As the days went by, Eric continued to work on his gift for Annie. She
recently began chemotherapy. She still remained her old self, vibrant and
enthusiastic, but Eric was scared. He couldn't imagine living without
Annie. As thoughts of all their treasured memories flew in his mind, Eric
drifted back to when they first met years ago...
It was 1973 and Eric Camden was attending Kobel Seminary in New York, working to become a minister. He had always cherished God and knew at an early age that becoming a minister was his calling. The summer of 1973 came and the parties began. Little did Eric know that one party would change his life forever.
Annie Jackson had lived in Arizona her whole life and that summer incidentally decided to take a vacation to New York. Se had never been there, but had a close friend who attended NYU who she would be staying with. When she arrived in New York, she immediately fell in love with the city. Her friend, Nancy, the one who attended NYU, had a boyfriend from Kobel. One night there was a big party held at a beach house. Students from both Kobel and and NYU went. Annie, despite some apprehension, decided to go with Nancy. Eric meanwhile chose to go the same party with some friends- just to see if it was worth going to.
Eric arrived early and ended up staying longer than he anticipated. Annie came later, hoping to meet some new people since Nancy would be with her boyfriend. When Annie entered the beach house, Eric happened to be refilling his cup with some punch. As she turned, she saw Eric and her breath was completely taken away at his sight. She saw a gorgeous man dressed in fitting jeans with a blue button down shirt. Annie, in her shiny red dress, looked extravagant and caught Eric's eye as well. Almost by instinct, they proceeded toward each other and spoke.
"Hi," Annie said shyly.
"Oh, hi, um...I'm Eric. Eric Camden."
"Nice to meet you-I'm Annie Jackson."
The simple conversation continued as they gathered info about their lives. Oddly enough as the night ended when they both were leaving, Eric didn't make a move for Annie. Annie, who was deeply attracted to him, tried to initiate an exchange in phone numbers, but failed. Eric simply was not interested in having a relationship. Annie was deeply disappointed.
Deciding that Eric was no hope and that she could never have him, Annie chose to give up on dating for awhile. She wanted to wait for a man to come to her. After Annie confided to Nancy about her heartbreak with Eric, Nancy decided to try to hook them up-again. So, a day before Annie was to return to Arizona, Annie reluctantly went on the blind date unaware that it was Eric she would be meeting. They met at a fancy restaurant in the heart of New York, neither of them realizing they would be seeing each other again. When they saw that the blind date was really for them, they laughed at the situation and despite the night at the party, Eric suggested they eat together anyway. Hours rolled on, and their track of time was lost. Eric realized that he possibly may have found someone special. As for Annie, the feeling was mutual.
"I'm sorry about the night at the party. I had just ended a two year relationship and was oblivious to anything going on," Eric admitted.
Annie understood and they agreed to officially date. After dinner, they walked around, window shopping, still deep in conversation. Annie and Eric talked as if they had known each other for years. At the end of the date, Eric felt the temptation to kiss Annie. When he walked her up to Nancy's apartment, he held Annie close and pressed his lips against hers. The passion of the kiss continued and she eventually pulled away she told him about her leaving for Arizona the following day. Eric then got on his knees.
"I know that we have only been out once, but Annie your special. I'm requesting, from the bottom of my heart, that you stay longer...the rest of the summer possibly?" Eric willingly questioned.
Annie just smiled but knew she would. They kissed again and their love soon blossomed. She stayed the rest of the summer and they grew closer and closer. By the end, Eric knew he wanted to ask Annie to be his wife.
Eric smiled after drifting back from his memories. Annie and him had shared a lot together and after remembering everything they had gone through together, it was easier to make this present for her. As he scribbled down some other necessary information for this project, the phone rang.
"Hello Reverend Camden speaking," Eric said.
His previously bright face turned pale and dim as the conversation continued. It was Lucy on the phone. Lucy had dialed 911 before talking to her dad. Lucy told him that Annie had fainted while doing the dishes and was being rushed to the hospital. Eric raced out of the church and hurried into his car. After pulling out of the parking lot, Eric raced to the hospital, silently praying that Annie was all right.
