Over the next couple months, Kale and I spent a lot of time together. We weren’t obsessed with our relationship. We knew it was okay to be apart for a little while. We trusted each other. We loved each other. It was as if we had known one another our whole lives. It was relaxed. Calming… Normal. I had never loved anyone as much as I loved Kale. Sure it was cool that his father was Alan Rickman, but Alan was really like any other dad. The greatest part was, Kale had other girls flinging themselves at him but he only saw me. Does that make sense? Trust me, if you have ever been in love, it will make sense.

One day, Kale and I decided to go to the beach. We had taken his Yellow Lamborghini. As we were driving to Venice Beach, we were coming around a giant curve with a gigantic rock wall preventing us from seeing what was to come. We didn’t see the huge truck driving on the wrong side of the road heading toward us at first. When we saw it, Kale slammed on the brakes but the truck kept going and plowed head on into us. The truck must have been doing at least 70 MPH. We went flying into the rock wall, upside down, on the side of the road and I thought we were going to die.
As we stopped spinning, I could tell something was wrong. Something was horribly wrong.
In automatic response I said “Kale?”
He didn’t reply back.
“Kale?!” I said louder.
The truck driver got out of his truck and ran over to my side of the car. He got down on his knees and asked me if I was alive. If I had thought about it at the time, I might have slapped him. I was too busy crying and trying to wake Kale up.
“Miss, please calm down, help is on the way.” He said.
I tried to get my seat belt off, but I couldn’t. I was drifting in and out of consciousness. The driver got his pocket knife out and cut my seat belt off and pulled me gently out of the car. My spine hurt so much. I stayed lying on the pavement while the driver went to help Kale. I tried to look over at the car but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I thought that Kale wasn’t going to make it. I was so scared. I was terrified. I wasn’t sure when I drifted into unconsciousness, but when I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.
“Mom?” I asked.
“Kaila!” My mom said desperately as she rushed to the bed and hugged me.
“Ow!” I cried out.
There was a shooting pain in my spine. I tried to sit up, but I couldn’t.
“My… my spine!” I cried.
“You have a broken spine baby.” My mom told me. I could tell she was trying to be strong. I heard that tone six years ago.
“Mom… where’s Kale?” I asked, scared for the answer.
But before she could speak, Alan walked in with Kale who was in a wheel chair.
“Kale!” I exclaimed.
“I’m so sorry!” He said as he wheeled over to the opposite side of the bed of my mom and took my hand.
“It wasn’t your fault. It’s ok.” I assured him.
“I love you so much Kaila.” He told me.
“I love you too.” I told him.
“Mom…” I said weakly.
“Yes baby?” She replied.
“I’m sorry.” I said, though I don’t know why.
I think she thought I meant I wanted her to leave the room. So, she did. Alan took a look at Kale and I and he smiled at the sight of his son in love. With me.
“I’ll be out in the hall.” Alan said and then left.
Kale and I sat there for a few moments in the calming silence.
“I… I’m so sorry Kaila. I don’t know why I stopped the car.” He said miserably.
“It’s probably a good thing you did or we might not even be alive…” I said.
“I love you so much Kaila. I can’t imagine not being with you. If you hadn’t of made it…” His voice cracked and he started sobbing into the blanket.
“Kale, look at me.” I said. He looked up at me. “I love you. I’m here now and that’s all that matters.” I finished.
“I love you Kaila…” And with that, he painfully got up and kissed me.

Later that night, I asked the nurse to pull Kale’s bed next to mine. When they were finished moving his bed, he held my hand.
“What are we going to do?” He asked me.
“Well, we’re going to heal first.” I said smiling. I wish I could have just turned my head to look at him but the stupid neck brace kept refraining me from doing so.
“I meant, what are we going to do about school?” He said, “They told you that you could be here for a month!”
“I know… I was there.” I said quietly more to myself than to Kale.
I just didn’t know what else to say. There I was, just wanting to take one step at a time, and Kale was too busy worrying about school. I mean, come on! It was only a Saturday anyway! Anyway, around midnight, Kale finally fell asleep. I stayed up listening to music. After 1:30 or so, my mom came back in and sat in the chair.
“You’re awake?” My mom asked surprised.
“Yeah.” I said.
“I told Alan he could go home an hour ago but he refused. He’s asleep in the waiting room.” My mom told me.
“Mom?” I asked.
“Yes?” She replied quietly.
“I’m scared. About the surgery tomorrow…” I admitted.
“I know baby. I’m scared too.” She said sadly.
She pulled the chair up next to the side of my bed.
“What if they can’t fix my spine?” I asked.
“Baby, these are L.A. doctors! The best of the best! I wouldn’t trust anyone else.” She said firmly.
“Hey mom?” I said.
“Yes honey?” She replied.
“I miss daddy.” I said.
Six years ago, my dad was killed in an automobile accident. So, I can see why my mother was so worried about me. I have never been much for talking about my dad in front of my mom because I felt I had to be strong for her and my brother Luke. Well, mostly for my mom because Luke was finishing college in Phoenix.
“By the way, you’re brother is on a plane heading out here now.” She said in a whisper.
“Mom! You didn’t need to do that! It was just a car accident.” I exclaimed quietly whining.
“Well, I called him to tell him what happened and he insisted on coming out here.” She told me, “and when he gets here, you be happy to see him…” She pleaded.
I knew what she meant… She meant, I might not have been able to see him at all if I hadn’t of lived. I would be strong for my mom and Luke, just like always.

