You, me, and everything in between

"...yes..." I was engulfed in a big hug as soon as that word escaped my mouth. Everyone is watching, cheering, and wishing us both good luck as we reach another milestone. From crush, to girlfriend, to fiancée - and now, just waiting to become his wife. As I look down at the ring on my finger, memories flood my mind - every step, every hardship, every joy we've shared on this journey. To say that life was hard is an understatement. It was a literal hell for both of us - the bumps we passed felt like mountains; the puddles, like oceans. Through it all, our relationship became a living testament to those wedding vows: "for better or for worse," "for richer and for poorer," "in sickness and in health." I know I was difficult. I never listen and always fought for what I believed was right. You stood by me through it all - it was us against the world. It often led us into trouble - me getting caught in it, and you playing the white knight, always pulling me out of difficult situations. You've been my hero since day one - the prince in his dusty long-sleeved polo, with his old guitar. You pulled me out of the hellhole I once called home. You showed me what it truly feels like to have someone to come back to - someone to lean on. It was in your arms that I understood what a home truly was because you taught me that a home wasn't just a place - it was a person. And you have been mine all along. They say love can't feed an empty stomach, but I beg to differ. Our fights weren't about trust or jealousy. They were about rent, skipped meals, and how to stretch what little we had from your busking and my selling. It wasn't ideal. It wasn't easy. But somehow, we got by. Because love wasn't just the glue holding us together - it was the very air we breathed, the light guiding us through. "You're crying." A warm hand cupped my cheeks, wiping my tears with his thumbs. A soft chuckle escaped your lips before you continued, "Don't cry..." Back then, we were just teens with wild dreams - chasing what seemed like impossible hopes, fueled only by wishful thinking. But it led us here, standing in front of people - both familiar and unfamiliar - proving that love can break through anything when steered right. "I promised I would never make you cry." You desperately tried to wipe away my tears, your voice soft - as if trying to soothe my heart that was overwhelmed by it all. "But I'm happy..." I sniffled, too ashamed to meet your gaze so, I looked down. "I'm so happy." And I am. I truly am. Who would've thought that this girl - stubborn, headstrong, and overly independent - would find someone who could bring out her softer side? Because I didn't. I never thought I'd have someone like you - someone patient enough to sit through all my bullshit, and still nag me about the things I do wrong. I'm thankful for you. For all of that. "I know, but you're making me cry too." You chuckled, tears pooling in your pretty eyes. You look so vulnerable - it's cute. So genuine. So pure. So mine. I used to wonder if I was asking for too much - a pretty life with a guy who'd look at me like I was the most beautiful girl alive. But here you are, standing in front of me, eyes locked on mine like I'm the only one in the room. You're lost in your own little world - a world where only I exist. Where only I belong. "I love you..." you said, voice trembling, just loud enough for me to hear - and in that second, nothing else mattered. My tears kept flowing, soft and steady like a stream - a silent testament of my love and devotion, written in every falling droplet. You didn't say anything right away. You just held me - tightly, like you were afraid to let go. Like letting go might wake you up from whatever dream this was. And maybe I felt the same. Because how does one hold a moment like this? How do you preserve a feeling so full, so fragile, so real? So we stood there, wrapped in each other, the world blurring into the background - and for a while, time stood still. "Is this real?" I asked, my voice caught between laughter and tears. He didn't say a word, but leaned closer, fingers intertwining with mine, squeezing my hand. No answer was needed - I already knew, in his silence, in his touch, in the way he looked at me as if I were his whole world. "I love you too..." I whispered in reply, my heart full. "No - I love you more," I added, correcting myself with a quiet laugh. I wanted to tell him that no one in this world could ever be loved by me the way I love him. That no one else could ever make me feel the way he does -so seen, so safe, so special. But words weren't needed. Because in that moment, his eyes searched mine like he was looking for a promise. And I gave it - without words, without hesitation. In that moment, I knew this wasn't just a beginning. It was everything we had fought for, dreamed of, and held onto. Hand in hand, heart with heart, we stepped forward together - ready for whatever life would bring. Because no matter what, we had each other. And that was enough. Hand in hand, heart with heart, we step into the unknown. What lies ahead is uncertain - but together, we are ready. Ready to face whatever comes our way, just as we have before, and just as we will, again and again. This moment isn't the end, nor the middle. It is the beginning - the quiet turning of a page that holds a story much deeper than words. A story written in stolen glances, whispered promises, and the countless small battles that shaped us. It is a story of brokenness and healing, of storms weathered and warmth found in the simplest of touches. A story stitched together by love, hope, and the fierce will to keep holding on. And so, here we are. Standing not just on the edge of a new chapter, but at the threshold of everything we've been, everything we are, and everything we will become. This is the story of you, me, and everything in between.