A Single Candle

Chapter Six: What It Means to Be in Love

"Dreams are great, but that's not what I want! I want something real, that I can hold on to! I… I want you!"

-- Yolie, A Single Candle

Yolie didn't want to wake up. She didn't want to think that maybe it was a dream. She didn't want to think that maybe the warmth next to her was only one of her pillows, instead of the man she had been so sure she had confessed her love to last night. She wanted it to be real, with all of her heart. Devon didn't matter anymore, and Miranda couldn't help her now. This was her story and she would have to deal with it either way. So when she opened her eyes and saw only white, she thought she would die. Had it only been a dream… a dream that she might never see come true? She rose from her pillow and thought she would cry. She was back at her own house… in her own bed… alone. Ken wasn't there. He had never been there. The tears started running down her face before she even knew what hit her. She curled up into a ball, and wished that she had died.

"Yolie?" She heard Miranda's voice above her own cries and looked up. "You look like hell! He was right, that asshole really put you through a lot! I can't believe he did that!" Miranda was still wearing her gown from the dance. Had… had it happened? Or was it about to happen again? Who was she talking about anyway? Miranda sat down beside Yolie. She stroked her hair. "You shouldn't be that bummed. Devon always was a jerk… and he always will be. But that Ken… now he's the guy you should be going after!" Miranda laughed. "You know… he brought you home after you crashed at his house. He was worried that your mom would worry. Besides, he was a little nervous about you staying over the night anyway. Is it me or did something happen between the two of you?"

"K-ken? He… he brought me home?" Yolie gasped. She knew what that meant. Ken… her… everything… it had happened! It was real! He loved her and she loved him! "Oh, Miranda! It was the most wonderful… where is he? Did he leave?" She asked, suddenly. She wanted to talk to him. She needed reassurance. She needed to know that it was true. Miranda nodded.

"Yeah, he left last night, shortly after he brought you home. I was already here when he got here. He filled me in on the whole story… well… almost the whole story. He seemed a little distracted, though. Are you two really a couple, now?" She asked, winking at her friend. However, Yolie completely ignored her. She was still dressed in the clothes his mother had lent her. She should have known! She took off out the room, shouting back after her friend.

"I'll be back!" Miranda laughed.

"Sure you will." She said, sure that she wouldn't. Miranda sighed, leaning back on the bed when her cell phone rang. She picked it up quickly. "Hello? Oh! Hello, Marc!" She giggled. "I'll be right over. Yeah. My work is finished over here. I'll see you in a little bit. Yeah… I love you, too." She hung up and sighed, with a love-struck look on her face. "I guess we both got lucky!" She laughed, getting up off the bed and heading back downstairs to say goodbye to Yolie's mom before she left to see Marc…

Meanwhile, Yolie ran the whole way to Ken's house, never stopping. If she ran like that all the time, she could have been the star of the school's track team! However, this wasn't just any time. This was 'the' time. She had never wanted anything more than she wanted this. So she found herself on his front porch pretty fast. This was before she had even thought about what she would do… or say! She didn't get time to figure that out, either, before the door opened unexpectedly, revealing a tired looking Ken. However, he managed to put on a smile for her, anyway. "Yolie?! What a big surprise. Actually, I was just coming to see you. I hope you're feeling better. You didn't look so well last night. No wonder, though, after everything you went through." He said. "I'm terribly sorry…" he said, sadly.

"About what? What's going on? It wasn't that bad, really! I just… wanted to talk to you… about last night." Yolie said nervously. "About what I said last night…" Ken put a finger to her lips to quiet her and nodded lightly.

"It's alright. I understand. He completely took advantage of you. Are you sure you're all right? Maybe you should go see the doctor…" Ken had this weird look of pity on his face. It wasn't like him at all. I mean, it was just Devon. She didn't mind the humiliation anymore, but she didn't like that fact that Ken was acting this way. He was making such a big deal out of it, and that wasn't like him. He was usually the one looking for the positive side to everything.

"No, I'm fine. Really." She did remember vaguely, though, waking up with terrible head pains. "What exactly happened last night? Is there something I'm missing?" Ken's eyes widened considerably and he nearly choked.

"You mean… you don't remember? He… he must have drugged you! Yolie… last night… I found you on my doorstep… after the dance. Devon had taken you to a hotel and… Devon had… had raped you! You mean… you don't remember?" Yolie's eyes widened. Why didn't she remember anything like that? Was this some horrible nightmare she would wake up from? Maybe too much happiness had led her into some hellish dream. Yet somehow, just by looking at Ken, she knew that it was real. She didn't remember drinking or being raped… but… could it have happened? But more importantly, did this mean that she would lose Ken?

Too many thoughts swam inside her head, causing another shooting pain to course through her head. She yelped, falling to the ground. "Yolie!" Ken gasped, dropping down beside her. She looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"Is this what I have to go through? Is this what I have to endure? Love… I don't care. I will endure it, and I will do it with a smile on my face!" she said, forcing out the words. "That… that is what it means to be in love with someone. I would do anything for you… I… I love you, Ken. I don't know if I really said it to you, but I do! I don't remember, but I do! I love you!" She said, before passing out quietly in his arms. Ken sobbed quietly.

"I know. You told me… but… this is my fault. This is all my fault. I can't let this happen. That… 'that' is what it means to be in love with someone. I would do anything for you… whatever is best for you… even if it means letting you go. I will disappear from your sight. I don't want to hurt you anymore…" He pulled out his cell phone and dialed '911'.

"Hello? I am here to report an injury! Yes… uh-huh. She's here at 543 Kiya Lane. Yes. My name… is Devon." He said, hanging up the phone and walking off down the street, even with tears in his eyes.

TBC

Confused yet? Don't worry! It'll all become clear, soon! Happy ending or no? Cliffhanger! We'll just have to see! Sorry it took so long! I won't wait so long anymore! Computer troubles… darn it! Don't worry! It's up and running now! So I can update all I want! Happy? I hope so! Enjoy!

Love Christine Lennoire