Epilogue
Cassidy
Speech in one hand and a heavy weight in the other
I’ve come a long way since my overdose three and a half years ago.
I’m still fighting my demons and working to maintain sobriety daily.
A big part of my success is because of the person sitting in the auditorium's front row. Her continuous support and encouragement are the reasons I’m on this stage today, preparing to give this speech that will hopefully change our lives.
Avery sits in between my grandparents, all three of them holding back tears.
Next to them are Bri and Asher. Despite everything Bri has been through recently, she still’s here to show her support.
Her face is completely blank, and I don’t think she’s fully present, because she has allowed Asher to hold her hand.
Bri’s face may be void of all emotion, but Asher is looking at her like she hung the moon.
I’m focusing a little too hard on Avery’s face that I miss my name being called the first time. It isn't until I see Avery laughing at me that I bring my focus back to the present moment. I make my way to the podium, speech in one hand and this weight in my pocket.
I begin my speech with the usual thank you for coming before sharing my struggles with addiction.
I mention how my therapist helped me work through my sobriety and the trauma I’ve tried to bury.
I talked about how she inspired me to get my certificate in addiction studies with hopes to get my degree when I’ve had a few more years of sobriety under my belt.
With all that I went through, and how alone I felt, I want to provide that support to someone else.
That maybe someday I might be the only person who believes in their power to change.
I take a moment to collect myself before switching my focus to the stunning woman dressed in a long, emerald green, evening gown.
I glance at my gram thankful for her help planning all this.
I mean, she didn’t give me much choice since she caught me ring shopping on my laptop.
Avery’s creamy skin is the perfect contrast against the dark, emerald silk of her dress.
I take a slow, deep breath and continue.
“I want to take a moment and mention one person specifically. I knew when I was eight that she would be one of the most important people in my life. She’s been my rock and encourages me to be the best version of myself.
She’s in the audience right now, and even though she doesn’t like the spotlight, I’m hoping she’ll come up anyway.
Avery, can you come up here for a second?
” I ask, trying to look as calm as possible when a million butterflies fly around in my stomach.
Hundreds of eyes scan the crowd looking at her as she moves towards me. She is so beautiful, and each step steals another breath leaving me gasping for air. Her arms wrap around me and I instinctively melt into her.
“Avery, my Avery, I have loved you for as long as I can remember. I love your strength and your willingness to try new things with me. I love you even when you yell at me for being a dumbass, which, spoiler alert, is often. I love that with every smile and laugh, you take my breath away. I love how you challenge me when I’m wrong and support me when I need it most. I love everything about you, and I think this is long overdue, but—" I say as I barely pull out the ring before she screams at me.
“Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, of course, I’ll marry you, Cas!” she exclaims.
“How do you know there is a ring in this box and not a pair of earrings or a bracelet?” I ask behind a smile so wide my cheeks will hurt for years.
“I swear to God, if it is one of those things, I will throw you off this—"
I cut her off with a kiss so deep, so passionate, that I forget where we are. That is until the university’s president makes a throat-clearing noise that brings me back.
“Oops! I would apologize for that, but I’ve been waiting forever to ask this question.” I shrug while chuckling.
I bring my attention back to Avery and get down to one knee.
“So, I would like to finish this proposal since I was interrupted. Avery. They say if you love something, set it free. And if it was truly yours, to begin with, it’ll come back.
You had to let me go once and it honestly saved my life.
My promise to you, from this day on is to prove to you that I deserve your love.
To continue being a better man, lover, and friend.
If you say yes, I’ll be the best husband and hopefully, someday, father I can be. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, one thousand times, yes!” she says right before she launches herself at me.
In that exact moment, I know that everything will be okay. Whatever life throws my way, I’ll be able to handle it because I have her by my side. I get to spend the rest of my life alongside my best friend. Now, I finally get to be her somebody.
THE END.