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They fell in love quickly He was her first love, and in reality her last Her heart had never coed to another It was always Peter and it would forever res, walked each other to classes, and studied together They rode their bikes around town, as neither could afford a car Sunshine repeatedly reive up on his art to satisfy his father’s plans for his life He needed that reassurance, and she was happy to supply it because it was the truth

For her entire senior year, they were together nearly every day Then Sunshine had the opportunity to study for three months in Italy, and had been thrilled Peter had been invited as well, but couldn’t afford to go He wanted her to give up the trip and she refused, which was the first serious disagree selfish and he said she was being insensitive

They were both right

They were both wrong

For six months they’d lived in their oorld and Sunshine was convinced nothing would ever be strong enough to penetrate it They’d talked of getting raduated and found work that would support the and naïve then, she believed the power of their love would see the she’d been How foolish

"Peter’s cute," Ellie said when Sunshine brought him home to meet her family Ellie had spent a year abroad, so this was the first chance her little sister had to meet him Sunshine had written plenty about him to Ellie in the year she ay in France

Peter rarely visited his family home, which had become a battlefield For his mother’s sake, he avoided confrontations with his father

"I think so, too," Sunshine agreed, a bit wary of Ellie’s interest in Peter And his in her sister Sunshine saw the looks the two exchanged

"You two serious?" Ellie asked

"Very We’re going to be married," Sunshine told her sister

"Really?"

"We’re talking about it," Peter said

Sunshine should have known then Should have suspected

"We’re in love" She looked at Peter and saw his gaze was on her sister "Right, Peter?" she pressed

"Right," he echoed

Ellie was beautiful, but Sunshine wasn’t concerned

She should have been

When Sunshine left for those three months she was convinced that their love would re Peter for nine months She’d met his mother but not his father His mother, Anna, was a delicate woman with refined tastes She was close to her son and nurtured his desire to support himself with his talent as a sculptor His father wouldn’t allow any of Peter’s work to be displayed in their home Sunshine appreciated how difficult it was for this sensitive, brilliant youngfather Despite his talent and passion, Peter suffered serious doubts when it came to his art and was in constant need of validation Sunshine tried not to worry ould happen while she ay, but it was only three

Ellie promised to be there for him, and in the weeks before Sunshine left, she beca her Mary after the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lao

Peter and Ellie went to the airport with her Even now Sunshine could reh security Both promised to keep in touch To be fair, Sunshine had her doubts Peter had seemed more and more withdrawn and she’d assu opportunity in Florence and he didn’t

The first week they wrote each other every day Sometimes two and three ti, sent photos and notes, and counted down the days until her return His responses continued but were short in coradually they came infrequently

At the end of three months when Sunshine returned home and saw them, she knew No one needed to spell it out for her Peter and Ellie were in love They each felt guilty, were reiveness

"Sunshine, listen, please," Peter begged her "I’m sorry, so sorry Neither of us planned this; it just happened" She’d been back from Italy less than twenty-four hours when they sat doith her They held on to each other and faced her together, both with sad, mournful eyes