Our Classic Christmas Story

Chapter 22: Epilogue: Happily Ever After (Aiko)

An indescribable feeling, like when you listen to your favorite song, or when an autumn breeze brushes past you. Heart warming, bursting, soaring. Whatever you wanna call it. How to put it into words. Can you? Or maybe a better question is: do you have to? Maybe people will just know. It doesn't have to be a song or the wind, it can be a friendship, a pet, a family member; someone who makes you feel like you are you.

Maybe it doesn't make any sense, maybe I am the only one who feels this way, but something in me says that I'm not. Other people feel this thing, this thing that makes me feel like I'm really living.

Bennet.

"Are you asleep?" I ask.

"No."

I smile, even though I can't see him. It's too dark.

"You want me to turn a lamp on?"

"Yes, please."

Click, I see him. He's looking at me, his curly hair a mess, a white tee shirt and shorts. He hugs me as we lay in bed. I feel the ring on his finger push against my back as he hugs me. We're married now. Isn't that funny?

"Can't sleep?" He asks.

I nod, "Thinking about stuff,"

"About what?"

It's been six years since he asked me to be his girlfriend, and three years since we both asked to marry each other (funny, I'm aware). I hold my necklace. Tears sting the backs of my eyes, it's been so long since we met. Since we made fools of ourselves before we pulled it together and fell in love.

"Are you alright? What's wrong?" Bennet asks me.

"It's been six years, and now look at us..." I smile at him.

"You're just as beautiful as I remember."

I hug him tight, this is what I wanted. I didn't know it, but this is how I wanted it to be, and I still want it like this. Bennet, he's my indescribable feeling, he makes me feel like me, like I'm 'really living'. I can remember every moment I've spent with him, every single one is a moment spent well because it was with him. He was the first to make me feel this way. My highschool sweetheart.

"Do you have your necklace on?" I ask.

He holds it up, keeping one arm around me. I kiss him.

"You're that happy I kept my 'asking you to be my girlfriend' gift on?"

I nod, "It just... it means a lot to me."

"It means a lot to me too."

"I'd hope so."

He snickers, "Do you wanna stay here and try to sleep more or get up and watch a show?"

"Watch a show."

"Alright."

It's sort of funny now, us being married. I mean, it's amazing. But nothing beats not inviting your own mom to your wedding. Sure, biologically, but by no means will I call that woman my 'mother-in-law'. According to me, I don't have one.

We get up and head to the living room, Bennet goes to make us hot chocolate and I agree to pick a movie, I decide on a romantic Christmas

movie. I've always been a sucker for romantic stuff, not much has changed there.

"What'd you pick?" He says, walking in with hot chocolate.

Bennet does not like romantic movies, but he likes christmas movies.

"Last Christmas," I say.

He sits down, "Ugh, more romance stories?"

"Sometimes I wonder if you are aware we are married."

He laughs.

I drink some hot chocolate, taking in the space around me. Our cat (Piper) climbs up on the couch. I love her so much, Bennet does too (though, I am the one who made him get her for me).

I feel my eyes start to close as the talking of the characters on screen blur into the background of my thoughts.

Bennet, I love you.

End