Broken Promises: To Eternity

"I promise to love you to eternity." Those were the words James had written on the gift card he gave to Candice, the day they were engaged.

She looked at the ring on her finger. It was so beautiful!

"Up to and including eternity?" Candice wondered. "Or just up to eternity?" 

Suddenly, she felt totally alone. 

"Regardless, eternity came too soon," Candice said aloud. "All of our plans, hopes and dreams came crashing down the day that you died. We made a commitment to spend the rest of our lives together. You promised to love me forever. You made so many other promises to me too. You broke them all."

She was hurt, angry and confused. "I don't understand. I know it is not your fault." Moments later, she burst into tears.

She had known for some time that her fiance's days were numbered. They had both been devastated earlier that week, as they listened to his doctor's words.

"James, I am sorry, but you need a miracle."

"Candice, there is nothing more that we can do for James, in terms of medical science. Ten years down the road we might have some better answers."

"It would be a good idea to start putting your affairs in order," the doctor had advised James. "Call me whenever and I will help you."

"How long do I have?" James had asked.

"I don't know, but it won't be very long."

"I want you to be well taken care of," James told Candice later, but it was only a matter of days before he passed away. His affairs were not fully in order, either.

"What will I do?" wondered Candice, as she recalled the words he had written in capital letters. "I promise to love you to eternity."

"Now, you are in eternity and I am still here. Does that mean that you don't love me any longer? I trusted you. I cannot believe that you left me just like that."

"Until you come to eternity too," the winds seem to whisper. "I will be waiting for you." As these words came to Candice, suddenly she understood what James had written and was comforted.