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.
