Patience. Don't play the song yet.
âCourtney's P.O.Vâ
I kneel down in front of the grave and set down the flowers, caressing the name on the tombstone.
"I did it." I smile, wiping away the tear that escapes. "I graduated."
Alex kneels down beside me and I turn to look at him, sniffling. He gives me a small smile and removes my cap before he leaves a lingering kiss on my forehead.
I close my eyes at the small gesture and smile when he kisses my lips next.
"I love you."
Another tear slides down my cheek and I hug him as I rest my head on his shoulder. My trail of vision focuses on the name and more tears fill my eyes as I let out a broken sob.
He holds me tightly as I cry against his chest and he comforts me until I have no tears left to shed.
Composing myself, I kiss the tip of my fingers before I press them against the tombstone. I stand up along with Alex and whisper my goodbyes as we walk back to his truck.
He drives me to the house and parks in the driveway, letting me step out.
"I have to be back at college, baby." He lets me know, "Will you be okay?"
I simply nod my head, wiping my tears.
He furrows his eyebrows, "I wish I could stay longer, but I have classes in a few hours."
"It's okay, don't worry. Just drive safely okay?"
"Always do, babe. I love you."
"I love you too." I whisper, finally slamming the door shut and watching him through the open window.
"Message me once you get there, please."
"Of course." He nods, revving the engine. "I'll text you."
I watch him drive away before I spin around and walk up the pathway.
I walk in through the door with my head down, wanting nothing but to lay in bed and sleep for the rest of my life.
"Where have you been, honey?" My Mom's voice reaches my ears and I wave a dismissive hand, making my way up the stairs. "We have been waiting for you."
"I was just visiting dad." I reply.
"Oh, you're here. I was beginning to think that you didn't want to see me anymore."
The new voice coming from the top of the stairs makes me snap my attention to the owner and my eyes widen. Emily is standing at the very top, smiling down at me.
In a rush, I trip on my feet and nearly fall twice as I run up the stairs, finally pulling her into my arms as I cry.
"Am I dreaming?" I sob, holding her closely and not wanting to let her go.
She holds me just as tightly, "My last session was on Monday and they released me today. Courtney, I'm cancer free."
Pulling away, I look into her eyes and watch her tears fall though my blurry vision.
"Emily, that's amazing!" I cheer, my voice breaking.
She laughs, the tears pouring out of her eyes. "I'm sorry for not telling you, I wanted it to be a surprise for your graduation."
"This is the best gift I could've ever received." I get down on my knees and she comes down with me as we continue to hug. "Emily, I love you so much. I'm so happy."
"I love you too, thank you for sticking by my side all this time."
"I'd do anything for you," I admit. "You don't have to thank me."
She pulls me at arms length and I wipe my face, smiling at her. "You did it, babe. You graduated. Too bad I didn't." She sighs, frowning.
"You fought for your life and won, that's a bigger success, in my opinion."
She grows a smile, pulling me back in for a hug. "I was blessed the day you were born."
I laugh softly, "And I was blessed to be born by your side."
***
"Courtney?" Emily questions, "Where are you taking me?"
"If I tell you, that would ruin the concept of it being a surprise, wouldn't it?"
"I suppose so..."
I lead her into the airport and remove my hands from her eyes, making her blink to adjust her vision to the sudden exposure of light.
"An airport?" She turns to me, her eyebrows creased up into a frown. "Courtney, I don't understand why you would bring me to an airport. I'm not expecting anyone."
When my phone dings with a message, a grin finds itself onto my face. Searching in the crowd of faces, I tug her in their direction.
"Courtney, explain to me, please."
"No need," I quickly say, finally spotting him. "He's here."
Frowning, she asks, "Who's here?"
I don't answer. Instead, I point in the direction of the man walking towards us in an army uniform, searching for us as he holds his phone.
She gasps â finally spotting him â but instead of running towards him, she stays standing in the middle of the airport completely stunned.
He looks in our direction and I wave frantically, catching his attention. Grinning, he walks faster and spreads his arms out.
Letting out a sob, Emily starts running towards Damien and crashes into his chest. He encircles his arms tightly around her small figure and I smile in admiration when they kiss.
