Chapter 20
One year later
Lista Playlist: On Melancholy Hill - Gorillaz
Life is good.
The best it’s ever been to be honest.
I never thought I could find real happiness or balance in my life.
But here I am.
I moved in with Quin, into his house a while ago and our kitties managed to find peace, thankfully.
His house is nice and big for all the future plans we have.
Quin proposed whilst we revisited the place we met.
It was absolute perfection.
He did it so it was exactly a year since we’d met, and my heart is the fullest it’s ever felt.
I of course said yes! We took the pubs yearly quiz.
Still didn’t win, but the memories made up for it.
There are so many positive things in my life right now, and incredible things to look forward to; The future of my project, having the best friends a girl could ask for, being around to see the guys and Flic live their own love stories (I can only hope Flic and Drew see sense), and of course, Oli’s VIP birthday party.
The one he hasn’t shut up about for the last few months.
He’s been so plan obsessed and has roped Five Mountains into helping, like a good friend does.
I personally can’t wait to get dressed up and celebrate with incredible friends and my fiancé.
Sometimes, it’s the little things in life.
Speaking of those incredible friends, the guys helped me file a report against Pierce, and more students came forward with similar heart-breaking stories.
He was arrested for sexual assault and harassment and has been fired from the university.
Once everything was over and he left, I started doing talks as a sexual abuse survivor and even incorporated it into my lived experience work.
So many people explained how much it helped, and honestly, it feels like I’m making a difference bit by bit.
Quin and I came out about our relationship and thankfully staff and students were understanding since we met prior to becoming associated via the uni.
But even if we weren’t, you truly can’t help who you fall in love with.
And I’d have stopped at nothing to make it all ok for our us.
Some students were heartbroken to say the least, and I get some questionable looks from the ladies.
I think they’re jealous.
Sorry, but I was here first.
Actually, not sorry.
Quin stepped down as my advisor, but we continued a joint prosthetic engineering project off campus in our own time, which we’ve now turned into a little side hustle.
With both our expertise, we’re now working on creating new prosthetics and bionics for young people, both with beautiful designs, and are hoping since I’m almost finished my PhD, that it can become a long-term career and business.
With Autumn surrounding us, I’ve been designing some spooky prosthetic looks and am also in the midst of designing and testing out prosthetic stickers, so that the young people we design for can pick and choose their own temporary seasonal designs.
I might even start my own sticker company, specialising in weather resistant prosthetic friendly products.
There really is no limit to what we can do when we have passion.
I never imagined I’d be lucky enough to find myself again, and to find someone who loves me and brings such balance in love and my life.
As I sit in our living room, looking to my side to see Quin cuddling kitty Edith and Edison, I realise that there truly is nowhere else I’d rather be.
And everything I’ve ever been through has brought me to this very moment.