Page 153 of My Heart's Doctor

Epilogue

“I loved you then, I love you now, and I have loved you every second in between.”

—Stephen King, “Lisey’s Story”

Us

“Happy anniversary, my love.”

“Happy anniversary. I’m going to kiss you, my sweet doctor,” said William, wrapping his arms around my waist, while I put mine around his neck.

“With one condition,” I said, placing a finger on his lips.

“A condition? What would that be?”

“That it won’t be the last time you do it.”

“Not a chance!” he exclaimed.

He took my face in his hands, and just as he was about to kiss me...

“Mom, Dad, can you stop doing that? I’m 12 years old, I don’t want to see my parents kissing all the time,” said Aurora.

“Well, you’re fortunate because you have parents who love each other deeply and love you with all their hearts,” said William.

“Yes, I know. I have the best parents in the world. I love you both with all my heart. Happy anniversary,” she said, comingcloser to hug us both. “I have something for you. I’ll be right back.”

Aurora left the living room and William looked at me with a smile.

“Where were we?”

“William, stop it. Aurora will be back any moment,” I scolded him, and William huffed, but with a smile.

At that moment, Aurora returned with a package the size of a picture frame and handed it to me.

“This is my gift to you for your anniversary. I love you,” she said.

“I’ll give you the honor of opening it,” said William, looking at me.

I started to open it and when I saw what it was, I couldn’t help but get emotional as tears rolled down my cheeks.

“Thank you, sweetheart. It’s beautiful.”

“What’s beautiful is the love you have for each other,” said Aurora, also emotional.

I turned the painting so William could see it, and he was as amazed and moved as I was. It was a painting of us on our wedding day. Aurora had been painting since she was little, and since she enjoyed it so much, we had hired a teacher who had been teaching her for years. She had replicated one of our photographs in watercolors, and it looked identical—it was a wonderful piece of work, especially because it was created by her, our daughter.

“I’ve been working on this painting for months, but I think it turned out really well.”

“It’s spectacular, princess,” said William. “Thank you so much for all the effort. It’s... it’s wonderful.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. Look at our faces, we look incredible. You’re a great artist,” I said, emotional.

“Mom, don’t cry because you’ll make me cry,” said Aurora, hugging me again. “In that photo you both look incredible because you were super happy.”

“We were, we are, and we always will be, because we love each other with all our hearts and we’ll always be united. The day you decide to leave home, you’ll do so knowing that you can always count on us, we’ll always be by your side,” I affirmed, with eyes glistening with emotion.

“I know, Mom. I couldn’t have better parents.”