War Can Only Make Me Love You More

War Can Only Make Me Love You More(Ashley L. Winston) (Note that the author was 15 years old when she wrote this story.)

My name is Ashley Winston and I wrote this story. I’m an average person with something to say in an average town surrounded by mostly average people. Half of my story is fiction, the other is non-fiction. I chose to write this as a way to speak how I felt during the occurrence of a break up between two great people. Yes, Alex and Sarah are real and yes they where in love until they broke up a year after he left for the Navy. I wrote this at first for Sarah as a way of showing her how perfect her and Alex were for each other. In the end though, it ended up to be a way for me to show what I always will hope to happen between them. They may never get back together, or this story may give them reason to get back together. In any case I have no regrets for writing this story and I hope that I never will.


War Can Only Make Me Love You More
By: Ashley L. Winston

For two of the best friends in the world.


For Alex, life was a nightmare. He felt alone in a world full of malicious people who wanted to ruin his life. His father wasn’t supportive in anything that Alex did. His step mom was too busy with her kids and he hardly ever got along with his brothers. He wanted more than anything to just walk out of this terrible family, but the one problem was if he did leave where would he go? So Alex played it safe and stuck it out. For now anyways. At school, Alex was said to be one of the most intelligent students there, but being smart had its disadvantages. When he answered all the questions that the teachers asked, and questioned the teachers on fact, other students and teachers thought that he was being arrogant. He couldn’t understand why being intelligent made him arrogant.

Finally his senior year came around and things got way better when he met Sarah. Sarah was a freshmen Alex's senior year. She was gorgeous and smart too. Sarah had had a better life than Alex had, but she was still kind and generous to him. She was the only person he knew that didn’t think of him as arrogant or self-centered. What Sarah saw in him was different than any other person had ever seen. She saw a born leader and loyal man, who would be a great husband for someone someday.

Through the school year they became closer friends until finally Alex asked her on a date. Thrilled by the idea Sarah said yes and they went for dinner and a movie. During the rest of the school year they where both head over heels in love. Alex was on the baseball team so Sarah would go to his games, but because of disagreements with the coach, Tim, he didn’t get to play much. However, even though he didn’t get to play, the moment he would look over at Sarah, and her face would light up with a smile, he couldn’t help but be happy just sitting there looking at her.

But even though he now had Sarah, it still was not enough to keep him there. He had a need to explore and there was only one way that he could think of that would solve that need. He wanted to be in the Navy.

When Sarah found out that Alex was going to the Navy she begged and begged for him not to go. His mind was made up. Navy was what he wanted to do and he had already signed up for the training camp. In 4 weeks he was going to be leaving. Every night for those next 4 weeks Sarah cried and prayed that God would keep her lover safe. Then came the horrible day that he was to leave.

Tears flooded from both Sarah and Alex’s eyes. As Sarah watch him get on the plane she yelled out to him, “Alex, promise you’ll come back to me”.

Then Alex yelled back, “God himself couldn’t keep me away from you. I’ll be back as soon as I can. You just have to promise that you’ll still be here when I get back.”

She promised and then he got on the plane, not knowing what horrible things would occur in the next 2 years.

During the first month that he was gone, Sarah wept and wept for Alex. She was so depressed that even Lilly, her best friend, didn’t bother to try to cheer her up.

At first they had no contact, but then they got the phones going at his training camp. Each scholar got one call every week. Then it became two, until finally he was able to call every day. Every now and then he would have a quick chat with other friends, but the rest of the time he talked to Sarah. Those conversations where the highlight of his day. The only problem with a phone is that you can’t see each other. It’s hard to have a conversation with someone who you can’t see. It’s like talking to an imaginary person. Only this imaginary person talks back.

Alex found out that he was going to get to graduate from this camp and go on to another one. The good part to this was that the graduation was going to be held around the area that he lived, so Sarah was going to get to come. The bad news was that the new training camp was in an entirely different country. Some how Alex just didn’t have the heart to tell Sarah the bad news because he knew she would be upset.

Sarah got to go up and spend the weekend with Alex before the graduation. They went to an action park and went and got food at a fancy dinner place. Then Alex gave Sarah tons of gifts. He gave her a sweatshirt that said 'Navy Girlfriend' and a necklace with his name engraved on it. He also gave her a huge picture of himself in his uniform.

Then came the graduation. Sarah cried during the whole thing because she was so proud, but also because she had really missed him and that he was done training. What she didn’t know was that the men don’t just go to one camp and then come home. How ever she was about to find out. After the graduation Alex took her over to the side and told her that he loved her and kissed her. Then Sarah said, “I am just so glad that you are finally coming home”.

That's when Alex realized that he had to tell her now. So he said, “Sarah, I won’t be coming home just yet. You see, I don’t just go to one camp and then be done with it. I have to go to another one that starts tomorrow.” In addition to that he said that the new camp was going to be in a different country. One that is not close to home.

Sarah began to weep with great passion until her entire body felt dried up. How could this have happened? The one person she very much loved was going to be taken away from her again and this time even further away and for a longer time.

