I had three friends

Eric, Cathlyn, Carol

Eric was chased by all the girls in our high school

Cathlyn was one of those popular girls. Cheerleader, sexy, and stylish

Carol was just one of those plain and average girls

Cathlyn and Carol were both totally crazy and wacko over Eric

Cathlyn didn't have to do anything to attract Eric

For she was already attractive enough

Carol on the other hand, showered Eric which love and care

Carol wasn't ugly at all

In fact, she looked sweet and pleasant

But she wasn't a cheerleader, she didn't were spaghetti-straps or tubes

So like everyone expected, Eric chose Cathlyn

For Carol was just one ordinary and plain girl

While Cathlyn was labele d as the cool and attractive type

Eric always insulted Carol

Telling her what a 'Plain Jane' she was

And how dumb she looked

Which obviously made Carol feel so hurt and useless

That's life

Carol never gave up though

She wanted to prove something to Eric

She wanted to prove that looks aren't everything

She studied hard, really hard

She became the top girl, and all the guys who once ignored her, chased her

But she never forgot Eric

Everyday, she put a red rose in Eric's locker

Always with the same words

'I care for you, and I always will'

Because she knew that Eric was facing a hard time

Eric began to realise

How dumb he had been

His beloved girlfriend, Cathlyn

Was flirting with other guys

He regretted for choosing the wrong girl

Cathlyn broke up with Eric later

For she had found a wealthier guy

Eric felt so cheated, stupid and dumb

He went to look for Carol

He knelt on his knees, and said

"Carol, please forgive me. Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

Carol rejected him, much to everyone's surprise

She only uttered these words

"You've suffered a great loss, so I don't want you to face another one"

Eric felt disappointed

He didn't understand a word that she said to him

But they became good friends

Did everything together

Eric began to change into someone better

Because Carol showered him with the love he never experienced before

His ex-girlfriends had never treated him that way

They just accepted him for his looks

But Carol accepted him for himself

She changed him

Carol continued putting a red rose into his locker everyday

With the same words

She never forgot

One day, Carol didn't turn up in school

She didn't come for a week

At first, Eric thought that she was on a vacation with her family

Because she told him that she would be going Hawaii with them

But one day

He received a call from the General Hospital

Saying that Carol was about to die

She had been suffering from cancer

But Carol forbade them from telling him

Because she didn't want Eric to worry about her

But now that she was about to die

She wanted to see Eric for the last time

Eric rushed to the hospital

When he saw how weak Carol was

Tears began rushing down his cheeks

He whispered

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? Why did you hide this from me?"

She looked at him

And smiled weakly at him

"When I said that I didn't want you to suffer from facing another loss, I meant this. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to worry. I wanted to spend my last days with you cheerfully."

Eric looked at her

"You can't leave me!" he said

"What will I be without you?"

"You'll be who you are now. I will always be there by your side. Never forget that. Cherish those times. Live life happily. And one more thing."

"Yes?"

"I love you"

And she died

Eric screamed

He still couldn't accept Carol's death

He had only spent a month with Carol

A month

But Carol changed his life in a way

A way that no one could ever explain

He regretted

But he knew that Carol would always be keeping an eye on him from Heaven

Sometimes

We just don't appreciate those people who really care for us

Until they leave us

Until we lose them

Then we regret

Outer beauty doesn't matter; it's the inner one that counts

It's better to tell someone how much you love them

Rather than to not tell them and lose them without telling them

You'll regret

Love is.

When we fight till the very last minute

Just to show and tell someone how much we love them