Love Is Patient, Kind and Above All True
Chapter Three
Jaime sat on a park bench in the serene warmth of the sun. It had been a quiet morning with the exception of the coffee incident with that odd boy. It wasn't that he was necessarily odd, but there was something about him that seemed off. He was deeply troubled and frustrated.
Jamie hated when people were hurt or depressed. She had practically lived half of her life depressed or hurt or angry. Jaime didn't want others to ever have to go through what she went through. But one day, a miracle happened and she found a light to hold on to in the darkest of days.
God had never been introduced into her life until one day, an older gentleman saw her crying in the park. Almost on a day just like this. He told her of a God that loved her and died for her. He told her of a man that was God and he died on the cross for all the horrible sins that she had committed in her life. Jaime was cynical as a lot of people were in these days, but something…there was just something about that guy and about the story. She found herself spilling out her innerrmost thoughts to this man, a man she hardly even knew. Jaime told him of her depressions, which started at the age of 12. How she'd taken all the drugs the doctors gave her and still she didn't ever feel right. Either she felt more depressed than she was at the start or she felt just numb.
The gentleman introduced himself as Gabe and told her that she would be healed, made whole if she just gave her life to Jesus Christ. Crazy, she had thought, but now she was living proof that He was the Light and that there was something actually missing in her life. Jaime now felt whole.
All these thoughts ran through her head as she bathed in the light of the sun.
It's so beautiful.
"Jaime? That's your name right?" a voice asked.
Jamie turned and saw Elizabeth standing to the right of her.
"Yeah, and it's Elizabeth, right?"
"Yeah," she nodded, "I'm sorry to intrude, I mean, I didn't mean to bother you. I just saw you sitting her and wanted to say "hello!"" Elizabeth started to walk away.
"Hey! Uh, do you want to sit down for a sec?" Jaime asked, patting a place on the bench.
"Um, sure!" Elizabeth sat down beside Jaime.
"So how are you?" Jaime inquired.
Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, "I'm doing …fine" she said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Are you sure?" Jaime paused for a moment, "You must be getting tired of hearing that question from me or anyone else!" Jaime chuckled.
"Um, kind of! Yeah!" Elizabeth laughed too.
Jaime racked her brain for some other topic. "Um, so how long have you lived in Port Charles?"
"Um, hmmm, let me think? Lucky's been back oh, for about 2 years…" her voice trailed off.
"Is there something wrong?" Jaime watched Elizabeth as her face paled.
Elizabeth seemed a little side tracked, "Uh, what? Oh, sorry. I kind of zoned out for a moment. I was thinking of someone."
"Uh, you mean, Lucky?"
"How do you know Lucky?" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Um, I don't? I just heard you say his name…Are you sure you're all right?" Jaime asked.
"Uh, yeah. It's just…"
"It's just what?" Jamie hoped she wasn't prying.
"Um, nothing. Really. Look, I'd better get going. I have some errands to run. It's been nice talking to you. Maybe I'll run into you again?" Elizabeth got up to leave.
"Yeah, sure! I'm sorry if I pried. I didn't mean to butt my nose in where it didn't belong." Jamie apologized.
"No…." Elizabeth exclaimed, "it wasn't you! I just have to deal with some stuff right now. You weren't prying. Really."
"Okay, then you're sure you're okay?" Jaime asked.
"Definitely." Elizabeth forced a smile.
"I hate to be blunt, but you don't look okay. And the smile, well it seems like a façade." Jaime cringed and waited for Elizabeth to defend herself. She'd often say things too bluntly and receive a barrage of words from the victim.
"…Uh," Elizabeth was flustered, "I'm fine. What do you mean?"
"You know how people put on masks so that they don't show how they're really feeling. Either to make the other person feel comfortable or so that they'll go way faster? That's what it seems like with you."
"Oh!" Elizabeth looked speechless.
"Have I put my foot in it?" Jaime asked worriedly.
"No." Elizabeth paused for a second and continued on, "I, well, Lucky was my fiancee. I called it off because well, he doesn't love me and he lied and said that he did."
"Oh my gosh! That's terrible! How could he do that to you?" Jaime was disgusted and felt for Elizabeth.
"Oh, it wasn't all so cut and dry. I mean, We'd been together forever, it seems. I mean, well, the short version is, that he did love me once and then someone brainwashed him into not loving me."
Jamie did a double take. "Could you say that again? I don't think I heard right, did you say brainwashed him?"
"Yeah. It's a long story. With so many twists and turns that it makes my head spin. I don't think I could go through it all right now." Elizabeth sighed, " Look, I'm sorry to lay all this on you. I seem to have a habit of doing that. Laying my problems at other people's feet, hoping they can fix them. I've really got to stop doing that."
