Rick and I were sixteen years old when we met. We were each other's first love. There is something about first loves that the heart never forgets. That first kiss, no matter how simple and inexperienced is the one that will always be the easiest to recall when your memory takes a sentimental journey.

Rick and I married. as I always knew we would. We would have a wonderful life. That I was certain of. At FIRST it was wonderful. The birth of our baby girl made everything picture perfect...OR SO I THOUGHT.

I had begun to see a side of him that was a stranger to me. He had always told me that he would forever be there for us. I was not only seeing, but feeling him slip away day by day. He stopped being the generous, loving father and husband. It was like something more important had moved into his being; and was taking over. Something that scared me. Something I wanted no part of, and didn't want our baby girl being subjected too.

After three years, the drugs that Rick was involved with was taking over his life. In desperation I had taken our daughter and filed for divorce. My love never ended, but my patience and tolerance did. Rick cried, but understood my need to get away from the situation. He was helpless to stop his addiction, though he tried more than once. He tearfully promised that he would always love us and be there for us if he possibily could.

The years began to pass. He still kept close touch with our daughter. I would send her over to spend time with her grandfather, "his dad". It was during one of her visits that I was home watching MTV, which I never, ever watched. I was taken back by a song being played by the Escape Club called, "I'LL BE THERE". The song went on to say, "I'm on your side and I still care, I may have died, but I've gone nowhere, just think of me and I'll be there". Tears began to well up and choke me. I knew deep down that the song held a message for me, and ME ALONE. I was pulled out of this trance of despair by the ringing of the telephone. Rick had been killed in a car accident with a drunk driver. He was thrown from the car and died instantly from a broken neck. In the swiftness of his death, he sent me a message through the MUSIC we loved.

I have remarried a wonderful man. He is a wonderful husband and stepfather to my daughter. I STILL do and will ALWAYS love my FIRST LOVE. I know he watches over us. He comes through a Song, a Smell, a Touch, or many other little ways that keeps him alive in my heart.

When our beautiful daughter got married, how very much we both wished her father could shared that wonderful, precious moment with us.

As the vows were exchanged I felt the touch of a tender, gentle squeeze on my shoulder. The hand rested there throughout the ceremony. My daughter felt a soft breeze like kiss across her cheek.

When we got the pictures of the ceremony from the photographer, my head was leaned over, almost touching my shoulder. My cheek was caressing an invisible angelic hand. the hand of my daughters Dad, my First Love. "We both felt His Loving Gentle Presence."