Chapter 250:
The True Face of Love
Megan’s Point of View
I never thought that my life would end up like this. Standing before a full-length mirror, I took deep breaths and ironed my dress down at the front. The material was soft, classy-quite opposite to boxing gear I had used many a time. Tonight was special. It was my book launch night, one of those nights which really epitomizes everything Chris and I had worked toward together.
“Megan, you look beautiful,” Chris said, coming into the room. His eyes gleamed with appreciation as his gaze swept over me. “Absolutely breathtaking.”
I turned to him, grinning. “You don’t look too bad yourself,” I quipped, reaching out to run my hands down his chest in his suit. “Are you ready for tonight?”
Chris nodded and spanned a little of the space between us. “I am, but more importantly, are you ready? This is your night, Megan. Your story.”
“Our story,” I corrected and held out my hand for his. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
He squeezed it gently. “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?”
I nodded, and the deluge came. “We have. And I’m just so grateful for everything. For you.”
We went to the place. What a beautiful hall, so full of people who came to celebrate the launching of my book. Entering it, the room erupted in applause, and I felt a wave of gratitude and pride.
Chris leaned near my ear and whispered, “Remember, this is your moment. Enjoy it.”
I smiled, nodding out to the audience. “Thank you all for coming out tonight,” I started, not wanting to stumble on words as these nervous little butterflies kept fluttering around my gut. “This book isn’t mine alone in the ring. It’s of people who have always been here and who have, through the years, continuously supported and believed in me, helping shape me into who I am today.”
The applause was thunderous, and my eyes began pricking with tears. I turned around to Chris, who nodded reassuringly at me.
“There’s one person in particular who deserves a special mention,” I went on, looking straight into his eyes. “Chris, you have been my rock, my partner, and my inspiration. This book belongs as much to you as it does to me.”
The audience applauded, and Chris stood to his feet, embracing me warmly. “I’m so proud of you, Megan,” he whispered.
More congratulations, book signing, and touching conversations filled the night. Finally, with most of the crowd gone, Chris and I retired to a corner to reenergize and process our feelings about the evening.
“I just can’t believe it’s over,” I said, resting my head against his shoulder. “It feels surreal.”
Chris smiled, his hand reaching out to brush a tendril of my hair back out of my face. “It’s just the beginning, Megan. There are so many more chapters left in our story.”
I looked up at him, feeling that somewhere inside, something had stirred. “I like the sound of that.”
We just sat there for some time, enjoying the comfortable silence. Chris finally broke the silence; he sounded really serious. “Megan, there’s something I have to ask you.”
My back stiffened, and my heart missed another beat. “What is it?”
Chris took a deep breath, sliding his fingers into his pocket and pulling out the small velvet box. He opened it, and there sat a really beautiful ring. “Megan, you are my soul mate. You have given me so much in the things you have taught me about real strength, resilience, and love. Will you marry me?”
I looked at the ring, then back at Chris, welling up in the eyes. “Yes, Chris,” I said, trying not to hold the tears back but still sounding kinda weepy. “Yes, I will marry you.”
He slipped the ring onto my finger, and we shared a smooch that felt-well, very much like the perfect summation of this journey taken so far by us as a couple. Again, feeling the moment, the crowd erupted into applause.
Of course, those moments, drenched in all that love, care, and encouragement coming from our friends and family-That was it. Not the overly saccharine gestures or picture-perfect moments usually attributed to this wonderful emotion but these small acts of kindness and binding unconditional support.
We trudged back to the center and toward Max, who wore a knowing smile all over his face. “Congratulations, you two,” he said and clapped Chris on the back. “I knew this day would come.”
“Thanks, Max,” Chris said and extended his hand. “You’ve been a great friend to us.”
Max nodded, his eyes twinkling. “It has been an honor to watch your journey unfold.”
It was late; only Chris and I remained out in the balcony with a view of the city. Stars up above seemed to shine brighter than ever, refreshing with a breeze of fresh cool night air.
“Chris,” I said, suddenly turning to him in a low voice. “I never thought I could be this happy. You showed me what love really is.”
He cradled my face in his hands, his eyes kind. “And you’ve returned that very same thing to me, Megan. There’s nothing we can’t get through, together.”
I leaned toward him, and our lips met in a kiss that seemed to have no ending. Right then and there, I knew that no matter what lay ahead, however the road unwound ahead of us, we would face it as one. Ours was a truthful love, and by now a very powerful one.
“Let’s go home,” Chris whispered, holding me tight. “Our new life is waiting.”
I nodded, and peaceful contentment washed through my soul. “Let’s go.”
Strolling into the night, he holding my hand, I couldn’t help but consider exactly how far we really had come-from that fake relationship born of necessity onto deep, true love. Quite a long way from regular, indeed, and I wouldn’t have it otherwise.
Well, that is what love is, I finally thought; it is not about someone to share your life with but a person who makes you a better person, standing by your side through thick and thin, who loves you for what you are. In Chris, I found just that.
This was nowhere near my story’s end. There were chapters yet to be written, many more adventures yet to embark on, and a good number of dreams yet to chase. Whatever it would be, with Chris by my side, I was ready to face it. Together we’ll make a love story for the ages.
Stroll out of the venue, walk out under city lights. that was so much akin to a zap by the excitement beam of the future. We stared into the eyes of our fears and overcame obstacles. Love blossomed where least expected. Now we are all set and ready to embark on the next journey of our lives.
Together.
Chris’s Point of View
It would be hard to leave that venue not feeling a sense of awe at what had just passed. There was Megan, grown from that fierce independent boxer who was now willing to open her heart wide open for me. Me, from some struggling ghostwriter who’d found meaning and purpose in the work and my love for Megan.
“Chris, what do you think our next adventure will be?” Megan finally broke into the comfortable silence.
I smiled back at her, squeezing her hand. “Whatever it is, I know we’ll face it together. And that’s all that matters.”
She smiled back at me, her eyes shining with love. “I couldn’t agree more.”
We walked hand in hand into the future. Something inside of me felt this was real, not momentary, not some phase-it’s our love, eternal.
What I learned was that, sure enough, true love did not exist in perfection or fairy-tale endings. It is in the journey, struggle, and triumphs one finds with that someone; it is what makes a person feel complete through thick and thin but who loves them for who they are.
I knew that was all it had to be, not to mention with Megan right beside me. Our love story was to top all top stories, and this was only the beginning of it all.
We will stand together against whatever the future has installed for us, living a life so full of love, happiness, and endless possibilities.
I felt something akin to a child leaving the theater, with city lights lighting up the way out. I couldn’t wait to turn the page and see what the next chapter would bring. Far from reaching its conclusion, our story was only beginning.