizabeth finishes her phone conversation with her father she starts to plan how she will decorate her first classroom. Next week she will finally see the school she will be teaching at and the room that would be hers as well as meeting some of the other teachers and to get to know the school before the year starts. In her heart she knew she would be a great teacher as her friends have told her over the years growing up when she would help them study if they had trouble with assignments for class, so she knew she was capable of teaching second graders. As she was planning her first day her mind went to her friend Jack who she had kept in touch with until the past four years when they had lost touch and she wondered if he had fulfilled his dream of becoming an officer of the law just as she had in becoming a teacher just like they had promised they would years ago, but she decided to date other in the meantime with no commitment, so she went on with her life.

Jack

Jacks family had moved around a lot growing up, but it was not until after college that he was able to live on his own and support himself. It was the first time he was able to stay in one place for a long time. After high school Jack decided to go to college then police school to be an officer and moved back to the states. After he got through the program he decided to move to California so he applied as officer at the local station in town of Valley Springs. He had been working there for the past year and he loved the job, and able to stay in one place. He had dated over the years. But his mind always went back to his childhood friend Elizabeth who he had stayed in touch with after his family moved away from Hamilton, North Carolina. He had written to her until the last four years when they had lost touch. He kept wondering if he would ever see her again, if it was gods, plan for him to see her again. He decided to fill his time with other things and to avoid dating for a while as he could never find a girl he liked enough. Over the years he wondered if she had fulfilled her dream of becoming a teacher like he had fulfilled his dream of becoming an officer as they had promised each other years ago they would try to do. So he continued on with his day to day routine until one day…