The Gift

Written by Sylvia

I was sweet sixteen when my first love came to me
He was dashing and handsome, my heart was taken
Our love blossomed and then he took my virginity, you see
And life as I knew it would never be the same again

Plans were made to be married on a cool fall day,
in his hometown and I would finish my education
School ended and I worked that summer much to my dismay
And I was filled with anticipation for that day to arrive

On a lazy summer afternoon, a day I remember well
The telephone rang and mother said the call was for me
As I put the receiver to my ear, I heard him say, oh hell
I don’t know how to say this, but I’ve been lying to you

I’m engaged to another, we’re getting married today
Just thought I should call to let you know and have a good life
I dropped the phone, I could not speak and my soul was betrayed
My heart was barely beating, felt as if it had been ripped apart

My mother held me in her arms to comfort me and dry my tears
Hours passed before I could find the words to tell her what he said
I threw away the mementos of him trying to calm my fears
Desperate to erase the memory without much success

He’ll always be hidden in my mind, never to let me forget
And if someone else appears, a wall goes up to protect myself
All because I can never trust anyone again, I regret
Since that day when I was just sweet sixteen

Memories of the pain when that call came left me forever numb
And this one event became the foundation of my life
Fear of hurt if I gave to another could not be overcome
This is the gift my first love gave to me when I was sweet sixteen

Copyright © 2007 Sylvia A. Feeley All Rights Reserved