Page 87 of Choose Us

“Do you remember what else you said?” I quizzed.

She shook her head, waiting for me to enlighten her.

“You said, ‘one day we will get to celebrate New Year’s together with both our families’.” I smiled. “At one stage I had a hard time believing that would ever be possible, but here we are.”

“We made it.” Brooke winked.

“I will never take this for granted.” I clinked my glass to Brooke’s. “I’m the happiest I have ever been, and I have you to thank for that.”

I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to put into words what it felt like to have my soulmate ripped from my grasp. A dull ache and years of endless monotony were my torment whilst I waited, hoped, and prayed she would come back to me. I lost faith on some of my darker days. I cursed every god I didn’t believe in. It was like living in a world without colour, and then, suddenly, she returned to me, and I was seeing the world through a different pair of eyes. The world didn’t make sense without Brookeby my side.

“This is a dream come true,” Brooke expressed.

In that moment, as the countdown commenced, the cheers of my family and the loud chanting of my friends filled the room. There was so much joy in the faces of the people I loved the most, but amongst the chaos there was only Brooke; This was the paralyzing culmination,my triumph.

She chose me, above all others, and in return I will alwayschooseher.