The next week went by and Luke was still in town.
“I’ve really missed you and mom, Kaila.” He told me.
“I can honestly say we’ve missed you too!” I told him.
“Well, it looks to me like you’ve been pretty distracted.” He teased.
“Eh. Not really.” I said at first, “Okay, a little.”
We both laughed.
“He seems decent.” Luke said.
“I love him Luke. He really loves me.” I said honestly.
“I can tell.” He said.
“Can you?” I asked.
“The way you two look at each other. He looks like he would really die for you.” Luke said.
Suddenly, Kale knocked on the open door.
“You’re on crutches now!” I said happily.
“Yeah, I begged them to let me out of the wheel chair. I hated that thing!” He said chuckling.
I pat the side of the bed for him to come and sit by me. So he did.
“I think they are letting me go home tomorrow. They said the surgery went really well and I’m recovering great.” He said hopefully.
“That’s great!” I said. Great, I was going to be stuck in the hospital alone…
“I’m not leaving you though.” He said firmly.
“Kale, someone’s going to have to get my assignments and help me.” I told him smiling.
Luke stood up and said, “I’ll let you two talk.” Then, he left the room.
“I love you Kaila.” He told me.
“I love you too Kale.” I told him simply. Because that’s what it was. Simple. I simply loved him.
“Are you sure you want me to go back to school?” He asked me.
“Kale, there’s only two weeks of school left. It’s fine. We need to get caught up!” I told him.
“I guess you’re right. Then again, you usually are.” He told me smiling.
“You have such a radiant smile.” I told him, remembering when he told me this the first day we met in the school library which really felt like years ago instead of months.
He remembered too, I could tell. We both laughed.
“I’ll go back Monday. Thank goodness it’s only Saturday.” He told me, looking out the window.
“I’m so glad school is almost over. Summers in California are the best.” I told him smiling.
“Not if you’re in the hospital all summer…” He said miserably.
I knew he still took the blame for the truck driver’s mistake. I told him every time he apologized, which was quite often, that it wasn’t his fault. I couldn’t get him to believe it wasn’t his fault.
“I love you.” I told him.
“I love you too.” Kale told me.
“I’ll be right back, I need to go get a drink. Do you want anything?” He asked.
“I’m fine thank you.” I told him.
He kissed my hand and walked out the door on the crutches. Five minutes later, Alan walked into the doorway.
“How are you feeling?” He asked me.
“Fine. The medicine kicked in about forty-five minutes ago.” I told him.
“That’s good.” He said.
“Yeah…” I said awkwardly.
“I have a question.” He said.
“I’m sure I have an answer.” I told him smiling. I gestured for him to sit in the chair.
“You and Kale really love each other.” He said.
I thought that was the question and I said “Of course.”
“Oh that wasn’t the question.” He said laughing.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I said embarrassed.
“It’s alright. See, I haven’t seen Kale this happy in a long time. I see the way he looks at you and it makes me think of his mother when I first met her. I don’t want either of you to come out broken-hearted. I really have come to care for you as my own daughter. So, my question is… Do you plan on marrying him one day?” He finished.
I had thought about this question quite a few times.
“Alan, I don’t think any girl could love your son more than I do. I would love to marry Kale.” I told him honestly.
“I thought so.” He said thoughtfully.
“The first day I met Kale, something amazing happened. I fell in love. It really was love at first sight-for me at least. But, I want to spend the rest of my life with Kale. It means so much that you accept me. I love him. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t of accepted me. Thank you.” I told him.
“I know for a fact that he wants to marry you Kaila.” Alan told me.
I could tell he was telling the truth. I smiled at the thought of being Kaila Rickman.
“I do believe that Kale and Kaila Rickman has a nice ring to it, don’t you?” He asked.
“You read my mind.” I laughed.
“I better be going.” He said checking his watch.
“Okay… oh and Alan?” I said.
“Yes?” He asked.
“Thank you.” I said.
“Anytime.” He told me and left.

That night, Kale sat on the edge of the bed talking to me.
“Kale?” I asked.
“Yes?” He replied.
“Do you plan on marrying me one day?” I asked curiously, a little nervous he’d say no.
“Yes.” He admitted confidently.
I felt like I could’ve jumped up with glee.
“You have no idea how happy I am to hear that!” I told him smiling.
“Kaila, I know you and my dad talked.” He said smiling.
“Oh.” I said blushing.
“You do realize you are the only girl I could ever love, right? I don’t see anyone else. Just you.” He told me happily.
“I don’t have a ring or anything…” He started, as he got down on one knee and held my hand, “but, will you marry me?”
Tears welled up in my eyes and I said “Yes!”
He got back up and kissed me. “I love you Kaila.” He told me.
“Thank you.” Was all I could say.
“Kaila, you are the only one for me.” He told me while looking me in the eyes.
“I know that now.” I smiled.
He smiled at me and I realized he really was the most handsome guy I had ever laid eyes on, which made me a little self-conscious. But, he loved me for me and that was all I could ever ask for.