A Second Chance (Chapter One)

They knew each other from work. The first day when Christine stepped into her new office, he was there. Right from the start, they know that they were meant for each other. But fate often had a cruel twist to what they thought were right.

Christine and Shawn went through the usual process of friends first, lovers after. Shawn was a nice guy who always had a soft spot for women who were different from the rest. Christine was a plump lady and many guys thought her too fat. But for Shawn, she was perfect. From the start, he knew she was for him. He loved everything about her, the way she walked, the way she carried herself, the way she talks, the way she smiled, the way she laughed loudly at jokes that she appreciated...but most of all, he loved the way she looked at him...that trusting, innocent eyes that reflected truth, hope and love.

For Christine, Shawn represented everything that guys were not. He was gentle and shy, and yet manly in many ways. A child at times, but matured when he needs to be. She loved everything about him too, the way he walked, the way he carried himself, the way he talked, the way he smiled, the way he laughed out loud, the way he told silly jokes to make her laughed, but most of all, she loved the way he looked at her and his eyes reflected his love for her.

Their s was a love that ran deep despite the short time they knew each other. Gossip about them went flying before the month was out because the chemistry between them was so strong that they could not help but get noticed by their colleagues. Shawn and Christine began to spend lunch times together...and then Shawn began fetching her to work...and fetching her home. Their friendship evolved naturally into a relationship and they became a couple at Christmas when Shawn brought Christine to a romantic restaurant for dinner and countdown on Christmas Eve.

However, cruel fate had to tear them apart...Shawn began to experience fainting spells about half a year after he and Christine were an item and would sometimes faint while driving. He had to quit driving and Christine began to drive him home instead. The doctor told them it was brain tumour, and Shawn would have to go through a risky operation if he wanted to have a chance to survive. This operation gave him a 50% chance of survival and it would entail the total loss of memory.

Shawn refused to go for the operation. He did not want to lose the precious memory of his Christine. He chose death. After 3 months of struggle, Shawn breathed his last in the arms of a weeping Christine.