It was 1973 and Eric Camden was attending Kobel Seminary in New York, working to become a minister. He had always cherished God and knew at an early age that becoming a minister was his calling. The summer of 1973 came and the parties began. Little did Eric know that one party would change his life forever.
Annie Jackson had lived in Arizona her whole life and that summer incidentally decided to take a vacation to New York. Se had never been there, but had a close friend who attended NYU who she would be staying with. When she arrived in New York, she immediately fell in love with the city. Her friend, Nancy, the one who attended NYU, had a boyfriend from Kobel. One night there was a big party held at a beach house. Students from both Kobel and and NYU went. Annie, despite some apprehension, decided to go with Nancy. Eric meanwhile chose to go the same party with some friends- just to see if it was worth going to.
Eric arrived early and ended up staying longer than he anticipated. Annie came later, hoping to meet some new people since Nancy would be with her boyfriend. When Annie entered the beach house, Eric happened to be refilling his cup with some punch. As she turned, she saw Eric and her breath was completely taken away at his sight. She saw a gorgeous man dressed in fitting jeans with a blue button down shirt. Annie, in her shiny red dress, looked extravagant and caught Eric's eye as well. Almost by instinct, they proceeded toward each other and spoke.
"Hi," Annie said shyly.
"Oh, hi, um...I'm Eric. Eric Camden."
"Nice to meet you-I'm Annie Jackson."
The simple conversation continued as they gathered info about their lives. Oddly enough as the night ended when they both were leaving, Eric didn't make a move for Annie. Annie, who was deeply attracted to him, tried to initiate an exchange in phone numbers, but failed. Eric simply was not interested in having a relationship. Annie was deeply disappointed.
Deciding that Eric was no hope and that she could never have him, Annie chose to give up on dating for awhile. She wanted to wait for a man to come to her. After Annie confided to Nancy about her heartbreak with Eric, Nancy decided to try to hook them up-again. So, a day before Annie was to return to Arizona, Annie reluctantly went on the blind date unaware that it was Eric she would be meeting. They met at a fancy restaurant in the heart of New York, neither of them realizing they would be seeing each other again. When they saw that the blind date was really for them, they laughed at the situation and despite the night at the party, Eric suggested they eat together anyway. Hours rolled on, and their track of time was lost. Eric realized that he possibly may have found someone special. As for Annie, the feeling was mutual.
"I'm sorry about the night at the party. I had just ended a two year relationship and was oblivious to anything going on," Eric admitted.
Annie understood and they agreed to officially date. After dinner, they walked around, window shopping, still deep in conversation. Annie and Eric talked as if they had known each other for years. At the end of the date, Eric felt the temptation to kiss Annie. When he walked her up to Nancy's apartment, he held Annie close and pressed his lips against hers. The passion of the kiss continued and she eventually pulled away she told him about her leaving for Arizona the following day. Eric then got on his knees.
"I know that we have only been out once, but Annie your special. I'm requesting, from the bottom of my heart, that you stay longer...the rest of the summer possibly?" Eric willingly questioned.
Annie just smiled but knew she would. They kissed again and their love soon blossomed. She stayed the rest of the summer and they grew closer and closer. By the end, Eric knew he wanted to ask Annie to be his wife.
Eric smiled after drifting back from his memories. Annie and him had shared a lot together and after remembering everything they had gone through together, it was easier to make this present for her. As he scribbled down some other necessary information for this project, the phone rang.
"Hello Reverend Camden speaking," Eric said.
His previously bright face turned pale and dim as the conversation continued. It was Lucy on the phone. Lucy had dialed 911 before talking to her dad. Lucy told him that Annie had fainted while doing the dishes and was being rushed to the hospital. Eric raced out of the church and hurried into his car. After pulling out of the parking lot, Eric raced to the hospital, silently praying that Annie was all right.
