Chris believed he had a promising future due to his outstanding performance in football. He was offered 3 Sports Scholarships in leading colleges and he had to make a pick. Based on the influence of his Mom, he decided to go to Lockerville College. This School held many fond memories and it was like a homecoming for Chris. He grew up in the neighborhood before he had to relocate due to his father’s Military Career. The Dad died as a result of the conflict in Afghanistan. Life took a negative twist and Chris’ Mom did her best to raise him and his two siblings.
Chris grew in a close knit family which helped him find strength to go through the rough patches. Kennedy and David were his buddies. Kennedy was 3 years younger than Chris and David was 4 years younger. It was a loving home that was instituted due to the nature of his Dad’s career. They could not keep up with friends so they decided to love each other. Amazingly, all the boys were great athletes who majored in different sports. Kennedy was great in Rugby while David played Basketball.
On the first day of resumption in Lockerville, Chris came across some boys who were also freshmen. They pulled through the registration and discussed the possibilities that lay ahead of them. Chris put a call home to tell his family that all was well with him. '’Chris’’ blurted George, '’would you like to go for a walk with me?’’ Chris was not so fond of building close ties with strangers so he declined. George was a well-built young man who was in the College’s Basketball team. He was charming and had a great personality but Chris wanted to know him before he commits to a relationship.
The days began to roll and Chris’ exceptional talent on the field and in his class began to make waves. He became the Star in School and everyone wanted to have something to do with him. All through his first year, he was committed to making the best grades in School. However, towards the end of his first year, he was involved in a ghastly accident while on his way to see his Mom. This led to a fractured arm and leg. He was at the mercy of being sidelined from any sporting activity for life. The initial reports by the Doctors were not so great.
Chris had the best support from the team, his family and friends but he was battling depression. On a warm afternoon, some of his classmates came to see him in the Hospital. Chris had not built much connection with some of them prior to the accident but a girl named Winnie caught his fancy. She came to his bedside and spoke words of comfort, hope and healing to Chris. She became a constant at the Hospital and their relationship grew from friendship to love. When Chris was recuperating after his discharge from Hospital, he decided to ask her out on a date.
'’Winnie, there is something I would love to tell you’’, Chris said. Winnie put up a smile and wondered what Chris was up to. She liked him enough to start a relationship but she never guessed it would come so fast. She decided not to jump into conclusions but let Chris be the man. Chris continued '’I liked you from the day we met in class. I never really took it beyond that. It was always Academics and Sports for me’’. He looked up and smiled to the sky. Finally he said '’I love you Winnie and I want you to be my girl’’.
Winnie accepted and their relationship became a whirlwind which was known to everyone in School. Winnie played a formidable part in encouraging Chris to pick up the pieces and work on his Football. It was quite interesting to see Chris regain his place as a leading member of the team. His Academics began to bounce back and all seemed well. However, Chris had a battle which was not known to anyone. He was suffering from depression and felt he was not good enough for Winnie. He felt it was only a matter of time before she left him for someone else. Winnie tried to talk him out of this but it was getting the better of Chris.
He began taking an overdose of Antidepressants and this led him to hard drugs. He concealed this inner pain from everyone and it did not occur to Winnie that there were changes in Chris’ disposition. She enjoyed the company they had but she started sensing something was wrong after Chris had been on drugs for 6 months. She confronted him but he denied. She decided to take him by surprise and searched his bag when he was unaware and saw wraps of Meth. This was a huge blow to Winnie. Was she to report the man she loved to the School Authority or was she to keep it secret?
She laid the contents of what she had seen before Chris and he could not give a plausible explanation. He lied and tried to cover up but he broke down in tears and confessed to drug use. He knew he would be stripped from his Scholarship rights, expelled from School and probably lose all he had achieved. He was at the mercy of any move Winnie would make. Winnie made him an offer that if he would agree to marry her she would keep the findings between them. Chris had no option but to accept; he figured that since he loved her, there would be so issue.
The struggle with drugs continued for Chris and it all got to a head when he almost passed out before classes. Winnie could take it no more and reported to the School Authorities. Mr. Davidson who was the School head decided to take on the case. He took Chris to a rehab center where he was taken in for treatment. He improved and got better but he could not break in to the heights he was operating before he fell to drug use. The school decided to place him on probation due to his immense contributions to their football team.
The devastation of all that had happened made Winnie begin a new relationship. She never really loved Williams but he had always made passes at her even while she was dating Chris. She felt the new relationship would help her heal from the hurt she was going through. Williams did all he could to make Winnie have the time of her life but it seemed they were not striking the right chord. At a point, he decided not to push it but asked Winnie to follow her heart. Winnie still loved Chris but did not know if she could take him back.
Days passed and not much was heard of Chris. He missed a year in School and Winnie moved on to the next class. The time that passed did not take away the love they had for each other. After a while, Chris was back in school and there was a marked difference in the way he approached life. He was more sober, humane and the real person he was had come to bear. The Sports and Academics were not so great for him as to win the love of Winnie. He tried to use his contacts with her friends to win her love but all of his moves were rebuffed.
Williams also decided to give him some help by talking to Winnie. He told Winnie how it was obvious that she would not be fulfilled with Chris in her life. The love she had for him did not die in his worst days so he could have her since he was back to his real self. While they were interacting, Winnie broke down in tears. Unconsciously, Williams put his arms around her and while they were trying to come to terms with what was going on; Williams kissed her. This was repulsive to Winnie as she pushed him away. The act brought mixed feelings. She knew she would always belong to Chris.
Winnie met with Chris after classes the next day to work out their difference. It was now down to the wire for Chris. No more acts that would end the relationship for good. He had to live a decent life or Winnie would be gone forever. They made up and they started building on their relationship. Chris brought up the fling Winnie had with Williams and how it hurt him deeply. Winnie apologized and promised that she kept to her vows to be Chris’ Wife.
Chris also had a lot of work to do to win the confidence of his family. They were so distressed by the news that hit them on all that transpired in the life of Chris. He was their hero since the passing of their father. Chris knew he had to make up for all the time that he lost and make the most of the new opportunities. Fate was good on him as he had good grades and also started practicing with the Football team. Kennedy and David forgave Chris and decided to give him the place he deserves in their heart.
Winnie graduated from College a year before Chris but she promised not to go into another relationship. It was challenging to keep the relationship alive due to the challenges of distance. However, Chris and Winnie were like an unbroken chord that nothing could severe. The parents of Winnie also approved her relationship with Chris and believed he had come around for good. When Chris was about to write his finals, he decided to make a move that would form the direction of his life.
'’Benny, Benny’’, Chris screamed from the end of the hall. “I would like to have a chat with you’’. Benny was the son of an immigrant who had a jewelry store. He had become acquainted to Chris due to his association in the Football team. As Chris ran down the hall to meet Benny, Benny enthused '’I see sparks flying from your eyes. What are you up to Chris?” Chris shared his dream of how he was to propose marriage to Winnie on the day of his graduation. He wanted the best ring he could get to make this dream a reality.
Benny was so excited to hear this. He did not know much about Winnie but through his association with Chris, he became fond of her. He helped Chris get the best ring within his budget and all was set for the great day. The days rolled and graduation day quickly came around. All the family and Winnie were present to witness his joy. Chris took Winnie by the hands and right before everyone, he popped the question. She was so filled with joy that she said “Yes” to his proposal.
Everyone in School had followed the relationship of Chris and Winnie. It was so nice to see that it ended well for both of them. Chris’ Mom was proud to see that the Son was taking the steps of her father. She recollected how her Husband also asked her to marry