Her Rule of “Never Turning Back”

Jewel walked faster than me, grabbing my wrist as she asked, "Beau, what's with the temper tantrum?! You were the one who wanted to go to the theme park, but you're also the one saying you don't want to go now. You're impossible!"

Jason grabbed my other hand, looking hurt.

"Beau, don't fight with Jewel. This is all my fault." He raised his hand and said, "I swear I'll be the quietest third wheel ever and won't even make a squeak. I won't get in the way of your anniversary."

I shook my head. "It's fine, I said I'm not going."

Jewel finally lost her patience. She shoved me into the back seat before I could say another word.

I had gotten caught in the rain the night before and already had a fever, so I did not even have the strength to resist.

Jewel slammed the car door and said, "This is today's plan. Sit still."

Before we left that morning, my whole body had been burning up, and I had already thrown up twice in the bathroom. I hadn't wanted to go out at all today, but Jewel had stood in the bathroom doorway with her arms crossed.

"Getting sick and canceling isn't part of today's plan. Take something for the fever and get downstairs," she said.

But Jason had not been part of today's plan either. I smiled bitterly and stopped fighting.

Jason sat in the passenger seat and took a red hair clip from his sling bag. "Jewel, you left this behind yesterday."

He turned toward her and casually reached over to clip it into her hair. Jewel lowered her head a little to make it easier. She did not like flashy designs, and she had tossed every hair clip I ever gave her into a drawer.

This one was different because Jason had given it to her.

At three that afternoon, the theme park's parade began, and crowds poured in from every direction. Jason excitedly grabbed Jewel's arm and pushed his way forward. "Jewel, hurry! Let's watch from the front!"

Jewel held Jason's arm and also tried to shield him from the crowd. "Slow down. Don't fall."

Her voice was rarely that gentle.

Meanwhile, I was shoved back and forth, and the fever had drained the little strength I had left. I fell and scraped my palm.

The crowd kept moving, and someone stepped on my calf. Pain shot through me, and I cried out, "Jewel!"

Jewel paused for a second. She had heard me, but she did not look back. Instead, she simply let Jason pull her farther ahead.

I watched them disappear into the crowd, and my heart sank.

I did not call out again.

Because I knew she would never turn back for me.