Three Shades Of Love

The graduation class of 1979 at Durango High, in Colorado had gathered in the auditorium to celebrate their achievements. Caps with tassels were tossed in the air as they all screamed with joy while the pround parents and friends applauded. It had been a great year for Cheryl. She had finished high school and was planning to be married the following week. She had met a guy that was attending college and really seemed to care for her a lot. They had been dating only a year, but hit it off from day one. Unfortunately, Cheryl didn't have her heart in the proposal, but she plans to marry him to have a chance to move away from home; she wanted to spread her wings and become her own person. Cheryl was eager to be on her own, but her parents weren't convinced she could manage it alone. They were just not ready to let go and felt she needed to remain at home until she married. to them she was just too young to be on her own. So that's exactly what she intends to do. "We did it!" Cheryl said as she hugged her best friend Beverly. Cheryl and Beverly had been best friends since grade school and they both shared big dreams of being independent women. Of course, now that Cheryl was getting married and settling for what she could get at the moment, Beverly was the only one fulfilling her dream. "Yes, we did," she replied, as she clung to Cheryl. "Are you still going to pharmaceutical classes in Denver?" Cheryl asked with excitement in her eyes. "Yes, I am," Beverly answered. "What about you, what are your plans? Have you given it any more thought? Are you sure you want get married? I thought you wanted to go to college along with me!" Beverly kept rambling on with questions not giving Cheryl much time to answer. "I know, but with my situation the way it is with my parent's, marriage is my only answer. They won't hear of me moving out into an apartment or the dorm. They just won't let me go. Cheryl let out a half defeated sigh, but straightened her shoulders and continued, "So, I start the first new job I've ever had at the Mertropolitan Pathology Clinic on Monday, and I'm still planning to marry Larry," Cheryl replied. ;"Why Cheryl? Why get married? You're so young! I know you feel it's the only direction to go right now, but don't you think if you give it a little more time your parents will understand and eventually let you come live with me? We could be roommates! "Yes I know, but my parents won't listen to me. To them, life is too hectic out in the real world alone. They worry about me too much. Ever since my brother died, my mom clings to me; I just gave up with the begging?" "I know, but do you love him? Is Larry who you want to spend the rest of your life with?" "I care about him and yeah, I guess I do love him. I'm not sure if babies are in our future, but Larry is a good guy. Who knows, we just might grow old and gray together." The girls hugged each other goodbye before setting off to start their new lives. Cheryl had to prepare for her first new job; Monday she started training as a lab technician. She also had to get things arranged for her wedding. She would have been just as happy going to the Justice of the Peace, but her parents wouldn't hear of it, so Cheryl was having a nice wedding with just close friends and relatives. She would have to get her hair, nails and feet done some time mid-week after work. She already had her dress, a beautiful long white lace gown that hung off her shoulders. Cheryl didn't care much for frills so she was wearing her hair down, accentual with a baby's breath wreath and a lace veil that perfectly complimented her dress.