"No! I don't mind," Jaime exclaimed, "I think you're my first friend here in Port Charles, and if I can help you in anyway. You know, like listening whenever you need it? That's what friends are for. Not that I'm sure you need it, but I'm still here if you need an objective ear. I mean, I don't know anything about you or Lucky and this whole brainwashing bit, but I'm a good listener. Friends have told me that much!"
"Maybe I'll take you up on that offer sometime!" Elizabeth chuckled. "But right now, I think I need to sort things out in my own head first, before hearing what other people think?"
"Sure! I'm staying at a place called Kelly's. It's a nice little coffee shop. If you happen to drop by sometime, just ask the owner for which room I'm in."
"Kelly's?" Elizabeth laughed, "I used to work there…actually I used to live there!"
"Really!" Jaime joined Elizabeth laughing, "Maybe I'll really see you around then!"
***
Elizabeth walked away from her walk in the park with a light-heartedness that she hadn't felt for a few days now. Jaime was nice. She listened and she was objective.
Everyone else in town didn't quite understand. She knew they understood about the brainwashing and the whole Cassadine fiasco, but they didn't understand what she was feeling. They all felt sorry about it, as she'd heard a million times over the past couple of days, but they all still hoped and prayed that she and Lucky would find their way back to each other. They knew that she and Lucky belonged together.
Boy, how many times had she heard that in the past?
Emily had told that to her a million times and she believed her. Elizabeth believed that she and Lucky were fated to live happily ever after together and grow old together. How she wished Em was here right now. But how could she understand? Elizabeth had seen Zander a couple of days ago and he told her that Em had found another guy and that the love that she felt for him was gone.
It boggled Elizabeth's mind! This was the same Emily who left her family, endured the trials and the tribulations and the death threats of mobsters to be with Zander! It didn't make sense! It just didn't. She understood what Zander was feeling. He felt betrayed, angry, lost, alone, these were all of the things that she was feeling in the span of a moment.
Elizabeth had felt the devastation at the altar, when she looked into Lucky's eyes trying to find that spark of love, she had always been able to find-even in the tough times. But it was dull, the look in his eyes were of sadness and despair. Was that what he was feeling? Did he feel sad that he was going to have to spend the rest of his life with her? Did he feel despair, like there was no way out?
"No!" she exclaimed to herself. Elizabeth shook her head. She was finally feeling okay. Not hurt anymore, not betrayed. She finally just "understood". Elizabeth wasn't going to wallow in self-pity. She was stronger than that.
"No, I'm okay. I'll live without Lucky. I did once, I'll do it again," she mumbled to herself.
Chapter Three
Jaime sat on a park bench in the serene warmth of the sun. It had been a quiet morning with the exception of the coffee incident with that odd boy. It wasn't that he was necessarily odd, but there was something about him that seemed off. He was deeply troubled and frustrated.
Jamie hated when people were hurt or depressed. She had practically lived half of her life depressed or hurt or angry. Jaime didn't want others to ever have to go through what she went through. But one day, a miracle happened and she found a light to hold on to in the darkest of days.
God had never been introduced into her life until one day, an older gentleman saw her crying in the park. Almost on a day just like this. He told her of a God that loved her and died for her. He told her of a man that was God and he died on the cross for all the horrible sins that she had committed in her life. Jaime was cynical as a lot of people were in these days, but something…there was just something about that guy and about the story. She found herself spilling out her innerrmost thoughts to this man, a man she hardly even knew. Jaime told him of her depressions, which started at the age of 12. How she'd taken all the drugs the doctors gave her and still she didn't ever feel right. Either she felt more depressed than she was at the start or she felt just numb.
The gentleman introduced himself as Gabe and told her that she would be healed, made whole if she just gave her life to Jesus Christ. Crazy, she had thought, but now she was living proof that He was the Light and that there was something actually missing in her life. Jaime now felt whole.
All these thoughts ran through her head as she bathed in the light of the sun.
It's so beautiful.
"Jaime? That's your name right?" a voice asked.
Jamie turned and saw Elizabeth standing to the right of her.
"Yeah, and it's Elizabeth, right?"
"Yeah," she nodded, "I'm sorry to intrude, I mean, I didn't mean to bother you. I just saw you sitting her and wanted to say "hello!"" Elizabeth started to walk away.
"Hey! Uh, do you want to sit down for a sec?" Jaime asked, patting a place on the bench.
"Um, sure!" Elizabeth sat down beside Jaime.
"So how are you?" Jaime inquired.
Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, "I'm doing …fine" she said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Are you sure?" Jaime paused for a moment, "You must be getting tired of hearing that question from me or anyone else!" Jaime chuckled.
"Um, kind of! Yeah!" Elizabeth laughed too.
Jaime racked her brain for some other topic. "Um, so how long have you lived in Port Charles?"
"Um, hmmm, let me think? Lucky's been back oh, for about 2 years…" her voice trailed off.
"Is there something wrong?" Jaime watched Elizabeth as her face paled.
