An Irish Love Story

Sean watched as Colleen gathered wildflowers in the meadow. He was in awe of her grace and beauty. There was something so natural about the way she moved. It was like poetry in motion.

After filling her basket, the pretty freckle-faced brunette, plopped down in the grass to watch the clouds go by in the sky. She let out a deep sigh of contentment and then began humming. That didn't last long; however. She soon burst into full song with "The Sound of Music."

Sean laughed from his vantage point as he watched her get up and begin spinning around and around like a child trying to make herself dizzy. His laughter must have traveled gently on the wind for it eventually caused Colleen to stop what she was doing, gather her basket and make a run for it.

"Sean O'Malley, are you watching that girl again?" The question came from Sean's best friend Darby. The overly serious young man had finally managed to catch up with him.

"You have to stop obsessing over her, you know," Darby scowled. "That can never be for more reasons than one."

"Name them," Sean demanded as he turned to face his friend head on. "I dare you to name them!"

"It is forbidden to marry outside of your clan, first of all," Darby emphasized. "You know that. You must marry the lass chosen for you. Then, there is the fact that you two aren't even of the same race. Your father would turn over in his grave if he knew you were even looking in that girl's direction."

"My father believed in true love." Sean began walking briskly back down the path they had originally taken to the meadow.

"Of course he did - - within reason," Darby came back. "But you and that girl. That isn't reasonable."

"You haven't convinced me yet. Keep going."

"Well, there is the obvious," Darby began, nearly bumping into his friend once Sean stopped to glower at him. "Oh, come on. You can't believe that is even possible."

"All things are possible with love," Sean insisted as he broke out into a full run; quickly leaving his friend and the meadow behind. Within minutes the two were back at their village, doing their daily chores. Sean didn't make an effort to speak with Darby again that day. He remained lost deep in thought.

He remembered the first day he saw Colleen. It was during a wedding, which took place in the very same meadow. Her best friend had married Colleen's brother with Colleen at her side.

It wasn't the bride that captured Sean's attention that day. She was beautiful, with long red hair and a lithe figure. But Colleen's unassuming, natural beauty outshone that of the bride. The sun kissing her cheek made her green eyes glow like fire. The moment he saw her, Sean knew he would be forever lost in those eyes.

As he tossed and turned that night, unable to sleep, Sean formulated a plan to meet Colleen. He decided to institute it the very next day.

Unfortunately, Colleen didn't come to the meadow for three days. No matter. Sean waited patiently, returning every morning at the break of dawn and remaining as long as he dared.

As the girl gathered flowers for her basket, Sean spoke to her from the woods. "Good day, Miss."

Startled, Colleen turned in the direction of the voice. Alas, she saw nothing at all. "Who's there. What do you want?"

"Only to wish you top of the morning," Sean responded. "It is a beautiful day for gathering flowers."

"Why do you hide from me," Colleen queried. "Come out and let me see you."

"Isn't it more interesting this way?" Sean laughed lightly. "This way I cannot disappoint such a lovely lady."

Colleen returned his laugh. "What makes you think you would disappoint me?"

"I'm no Prince Charming, alas," Sean admitted. "Except of course in my own heart."

Before long the two were chatting like long lost friends. Within just a few meetings they began sharing their innermost desires. It didn't take them long to discover they were perfectly matched for one another.

"Please, Sean, come out so I can see you," Colleen pleaded. She longed to hold the man with whom she had fallen madly in love. The very thought of his kiss made her tremble with excitement.

"I'm afraid," Sean admitted. "I'm not what you might expect and I'm afraid you will run away from me."

"Do I strike you as someone who has petty prejudices?" By now Colleen was more than frustrated. She was down right angry. "I don't care if you are handsome or a beast. It isn't your looks I fell for, is it?"

"I supposed not," Sean whispered. "Tomorrow. I will show myself tomorrow. I'll meet you here at dawn."

The remainder of the day, the two would-be lovers could think of nothing else but their meeting. Sean pulled out his best suit and shined his shoes. Then he rushed for a haircut and shower. By the time morning rolled around, he was no longer afraid. He was simply happy.

Almost to the meadow, Sean heard footsteps behind him and turned to see his friend Darby trailing him. "What are you doing here," he asked; more than a bit angry at the deception.

"You don't fool me, Sean O'Malley," Darby spit out. "You are going to meet that girl again, aren't you?"

"So what if I am. What is it to you?"

"I can't let you make a fool of yourself, Sean," Darby insisted. "Nor can I let you put our village in danger." With that the angry little man sprung forward and plunged a dagger into the chest of his best friend.

"You wouldn't listen. I had no choice," Darby spoke as tears flowed down his face. "It was the wish of the council." Ashamed that he'd agreed to perform the task himself, Darby slung the knife as far as he could throw it. Then he turned and headed back to the village.

Minutes passed and then hours. Colleen waited until almost noon before realizing that Sean wasn't going to show. Dejected and heart broken, she chose to take a different pathway home to give her more time to think. However, she quickly ran across a strange sight.

In the middle of the road lay a leprechaun, bleeding from a deep chest wound. Still breathing, but obviously dying, she knelt to hold him in her arms.

"I waited for you," Sean whispered. "I had to see you one last time."

Shocked to recognize the voice of her would be lover, Sean expected Colleen to rise and run away. She did not. Instead she bent to place a gentle kiss on his tiny lips. "I will always love you," she promised with nothing but pure love in her eyes. "From now till time stands still." With that Sean let out his final breath with a smile on his lips and a song in his heart.

Colleen never married and when asked, on her deathbed, why she had not, she answered. "I go to be with my true love now; in a place where differences do not matter. At last we'll be together."