Never say forever (Never series Book 1) by Courtney A. Taylor Page A

gone. They couldn’t save her. The impact killed her instantly. That’s why I don’t play football anymore. Football took the one person I loved most. I won’t let it happen again. If I’ve learned anything by this, it’s that forever is not always there. I need to live in the moment. I can’t ever say forever anymore because the moment I do, my forever gets ripped away from me,” he said.
     
    His eyes look glossy as if he’s ready to cry. He is in a very emotional state and I feel as if it’s my fault.
     
    “ You shouldn’t give up football. It wasn’t your fault. The drunk driver is at fault. I’m sorry for bringing up such tragic times,” I said.
     
    “ It is my fault. If she wasn’t rushing to the football game to see me play, she wouldn’t have crossed paths with that driver. It’s okay that you’re asking. It actually feels kind of good to talk about it. I haven’t told anyone besides talking about it with my dad,” he said.
     
    I leaned over him and hugged him. I didn’t want to let go. I know he is hurting and I have become so close to him. I want to ease the hurt. He let me hold him, and he held back.
    “ I’m sorry you had to go through that, Aiden.” I feel so bad for him, I feel as if I’m about to cry.
     
    Now I know why he hasn’t tried out for football. I wish I could get through to him but I know he won’t give in. He’s not going to play. His whole world was taken away from him. I can’t blame him for closing that part of his life out. I lie next to him, looking him in the eyes and seeing all the emotion that he just laid out on the table in front of me. I can’t help but be mesmerized by his bravery to let it all out. I feel so much closer to him than I did an hour ago and I wouldn’t change that for anything.
     
    ***
    Aiden
     
    I can’t believe I just told her everything. I haven’t told anyone at this new school about my mother or my football. I do feel a lot better getting everything off my chest. I know it was right to tell her. I feel as if I can trust her wholeheartedly. When we first moved here, a few months back, I needed a place to getaway to. A place where I could think in peace and just be alone. I happened to stumble across this place when I went for a walk by myself. I couldn’t turn away from the beauty of the waterfalls. I sat here the first night and just thought about everything for what seemed like hours. When she asked me to pick the place, this was my first thought. I knew she would love it here. I was surprised to see her in makeup today, but she still looks beautiful anyway. I thought I might crumble when she hugged me. It’s not something I was expecting, just came out of the blue. It was a pleasant surprise at that. I did not want to let her go. She did let go first. She looked troubled, as if she wants to say something to me. I can’t imagine what.
     
    We lie there on the blanket, giving her time to open up to what she wants to tell me. I stare up at the sky, feeling at peace. I notice how cloudy it is and I remember our conversation before about the cloud shapes.
     
    “ Hey look at that. Do you see what I see?” I point to the sky and she looks up.
     
    “ Yeah, it kind of looks like a horse,” she said.
     
    I start laughing. “Are you crazy? That’s a dragon.”
    “ No way! Look at that. You can see the long head. That’s a total horse.”
     
    She isn’t going to give up on this one. I can feel it. I point to a part of the cloud.
     
    “ You mean to tell me that the clouds right there is a horse’s head and not fire coming from the dragon’s mouth?”
    “ Well now that you point it out. I guess it does kind of look like a dragon.” She giggles. Moments like this make it all worthwhile. This must have given her the courage to talk because she looks a bit more at ease now.
     
    “ I wish my sister was here to meet you. You would get along well with her,” she says as her eyes drift down.
    “ Where is she? Did she move