Epilogue One Joaquín
Three Years Later
I t’s hard to believe that it’s finally here. Graduation day. Three years have passed since Gabriela and I made things official between us, since I moved into their house, and since Mireya made me feel like I could actually be a father someday. And now, here I am, watching Gabriela—the love of my life—cross the stage, her cap and gown flowing behind her like she’s just stepped into a new chapter of her life. Of our lives.
I don’t know why, but I always thought this day would come sooner. Maybe I just wanted time to move faster so I could get to this moment. Maybe I didn’t want to wait any longer. But now that it’s here, I find myself feeling something I didn’t expect.
Proud. More proud than I thought I would be.
Gabriela steps up to the podium, her name called loud over the speakers. The crowd around me cheers, and I can hear Mireya’s voice above the noise, her fists pumping in the air as she yells, “ Mama! ” My heart swells, and I can’t help but grin as she takes her diploma. She’s earned it, and then some. I know what she’s been through to get here—the late nights, the sacrifices, the endless balancing act between being a mom and being a student. She’s never once complained about the pressure, never once backed down from what she knew she wanted.
Gabriela deserves this. And so much more.
I clap louder than anyone, my eyes fixed on her. I think back to the first time we really talked and how I was nervous as hell, unsure if I could be what she and Mireya needed. But now, here we are three years later. The life we’ve built together—it feels right.
As she makes her way back to her seat, I feel Mireya tug at my hand. Her face is full of excitement, her brown eyes wide, and I can tell she’s ready to celebrate.
“Is Mama gonna be okay?” She asks, looking up at me, her voice serious for a seven-year-old.
I laugh softly, my hand gently patting her head, giving her a kiss. “She’s going to be just fine. We just can’t be with her yet. We’ll celebrate with her later. Big party tonight, remember?”
Mireya grins, clearly satisfied with that answer, and bounces on the balls of her feet. “Yay! Cake!” she exclaims, and I can’t help but chuckle at her excitement.
I know that tonight is going to be special for Gabriela. She deserves this celebration—she’s worked harder than anyone I know to get here. But the truth is, I’ve been planning for something else, something that’ll make tonight even more unforgettable. I’ve been carrying this ring around for weeks now, waiting for the right moment, the right time to ask her the one question that’s been sitting in my heart.
I told her years ago that one day she would be my wife. I want us . Forever.
The ceremony wraps up, and we all pile into the car to head to the party. Cora and Nat are meeting us there, along with Thiago, who proposed to Cora last year, and they ran off to Hawaii to get married on the beach almost immediately after. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she realizes what’s been happening behind the scenes.
We get to the house, and Mireya is practically bouncing out of her seat, urging me to hurry. “Come on, Papa! Let’s go see Mama !”
I laugh, catching her hand as we walk toward the door. “Alright, alright. But you gotta be quiet. This is a surprise for Mama , remember?”
She nods seriously, though I can tell she’s bursting with excitement. We sneak inside, making our way to the living room, where everyone’s waiting. Gabby is sitting on the couch, talking with her Cora. She’s laughing, her hair still a little wild from the ceremony, her gown slightly rumpled from the long day. But to me, she looks perfect.
“Surprise!” I announce, stepping into the room with Mireya at my side.
Gabriela’s head whips around, her eyes widening in surprise. “What is this?” she asks, her voice soft with disbelief.
“Close your eyes,” I say, my heart beating faster as I step forward.
She looks at me quizzically but does as I say, closing her eyes and tilting her head slightly. Mireya takes a deep breath, looking up at me for reassurance, and I give her a nod.
“Okay, now hold out your hands, Mama ,” Mireya says, her voice sweet but urgent.
Gabriela opens her eyes just in time to see Mireya hand her a small, velvet box. Her fingers hesitate for just a moment before she opens it, and the moment she sees the ring inside, her breath catches in her throat.
Her eyes meet mine, wide with surprise, and I feel my heart race as I kneel down in front of her.
“ Reina, ” I begin, my voice a little shaky, but it’s only because I’m so damn sure about this moment, about us , about everything we’ve built. “I know we’ve talked about the future, and I know we’ve always had this unspoken understanding about what we want. But I need to say it out loud because I can’t imagine my life without you in it. You’ve been my family, my home, from the moment you gave me a second chance. And now, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to marry you. I want to be with you— with you —forever.”
I look up at her—the world slowing down for just a moment. Her face, her eyes—God, they’re full of love and confusion, and maybe even a little shock. I want to say more, but I’m not sure what else needs to be said.
Gabriela's lips tremble slightly, and for a second, I think she might start crying. Her hand hovers over the ring, then she looks at me again.
“Yes,” she says, her voice small but strong. “Yes, Joaquín. Of course. Yes.”
Mireya lets out a small squeal of joy, running into my arms as I slip the ring onto her finger. The room bursts into applause, everyone cheering and clapping as Gabriela hugs me tight, her face buried in my neck.
“I can’t believe it,” she whispers into my ear, laughing through the tears. “I thought this was just something for the graduation. But this—this is everything. You’re everything.”
I hold her tightly, my chest swelling with something I can’t even explain. This moment is ours—our future, our love, our family. It’s all coming together in a way that feels more right than anything I could have imagined.
And when I pull back just enough to look into her eyes, I know without a doubt that I’ve made the best decision of my life.
“Happy graduation, Reina, ” I whisper. “And happy future.”
She smiles, her eyes sparkling with tears. “It’s the best future I could have ever asked for.”
Mireya, still holding on to my leg, looks up at us both, her face bright with excitement. “ Mama, Papa , we’re gonna be a family forever, right?”
Gabriela laughs, wiping her eyes as she crouches down to Mireya’s level. “Yes, sweetheart. We’re gonna be a family forever.”
And in that moment, everything feels complete. Not because of the ring on her finger, not because of the graduation ceremony, but because in that room, surrounded by the people we love, I realize we’ve already built everything we need.
We’ve built a family. A future. A life. Together.
And I know, with everything in me, that this is just the beginning.