The next morning on his way to the hospital Landon went over in his head everything he wanted to say to Jamie. He had calmed down, and in a way could even see her point. She didn't want him to lose out on anything because of her. He just needed her to understand that it was because of her he wasn't going to.

It was Jamie who had made him open his eyes for the first time and take a good look at himself and the life he was living. He didn't want to live like that anymore, only thinking about himself and how he felt. He wanted to live his life with Jamie, for Jamie. He wanted to make her proud, to give her the life that she deserved.

Arriving at the hospital he parked his car, waving at the parking attendant who was so familiar with Landon that he had ceased asking to see his visitors pass. He was nervous but determined as he rode the elevator up to Jamie's floor. He was going to convince her that missing a few months of college was not nearly as important as their being together while Jamie recovered. He didn't want to start this new phase of his life without her.

Arriving on the fifth floor He greeted Connie, the nurse sitting at the nursing station, cheerfully on his way to Jamie's room. She said hello back but Landon missed the confused expression on her face in his hurry to get to Jamie.

Entering the room Landon stopped short. It wasn't Jamie lying in the bed; it was a middle-aged man with a heart monitor attached to his bare chest. He stared at Landon looking mildly annoyed. "Sorry," Landon apologized backing out, "wrong room."

But it wasn't the wrong room, he checked the number on the door and it was 205. He told himself not to panic, that they must have moved Jamie to another room. After all, if something had happened they would have called him.

He tried to stay calm as he backtracked to the nursing station but his racing pulse proved that he was anything but. He was just opening his mouth to ask Connie where Jamie was when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Turning quickly, half expecting to find Jamie standing behind him he was instead faced with Reverend Sullivan. "Hey," he said, "I guess they must have moved Jamie. Is she even on this floor?"

When Jamie's father didn't answer him right away he immediately knew something was wrong. "What?" He asked. "What is it?"

Taking hold of Landon's arm, Reverend Sullivan led him around the corner to the visitor's lounge, which was empty save for a television set on a 24-hour news channel. Closing the door behind them he handed Landon a folded piece of paper wordlessly before sitting down.

Taking the paper Landon stared down at it, running his fingers along the crease. His name was written on one side and he recognized Jamie's writing. Nervously he opened it still standing.

Dear, Landon

I know you are wondering where I am and why I am writing this to you. I asked Daddy not to say anything until after you have read this. I wanted to be the one to explain and I knew that if I did it in person I would not be strong enough to go through with it.

I am going away for awhile. I need time to think and I think you do as well. We are still so young, Landon and we have out entire lives ahead of us. I don't want either one of us to do something that we will regret later.

Please don't be mad with me. I am only trying to do what I think is right. Just go on with your life for the time being as you would have if I had never been in the picture. Maybe then after we have both grown up a little we can live our lives together without either one of us having to compromise.

This does not mean my feeling for you have changed. I love you with all my heart and I always will. All I am asking for is time.

Forever yours, Jamie

Landon stood staring at the letter for what felt like hours. His heart was thudding heavily in his chest and he felt waves of panic running through his whole body.

His hand dropped lifelessly to his side still clutching the letter as he turned to face Jamie's father. He didn't even recognize his own voice as he asked, "How much time?"

Standing up to come to Landon's side Reverend Sullivan placed his hand on his shoulder. "I don't know." He answered quietly. "I really don't know."

Not able to bear being touched Landon walked to the other side of the room and sat down, his head in his hands. "I don't understand. It was a stupid fight yesterday. I was coming in today to tell her I was willing to make a compromise. I was going to go to community college here this year while she got stronger and then next year we could both go away."

Reverend Sullivan did not say a word and so Landon continued, "Why can't she see that she is what is important to me, that she is what matters. I get it, that she thinks I am giving up too much for her, that I am letting my dreams go to be with her, but that's not it. I didn't have dreams until I was with Jamie. She is the one that made me want to be better then I am." He looked up with pleading eyes. "Can you tell me where she is? I need to see her, I need to tell her."

"She's gone to a place to rehabilitate, to get stronger." Reverend Sullivan came over to sit across from Landon. "She's asked to be left alone for awhile, Landon. She said she needs time to clear her head. Jamie asked me, just before I dropped her off this morning to tell you that she wants your dreams to be your own. She doesn't want to be the reason that you follow them or don't follow them. She wants for you to discover what you want on your own."

"How can she ask that?" Landon practically yelled jumping up angrily to pace the room. "I married her, I said my vows and I take them seriously. For better or for worse! I meant it! Her life is my life now. So when you see her, you tell her that I will go on, I'll go away this fall. But it's not just for me; it's for her too. And I'm not giving up on her. I'm not giving up on us. Tell her the moment she stops being to damned stubborn I'll be waiting."

Nodding Reverend Sullivan stood up too. "I'll tell her." He said quietly. He looked so sad Landon thought and he knew then, instinctively that he had argued with Jamie too, that he had been on Landon's side.

Softening his voice, "Take care, Reverend." He said before he walked out the door.

He felt totally helpless but if this was what Jamie wanted, or more appropriately, what Jamie thought was the right thing to do he would play along. He was just beginning to understand that doing what you thought was right and doing what was actually right were two entirely different things.