38. Epilogue
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” I said, my eyes as wide as saucers.
Emilio and I had finally made it to our long-awaited honeymoon destination: the stunning island of Santorini, Greece. We were staying at the luxurious Aegan Horizon Hotel, surrounded by nothing but beauty and relaxation. As we walked into our lavish hotel room, I couldn”t help but admire the soft linens that draped over every surface. The door to our private balcony was propped open, inviting in the gentle sea breeze and offering a sliver of the iconic view of white-washed buildings cascading down the hilltops. It was like something out of a postcard or a dream.
“Impossible. Have you looked in the mirror?” Emilio responded.
I made a gagging sound at his joke and he doubled over laughing. There was a pillow on the sofa next to us, covered in perfect linens. I picked it up then pulled my signature move and hurled it at Emilio. And for once, I actually hit him.
“Yes!” I said, pumping my fist in the air. “I got you!”
“I was incapacitated.”
“You’ve been shot before and survived. I just have pure skill,” I said, squaring my shoulders in confidence from my victory.
“It’s the altitude.”
“We’re on a hill at sea level.”
“Alright. I guess you finally won,” he said with a smile on his face. Emilio walked over to me and placed his hand on the side of my face before leaning down to kiss me.
We had been married for some time now, but I still got the same butterflies as the first time we had kissed in the field.
“You want to check out the view?” he asked, tilting his head towards the balcony.
”Absolutely,” I answered, allowing him to guide me outside.
The view from our balcony was magnificent: the clear blue Aegean sea stretched out before us, almost melting into the sky in the distance. The iconic whitewashed buildings with their blue-domed roofs seemed to tumble down the hillside, all the way down to the azure waters. The sun was starting to set, painting the horizon in hues of gold and crimson.
My heart fluttered. It wasn”t just the scenery that took my breath away - it was also Emilio”s warm presence next to me, his arm draped around my shoulders as we watched together in awed silence.
Emilio twisted a strand of my hair around his fingers as we watched the sun sink further down the horizon. The soft, warm light reflecting off my husband”s face gave him an ethereal glow. I absentmindedly traced the back of his hand with my fingertips, my mind filled with thoughts of our journey so far and dreams of our future together.
Just then, a soft melodic sound wafted up from the town below - it was traditional Greek music, plucked on bouzouki strings and accompanied by soulful singing. Someone had started a party in one of the taverns down by the beach.
Emilio suddenly spun me around, his eyes twinkling with mischief. ”Care to dance?” he asked, extending his hand towards me. The tune was infectious, irresistible. I grinned and took his hand.
In our private balcony high above the island, we danced under the blanket of stars. Our laughter echoed through the night air as we clumsily tried to replicate the Greek moves. Neither of us were great dancers, so it was less than five minutes before I tripped over his foot, knocking us both off balance and onto the floor.
At that moment, under the stars while enveloped in Emilio”s arms, time seemed irrelevant. It could have been mere seconds or hours that passed; it didn”t matter. All I knew was how his laughter resonated in my ears, how his gaze made me feel seen and loved, how every twist and turn we took danced imprints into my memory.
“I love you,” I said.
“I love you too,” he responded, tucking a lock of my hair behind my ears.
If someone had asked me a year ago if this was the lifestyle that I wanted, I would have laughed at the idea. But right now, I knew it was all I needed.