Alex said, “don’t worry, I’ll be back as soon as I can”.

He knew that it was going to be hard to be away, but this was something that he had to do. There was no turning back now. Alex gave Sarah one more kiss and a big hug and silently walked back to the area where all the scholars, who where also going to go to the next training camp, were.
As Sarah watched him leave her, yet again, to go to camp, she prayed that he would be safe and that he would be home soon.

Once back home Sarah had an okay summer. She was in the summer play, like always, and her and Lilly hung out all the time. It was easy to talk to Lilly because she somehow always understood, and if she didn’t she would at least try to. Sarah and Lilly talked about stuff, about Alex and other guys, even family problems. They became even closer than they had ever been. Lilly and Sarah went every where together and always had a blast wherever they went. Most of the time they where at Sarah’s house. They would play guitars and sing songs. Sometimes her older sister would jam with them too.

Now the summers almost over and so far Alex is still alive. Alex calls every night and tells her how much he misses her.

Sarah made the cheering squad and can’t wait to start cheering at the football games.

Once school started everyone wanted to know what all had happened during the summer. Sarah told her friends about Alex leaving, but they just said stuff like, “Oh, that’s nice.” Lilly was always there for Sarah though.

Each day was harder on Alex. He would hurry through all his classes, just to wait till Sarah would be getting home from school. He barely ate or slept because he missed her so much. He was truly in love and believed that they would be together forever.

Even though he was content with thinking only of Sarah. She had a harder time with only thinking about him. A lot of her friends had boyfriends to hang out with. At first she always had Lilly, however soon Lilly got a boy friend. At first Sarah was excited for Lilly but then it seemed like her and Lilly where never together anymore. Tons of times Lilly offered for Sarah to go with Lilly and her boyfriend, but that just made things worse. Sarah didn’t want to be the third wheel. She wanted Alex to come home, for good.

Meanwhile, Alex's love for her just kept getting stronger and stronger. Whenever his friends at camp would ask him how he was making it without her he would always say, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” and just keep going on with the day. He was in love and he didn’t need to see her face to tell him that.

They would sit and talk for hours on end. Until it got harder to talk. Sarah became very busy and didn't have as much time for Alex. Cheerleading had now got very busy with all the football games and pep rallies. So whenever Alex called he would have only a couple minutes of her time or none at all. It ripped both of them apart to not get to talk, but there was nothing they could do. She couldn’t quit the team. She loved it too much to do that.

After awhile Sarah's schedule got so bad that it became hard to even talk to him everyday. First they talked every other day, then whenever they got the chance. Then the worst possible thing happened: Andrew. One of Sarah’s friend's ex-boyfriend, Andrew, started to talk to Sarah a lot and show interest in her. Sarah's friend warned her that he was a heart breaker. However, the more Sarah hung out with him, the more she didn’t believe that her friend was right about him. Andrew was kind and listened to all of her problems, like Alex, except for one little detail that made all the difference. Andrew was here and Alex was there. It was easier to talk to Andrew face to face as opposed to talking to Alex only on the phone.

Alex started to get the feeling that something was wrong. All Sarah ever talked about was Andrew and she didn’t open up to him the way she used to. He felt horrible. He knew he was losing her and he also knew that there was nothing he could say or do about it. All he could do was wait and hope that, whatever faze Sarah was going through, she would get over it and be herself again.

Slowly Sarah drifted so far away from Alex that she decided that it was best for them to break up. Even though she had a chance to tell him that night, she decided that it would be easier to just email him. Alex was very upset. However, what upset him even more was the fact that Sarah couldn’t even tell him on the phone. She did it by email so that she wouldn't have to explain it.

As Sarah had the time of her life with Andrew, Alex was devastated. He loved Sarah so much that he felt like half of him was gone. He tried using alcohol to get her off his mind, but just like in the song, “Whiskey Lullaby”, she just wouldn’t stop haunting his mind. All he could think about was her. He met plenty of girls, some were even very interested in him. However, he would constantly find himself wanting Sarah back. Finally he decided to email her one last time for good. The letter said...

Dear Sarah,

I loved you from the moment we started going out. You were and still are the world to me, and you probably always will be. I promised that I would come home and I will keep that promise even if you don’t care for me anymore. I need to keep on believing that you do want me to keep that promise, because right now its the only thing that is keeping me alive. I hope you and Andrew are very happy together, I just wish it could be me instead of Andrew. However, I know that could never happen and I am now willing to accept it. I love so much, and I know for sure that I always will.

Love, Alex

P.S. This is my final letter to you, with a promise to never bother you again.

Alex emailed the letter and vowed to do as he had said in the letter. No matter how much it hurt.

For 4 years he kept that promise. He never called Sarah again or emailed her. He is now on his way home for good after spending two years in training and three years in combat. His old humorous spirit has pretty well died, just as his heart has.