Elizabeth seemed a little side tracked, "Uh, what? Oh, sorry. I kind of zoned out for a moment. I was thinking of someone."
"Uh, you mean, Lucky?"
"How do you know Lucky?" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Um, I don't? I just heard you say his name…Are you sure you're all right?" Jaime asked.
"Uh, yeah. It's just…"
"It's just what?" Jamie hoped she wasn't prying.
"Um, nothing. Really. Look, I'd better get going. I have some errands to run. It's been nice talking to you. Maybe I'll run into you again?" Elizabeth got up to leave.
"Yeah, sure! I'm sorry if I pried. I didn't mean to butt my nose in where it didn't belong." Jamie apologized.
"No…." Elizabeth exclaimed, "it wasn't you! I just have to deal with some stuff right now. You weren't prying. Really."
"Okay, then you're sure you're okay?" Jaime asked.
"Definitely." Elizabeth forced a smile.
"I hate to be blunt, but you don't look okay. And the smile, well it seems like a façade." Jaime cringed and waited for Elizabeth to defend herself. She'd often say things too bluntly and receive a barrage of words from the victim.
"…Uh," Elizabeth was flustered, "I'm fine. What do you mean?"
"You know how people put on masks so that they don't show how they're really feeling. Either to make the other person feel comfortable or so that they'll go way faster? That's what it seems like with you."
"Oh!" Elizabeth looked speechless.
"Have I put my foot in it?" Jaime asked worriedly.
"No." Elizabeth paused for a second and continued on, "I, well, Lucky was my fiancee. I called it off because well, he doesn't love me and he lied and said that he did."
"Oh my gosh! That's terrible! How could he do that to you?" Jaime was disgusted and felt for Elizabeth.
"Oh, it wasn't all so cut and dry. I mean, We'd been together forever, it seems. I mean, well, the short version is, that he did love me once and then someone brainwashed him into not loving me."
Jamie did a double take. "Could you say that again? I don't think I heard right, did you say brainwashed him?"
"Yeah. It's a long story. With so many twists and turns that it makes my head spin. I don't think I could go through it all right now." Elizabeth sighed, " Look, I'm sorry to lay all this on you. I seem to have a habit of doing that. Laying my problems at other people's feet, hoping they can fix them. I've really got to stop doing that."
"No! I don't mind," Jaime exclaimed, "I think you're my first friend here in Port Charles, and if I can help you in anyway. You know, like listening whenever you need it? That's what friends are for. Not that I'm sure you need it, but I'm still here if you need an objective ear. I mean, I don't know anything about you or Lucky and this whole brainwashing bit, but I'm a good listener. Friends have told me that much!"
"Maybe I'll take you up on that offer sometime!" Elizabeth chuckled. "But right now, I think I need to sort things out in my own head first, before hearing what other people think?"
"Sure! I'm staying at a place called Kelly's. It's a nice little coffee shop. If you happen to drop by sometime, just ask the owner for which room I'm in."
"Kelly's?" Elizabeth laughed, "I used to work there…actually I used to live there!"
"Really!" Jaime joined Elizabeth laughing, "Maybe I'll really see you around then!"
***
Elizabeth walked away from her walk in the park with a light-heartedness that she hadn't felt for a few days now. Jaime was nice. She listened and she was objective.
Everyone else in town didn't quite understand. She knew they understood about the brainwashing and the whole Cassadine fiasco, but they didn't understand what she was feeling. They all felt sorry about it, as she'd heard a million times over the past couple of days, but they all still hoped and prayed that she and Lucky would find their way back to each other. They knew that she and Lucky belonged together.
Boy, how many times had she heard that in the past?
Emily had told that to her a million times and she believed her. Elizabeth believed that she and Lucky were fated to live happily ever after together and grow old together. How she wished Em was here right now. But how could she understand? Elizabeth had seen Zander a couple of days ago and he told her that Em had found another guy and that the love that she felt for him was gone.
It boggled Elizabeth's mind! This was the same Emily who left her family, endured the trials and the tribulations and the death threats of mobsters to be with Zander! It didn't make sense! It just didn't. She understood what Zander was feeling. He felt betrayed, angry, lost, alone, these were all of the things that she was feeling in the span of a moment.
Elizabeth had felt the devastation at the altar, when she looked into Lucky's eyes trying to find that spark of love, she had always been able to find-even in the tough times. But it was dull, the look in his eyes were of sadness and despair. Was that what he was feeling? Did he feel sad that he was going to have to spend the rest of his life with her? Did he feel despair, like there was no way out?
"No!" she exclaimed to herself. Elizabeth shook her head. She was finally feeling okay. Not hurt anymore, not betrayed. She finally just "understood". Elizabeth wasn't going to wallow in self-pity. She was stronger than that.
"No, I'm okay. I'll live without Lucky. I did once, I'll do it again," she mumbled to herself.
