I inhaled deep and exhaled slow. “And I promise you, me.”

* * *

That night, we sat in the middle of the field in front of Hannah’s Art Studio—me still in my gown and Jackson still in his suit. We missed the sunset, but we were lucky enough to witness the stars that danced over us.

Our lives were whole.

Maybe we wouldn’t have children. Maybe we wouldn’t travel the world. Maybe we’d never be rich. Perhaps we’d live in a small house on the outskirts of an unknown town, and our lives would still be whole because our love was enough.

No matter what life shot our way, we were the winners of our story because we held onto one another through every storm.

With him, I was complete.

With him, I found forever.

“This is too good,” he warned me. His voice was low and timid as I sat in his lap with my legs wrapped around his waist. “How do we keep this? How do we keep this feeling from fading?”

“We keep choosing this,” I told him, placing my forehead against his. “You and me. We keep showing up for one another. Choose me today, and I’ll choose you tomorrow.”

“Always and always?” he whispered, brushing his lips against mine as I felt chills race over me.

I nodded slowly, so sure, so certain as I spoke so gently our greatest truth.

“And always.”

The End.