Yancey and Shaunica

by Shaunica Smith
(Philadelphia, PA, US)

I met him when I was seventeen and he was twenty. We both worked a summer job at six flags. It's funny to say that our story began at six flags because you wouldn't exactly picture a love story beginning in an amusement park.

Although Yancey and I were attracted to each other, I pursued him but nothing really ever became of our relationship. We didn't have a first date or even a first kiss that summer. Instead we had a few phone conversations that lasted for an hour. I went to college and he went on working.

I went to college with Yancey Augustin still on the brain and still chasing after man I wasn't sure really wanted me because his work schedule was more important. So I decided to shrug it off and move on although I was still thinking about him because I wanted so desperately to know who he was. He still called my dorm room late at night after work was done and checked in but I wasn't to sure if we were in a relationship or not. I gave up on him. I dated other men in the mean time.

I saw Yancey again in February; seven months since I saw him last at six flags. We decided to finally see each other after months of just late night phone calls. I liked him a lot; enough to do all of the traveling. I got to the train station looking as good as I could get, waiting for him.

Again it was less than my expectations because I wanted him there already. He was ten minutes late picking me up. I was angry of course but couldn't help it when my anger disappeared when I saw him drive up. I could barely feel my toes as I walked down the platform to his car. I was surprised that I even remembered his face.

When he got out of the car to open my car door, he said something to this day I could NEVER forget. I was yelling about him being late and how cold it was, and he calmly said "Don't worry, I'm going to take care of you." It was then that "like" wasn't good enough but "love" was still too much.

From then on you couldn't separate us. For the rest of college I was his and he was mine. I had fallen in love at 18 years old and he 21.
Just like every relationship we have had our ups and downs. We have broken up before, he's been hurt and so have I, and there have been times we could swear we hated each other. We have had our good days and bad days just like any other relationship. He has forgiven me for things I have done and they haven't been minor. I have forgiven him.

Things haven't been easy but we have grown together in the 4 almost 5 years that I have known him. Saying I love him isn't enough. He's still that sweet gentleman that opened that car door for me and was willing to take care of me just more mature.

He woke me up in the middle of the night and made me a promise to be my king and I his queen for the rest of our lives as he placed this ring on my finger. I made the promise back as I said yes. It's in the vowels, that I will love him, cherish him, honor him in sickness and in health for the rest of my life and I know he will do the same for me. Me writing this will not begin to explain it all, but we know it all, and we're happy and can't wait for the day we say "I DO!"