I was just a young girl when I met him
We were at the rock quarry pool.
Sat on a man made cliff
from stones taken
before I was born.

I stepped down to the ledge.
And looked down into the black water.
Which now looked a mile below.
Hanging onto a rock I was frozen
Like a deer in the night headlight beam.

Friends splashed into the water way below.
Shouting encouragement for me to jump.
But my legs turned to jelly
I could not climb up or jump down.
I was in the vice grip of all my failures.

He climbed up the rock face
The nerdy kid in my grade twelve class.
He was great at math and science
Wore thick glasses a bit of an outcast.

He reached my ledge of terror
I gripped his arm so tightly
He said softly don't be afraid
I am here and nothing will hurt you
I promise.

He was the smartest kid in the class
How do you know ?
I asked.
Because you are strong and can do anything
You have brains talent and good looks.
You are destined for greatness.
I just have brains he laughed
I am destined make others rich.

Now hold my hand
And we shall jump in together
He gripped my hand and it felt
Wonderfully safe.

On three he said softly.
What if we die I whimpered.
Then I shall die holding
The hand of the most beautiful girl
In the school he said almost smiling.
On three he said you count
One….t wo……...two and a half……...three

I felt myself falling falling falling.
Holding his hand all the way down.
It was so safe.
we slipped into the cold water

And we're in an embrace
when we surfaced
Everyone was cheering.

What I did not know
I was falling falling falling for him.
We finished college together
He became my first lover
And we married young
And had three of smartest children
Who fortunately got my looks
and his beautiful heart.