"You're here." She chokes out.
"You did it, princess." He holds her head, "I knew you could."
She pulls away, "You know?"
Smiling, he points over to me and I wave. She lets out another sob and goes back to hugging him.
He mouths a 'thank you' over to me and I give a thumbs up as he carries her over to me, her face buried in his neck.
I look around to see everyone staring at the couple in admiration.
"I missed you so much." She speaks, her voice breaking.
He kisses the side of her head. "I missed you too, princess.
We walk out to my car and I enter the driver's seat while they both take the backseat, not wanting to be apart a single moment.
I drive back to the house and Nichole instantly welcomes her soon-to-be son-in-law.
He proposed to Emily in the hospital the day before he had to leave, promising that he'll be back in a year to marry her.
"My dear Damien, how I've missed you!" Nichole gushes, pulling him in for a hug. "I must thank you for everything!"
He chuckles, "No need."
"No need?" She splutters. "Sweetie, you left to the army simply to help us with the payment, for Christ's sake!"
Emily turns to look at him dearly and he laughs at her mother, "Nichole, Emily is the love of my life, I'd do anything for her."
"As would I," she admits, "but you're risking your life here, honey."
He turns over to Emily and she grins up at him. "If dying made everything better in her life, then I'd die a million deaths for her."
Tears pool in Emily's eyes and he grabs her left hand, bringing it up to his lips to leave a kiss on her knuckles. He strokes the ring on her finger, "Best decision of my life."
Leaning up, she pulls him down to her lips and he kisses her softly.
I turn towards Nichole to see tears streaming down her face and I laugh softly to myself, going to hug her.
Her arms instantly go around me, before she cries into my shoulder. "This is so beautiful, I can't."
"Is everything ready?" I whisper the question into her ear and she nods, sniffling.
"He called me thirty minutes ago. He said they're ready for the groom and bride."
"Perfect." I say, "You get Emily ready and I'll drive Damien over there."
She pulls away from me, nodding.
"This week is full of beautiful, memorable moments."
"I agree."
***
(Okay, you can play the song now.)
Damien is crying.
He watches as Emily walks down the aisle with Rest Of My Life playing in the background.
She's grinning from ear to ear, tears spilling from her own eyes.
Blake wipes his face with his handkerchief and Emily reaches up to cup his cheek, whispering something to him. He slowly nods his head and she smiles as he plants a kiss on her forehead.
They finally reach the altar and the pastor clears his throat, catching all of our attention. "Friends, we have been invited here to share with Damien and Emily in a most important time in their lives. In the time they have been together, their love for and understanding of each other has grown and matured. Now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife."
He follows it with the prayer and I look across to where Alex is standing and smile at him, earning myself a wink from him. I quickly look away, blushing.
"Who is giving this woman to be joined to this man?" He moves on, looking over at Blake still standing by Emily's side.
"Her mother and I are." He replies.
The pastor looks towards the crowd, "Will the bride's and groom's parents please stand?"
Obliging, both Damien's parents and Nichole stand.
"Blake and Nichole, are you willing, now and always, to support and strengthen this marriage by upholding both Damien and Emily with your love, your concern, your counsel, and your prayers?"
They both nod, looking over at their smiling daughter. "We are."
The Pastor moves on to asking the same question to Damien's parents, earning the same response.
Damien and Emily approach the pastor on the platform.
"Do you vow here, as you have promised Emily, that you will be true and loyal, patient in sickness, comforting in sorrow, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her so long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Damien quickly replies, wiping a stray tear from his cheek with the sleeve of his tuxedo.
The pastor nods before turning over to Emily, "Do you vow here, as you have promised Damien, that you will be loyal in adversity, ministering to him in affliction, comforting him in sorrow, and forsaking all others, keeping yourself only unto him so long as you both shall live?"
A tear slides down her cheek as she voices her response. "I do."
He returns his attention to Damien, "What token do you give as a pledge of the sincerity of your vows?"
"A ring."
"What token do you give as a pledge of the sincerity of your vows?" He asks the same thing to Emily.
"A ring."