Through the rest of high school Sarah went out with many boys, however she had none during college for lack of interest in the boys at her school. Sarah now had a job in her home town opening her own hotel that had been very successful. She has only had it open for a year, yet business was booming. She was very proud of herself for all the success she had had. However, for some time now she couldn't stop thinking of Alex. She kept wondering what ever happened to him and if she'd ever see him again. Little did she know that very soon her and Alex would be reunited.

Once Alex's plane landed he decided that he wasn’t ready to go home. He wanted some time to himself first so he decided to go to the nearest hotel. The Hotel he chose was a fairly large hotel that looked very new. He thought it looked like a nice place to stop so he went in. He went to check in when behind him some said...

“Alex?”

Alex recognized the voice the very moment she spoke and, spinning around as fast as he could, he cried out, “Sarah”.

When he looked at her he almost didn’t recognize her. She had turned into a woman. She wasn't the teenager that he had gone out with. She was a gorgeous full grown women.

“How are you?”, she stuttered.

“Better now” was his answer, “What are you doing here?”

"Where?”, she said.

“This hotel.”

“Oh, I own this hotel.”

“Wow, you did all this, why it’s fantastic.” Looking around and then back at her, “I missed you... A lot.”

With tears falling from her eyes she then said, “I missed you too.”

There was a long silence of them just looking at each other. Sarah wondering if he would ever forgive her for the way she treated him. Alex was wondering if she could ever love him the way she did.

Then, breaking the silence, Sarah said, “Let’s go for a walk”.

During their walk they talked about everything. What had happened to them in the last couple of years and how they felt health wise. Then after many hours of catching up Sarah said, “Well, it’s getting pretty late. We’d better get back to the Hotel”. She then walked Alex to his room and, before leaving him, he said, “Would you like to go get something to eat together tomorrow?"

After a couple minutes of considering it Sarah said, “Yes, I would like that very much”.

“How about 4:30?”

“4:30.”

During their date they told each other all of their darkest secrets. Alex finally thought that Sarah was opening up to him the way she use to in high school. Sarah found that it was even easier now to talk to Alex than it had been before. She also realized how perfect they where together and how stupid she was to have let him get away from her.

At the end of the night Alex kissed her for the first time in 6 years. It was better then he could have imagined. Meanwhile Sarah was thinking how stupid she was to have broken up with him and how badly she wanted him back.

After a couple more dates they started going out again. It was just like in the old days. Alex finally moved back in with his Dad and started working as co-manager of the hotel. Life was perfect for both of them. Sarah felt so lucky that he took her back and Alex felt the same way about her taking him back. Then one day out of nowhere Alex asked,

“Why did you break up with me for Andrew back then?”

Sarah sat there and thought about the question for a little bit and then said the best thing she could, “I was young and scared that I’d never see you again and I didn’t want to risk not having a life because I was so obsessed with I guy that was 10,000 miles away. Like I said, I was stupid.”

“Why do you ask?” She then said.

“Because you hurt me real bad back then and I love you very much. I always have and always will. Right now, more than anything, I would like to get married and settle down. But I need to know that you're not going to back out on me because you're scared. I need to know that you're going to follow through with me.”

Sarah's face went blank. She didn’t know what to say because she knew he was right. She didn't even know for sure that she would follow though, so how could he know?

They sat in silence for quiet some time when she finally said, “Alex, I love you from the bottom of my heart. Even if it does not always show. I believe that it was there all along. You’re a part of me and I don't think that I could bear to lose you again. I can only say that I’m 99.9 percent sure that I would stick by you forever. But I can tell you I am 100 percent sure, if we were to get married, I would try my best to make you the happiest man alive. For you have made me the happiest woman alive just by sticking with me and never letting go.”

That was enough said. Alex thought that that showed her love and that was all that counted. After that Alex felt a lot better and more open to her than he’d ever been. Sarah also felt the same, and the more they were together the more sure she became that she could spend the rest of her life with him.

After years of dating, Alex thought it would be a good time to ask Sarah for her hand in marriage. This time he took Sarah to dinner at a nice restaurant. He decided to be creative so he brought his laptop. After they had ordered their food he put the laptop on the table and asked Sarah to open it. When she opened it there was a letter that was ready to be sent by email to her.

She then said, ”What’s this?”

“Read it and find out” said Alex with a giant smile.

It said...

Dear Sarah,

You mean the world to me. This I am sure of. You are always so kind to me
that you should be an angel from above. We’ve been through hard times, with a share of happy ones as well. And because of this never ending love,
there’s one thing I must ask: Will you marry me and make me the happiest man alive? Because I know I can’t live another day without you. I’d die.

Love Alex

P.S. Will you marry me?

Tears filled Sarah eyes as she cried out “Yes, Yes, Yes!” and started laughing with pleasure.

“All that's left in our journey now is it to pick the date” said Alex. "And I think that that is going to be one of the easier decisions to make, compared to all the ones we’ve already made.”

"I just can't believe how all through the war you loved me, even when I was so cruel," said Sarah.

“Like I said, the War only made me love you more,” Said Alex. “If a war can’t come between us nothing can.”

The End