Promise Me (RLU #1)

by Carlie Jean

I flip to the first page to see a picture of brown eyes, but not just any brown eyes. They’re mine. The detail in her work is stunning, making the eyes look life-like, but she also perfectly captured the emotion in them. My eyes look trusting, honest, and warm. “Keep going,” she urges. I flip to the next page to see another drawing. She illustrated the time we met at Emerald Lake, her hand on top of mine on the log to comfort me as we shared our pain and where we became friends. The next is a picture drawn from above of her head on my lap from when she was sick. That was the day I realized I didn’t just take care of her because it’s my nature, but because I wanted to. The next drawing is of us sitting on my couch, watching Guardians of the Galaxy the day she passed out, laughter evident on the still faces in the sketch. The one after is her wrapped up in my arms behind the bar after the incident. While that memory makes my blood fucking boil, this sketch reminds me of what we gained that night.