I watch as Lucy walks down the aisle with the ring basket in her mouth, sitting once she's in front of the pastor. She wags her tail happily as she stares at her owner intently.
"A ring is a fitting symbol to represent the covenant you are making today. Not only are these made out of the finest of metals, reminding you of the purity of your relationship, but they are also a circle, a line unending, reminding you that your love, devotion, and commitment to one another are to be unending." He explains, causing Emily to shed even more tears.
Damien squats to grab the ring from Lucy, rubbing behind her ear before he stands again. He faces Emily and she offers him her left hand.
"I, Damien, choose you, Emily, above all others, to be my wife. I do promise this day to love, honor and cherish you
as my wife, companion, and partner. I offer this ring as a token of our love, and with it I join my life to yours. As this ring has no end, neither shall my love for you." He slides the ring onto her finger and I feel a tear slide down my own cheek, watching the happiness on her face shine visibly.
She bends down and grabs the ring from Lucy, petting her head in the process.
Turning back to Damien, she says, "I, Emily, take you, Damien, to be my husband. I will share my joy with you, which is now multiplied. I will share your pain, which is now divided. I will walk by your side as we travel together through life's changes. I will sleep in your arms and that love will be my home. May this ring forever be to you the symbol of my growing love."
The ring goes onto Damien's finger and I refrain from clapping in that very moment.
"I now declare you to be husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Grinning, Damien bends down to Emily's height and presses his lips against her in a gentle kiss.
The crowd stands up as we all clap and I cheer loudly as I jump in excitement on my spot.
Alex laughs at me and I turn to narrow my eyes at him. He puts his arms up in defeat, grinning widely as his dimples make an appearance.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to be the first to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Smith." The pastor announces, smiling at the couple.
Everyone continues to clap and Emily's baby cousin walks up to her, reaching her little arms up.
Emily smiles, bending down to carry her. Patricia, her aunt, quickly walks up to her and apologizes, explaining that Justus was supposed to be looking after her.
She turns to glare at her husband and he throws his hands up, before he turns back to talk to Blake.
"It's like I have two babies but I didn't have to go through the pain for one of them." She shakes her head, grabbing Angela from Emily's arms. "Congratulations, honey."
"Thank you, Patricia."
She turns towards Damien, "Take good care of her, okay?"
"Of course." He nods, pulling his wife by her waist.
"I'll see you two at the party."
She walks back to Justus and hands Angela to him, making him hold her as she walks off to where Nichole is standing.
I laugh, shaking my head.
"You're next." Alex whispers into my ear, spinning me around in his arms.
I look up at him, confused. "I'm next?"
He gets down on one knee and my hands instantly fly up to my mouth, my jaw dropping. Tears well up in my eyes, watching him carefully.
I raise a confused brow when he ties his shoe instead.
He looks up at me, clearly amused. "Oh, not yet." He chuckles and I gape at him, smacking his arm when he stands up again.
"Jerk."
He laughs, holding me against him by my waist. "I love you and I do plan to marry you, though. Just not yet."
I roll my eyes as I smile. "I love you too, I guess."
"You guess?" He lifts an eyebrow, biting his lip. He leans down to whisper into my ear, "I want nothing but to throw you down and have my way with you in this very moment..."
My eyes instantly widen, "Alex!"
He laughs, lifting my chin with his index finger. "I guess I can't control myself when I'm around you?"
I shake my head at him, laughing. "Come here, you goof."
I pull him down to kiss his lips, wrapping my arms around his neck.
"PDA!"
Alex pulls away to glare at his friend.
"Shut it, Steve." And he continues to kiss me.
THE END
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HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
Can you believe this book is over?! I sure can't!
I must thank my old readers and my new ones for always supporting this book. For reading, voting, and leaving comments. Thanks for simply being patient with me and still reading even after I took a long time to update sometimes. I hope you enjoyed reading this ending as much as I enjoyed writing it. The epilogue will be out soon enough. I love you all so so so much and I wish you all the best! Thank you again!
Sorry for the mistakes.
â¤ï¸Much Love with Hugs & Kissesâ¤ï¸
Kimmy Herz ð