I was walking along the river bank at my cousin's graduation party.  I had too much to drink and was trying to sober up some. There was this guy sitting down there all by himself watching the water.  He asked me to sit down next to him for a bit because he was worried I was going to stumble into the water.  We talked for several minutes. Then he made sure I made it back across the road to the main part of the party. I didn't remember what his name was,  but I felt my life has just changed. I put him out of my mind, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was was missing,  and life went on. Several months later I went to another party at my cousin's place and unknown to me, Scot hadn't forgotten me or my name. He arranged the party and to be able to meet me again. This time when I was able to remember everything about our meeting. He brought 2 other friends with him and pulled in driving and old red Ford pickup. As soon as my eyes met his, my heart remembered him and no one else existed. We stayed in the party group, I even dared him to tie me up and hang me from an engine hook in the garage ceiling. He took me up on my dare, tied me up and sprayed me with beer. My heart melted. No one had ever challanged me or called me on a dare. When I got down and untied, we walked off together. I knew I was going to marry him someday. I told him that  night that in the future he would be my husband. I was 15 and he was 16 at the time. I didn't know how tough life was going to be and how much it would rip us apart and challenge our love. I just knew without a doubt that I would never love anyone as much as I do him. Life never gave us our storybook romance. We had to fight for every  moment we had together. We battled against fate and clawed our way through a 22 yr marriage. We had happy moments and good memories.  We have 3 great kids together.  We fought for each day we had together,  we battled depression,  addiction to drinking and family conflicts just to be together.  Life did it's best to rip us apart at every chance. Would I give up meeting Scot to have an easier life? Not a chance. I will never have a love so deep or meet someone who I can feel even when I couldn't see him. If I could start from the beginning again, knowing all the pain and struggles we would face,  I wouldn't hesitate to do it all over again. I dread each day I have to live without him. I can't wait to see him again and have that connection again. I'm so lost without him. Part of me died with him and living without him is a daily struggle.  Only God knows why this is the path we had to be on, and only when I meet Scot on the other side, will I be complete and happy once again. I haven't finished my journey in life yet, but it's a tougher journey without the man who completed my heart and soul. I miss him deeply everyday.  When I finally complete what I was put on this earth to do, God will reward us by taking me home and rejoining me with my love.