The Story of Us

It began at King Henry Apartments. He had recently returned from his mission and was mending a bleeding heart. She was a freshman– new to the world of college and completely oblivious to just how beautiful she was.

His first memory of her was inside the clubhouse. She was wearing a blue polo (he insists it is so) and she sat there smiling as they got to know one another. He got her number but due to his bleeding heart did not call.

His past was a shadow. When the sun was shining and things were all right in the world the shadow was right there beside him. But when the days grew gloomy or difficult the shadow was gone.

It was in those moments he would to escape to her. For you see, he would visit her just to hear her laugh. It was a contagious, warm embrace that would chase away any dark sky and make things better.

She loved it when he would visit. She loved to laugh with him. He would look into her eyes when he spoke to her and would treat her as the most important person in the room.

One day her asked her out to a group dinner. Although she had only returned from a late Chipotle run, she looked lovely and he was keen to notice it. They fabricated a wonderful story about a police chase then ended the night with the uncanny awesomeness of Jack Bauer.

But he could not rid himself of that shadow. It was always with him, though he wished it wasn’t so. She was falling for him, but knew his troubled heart and tried to restrain her hope for him.

During Christmas his past returned. He rejoiced! She wilted. It seemed the fairy tale story would end with someone else.

Yet– he still felt empty. Several times he would visit her to hear her laugh or to flirt. He enjoyed her presence like the flower does the sun. But he felt guilty for treating her so while it seemed they were not to be.

Her heart would flutter upon his visits but she knew not to hope. His shadow was not going to leave. Despite her attraction toward him she set her feelings aside to avoid the sting of lost love.

Just as she has tucked away her last feeling for him he broke away from his shadow! A new life, a new breath laid ahead and he often thought of her. He was unsure of her feelings for him but he could not contain himself from her. She was excited, yet fearful he may leave again.

The spring came, and she would leave for home. “Come visit me!” he begged. “Stay in touch and we’ll see,” she responded. He was worried. He was never good at writing, or calling. But he found himself contacting her as often as he could. And he thought of her even more.

“I’m staying in touch!” He claimed. And they sent each other friendly messages. A mutual friend was to be wed. Once he heard that she was attending the wedding, he purchased a ticket to be there as well.

They shared lovely moments. On the beach, in the car, at the wedding, on the couch, and while watching movies. Neither admitted their feelings. He was tempted several times to kiss her lips and guarded himself by suggesting it was all in playfulness.

The summer would move on. And he was persuaded he had to date other girls. He was afraid she would grow weary of his dating habits, as he had taken out several of her friends.

Yet still, he found himself at her door. Every day he would visit, and talk and confide and most importantly, laugh. She gravitated toward him but he was still too stubborn with his feelings to admit what he already knew.

He took her ice skating, when he was supposed to take someone else. He snuggled with her on the couch, cooked with her in the kitchen. And laughed. They were best friends.

Her best friend confronted him. “Either do something, or nothing, but never this in-between,” she told him. He went home that night fearful. What if she did not love him back? What if his heart would bleed again? In all the doubt, he could see her smile, hear her laugh and feel her touch.

A comfort came to his heart. He knew that if he pursued her, she would be the one. He was elated. He was nervous. Their first date was dinner and a movie. She was beautiful. He reached for her hand during the show and she reached back. His heart raced with loving frenzy and he began to feel a happiness he had never known.

She clung to him like warmth to a flame. They shared an enchanting kiss under the stars at a quiet playground. That kiss would spark many more and would propel a love into eternity.

He loved her. She loved him back. And both would always claim they loved the other more. They met each others families; each family welcomed them happily in.

It was early April. He had the ring.  She came to visit and he sent her on an Easter Egg hunt with the best ending any girl could hope for. After searching through several eggs, she crafted 4 pictures together that would read “Will ewe Murray Mii?”

He got down one knee and asked her to be his. She beamed a smile, kissed him dearly and then had him put the ring on her finger.

They were sealed on August 14, 2009 in the Washington D.C. Temple for time and all eternity. They continue to write more chapters of their love and laughter.