My Person

Part 8 : My Person

Celine:

The drive is quiet. Daisy is fast asleep in the back as Sebastian, and I sit at the front in silence. I sit there as my emotions take control. Everything comes and goes in waves. One minute I'm six feet under, trying to rise up for air, and the next I'm soaring up above the whole world. I'm okay. I'm here. He's here. We're here.

But he hurt me. He hurt me. He hurt me.

"Sebastian, stop the car," I say, breaking the silence. But he's not stopping. "Sebastian, stop," I exclaim. Sebastian pushes the brake pulling over to the side of the road. I quickly open the door as I try to focus on my breathing. It feels like my lungs aren't there as I try to bring air in. I try and work to bring in all the oxygen needed to control my heart rate; even then, I feel as if I'm drowning in the air. I can't do this.

"Celine," Sebastian says as he approaches me.

"Sebastian, not now!"

"I'm sorry, Celine, I'm sorry."

I swallow. "You think sorry can excuse leaving me for 10 years. You left. You left without giving any closure. I couldn't even date! You lied to me." Our breathing filled the silence. His gaze fell to the floor as it shifted back to my eyes.

"I-"

"I what, Sebastian? "I love you?" Ten years, Sebastian! Ten," I yell.

"I'll make up all those years and more, Celine, with you." I swallow. "The first time I saw you, I didn't fall in love with you because I was lonely or broken or needed to be fixed. I fell in love with you because you captivated me in ways my soul never had before experienced. I wish I could explain how your smile brings me warmth, how your eyes bring me joy, and how you give me the kind of love that drowns oceans. You make me crave more of the future if it's with you." He softens his tone. "A day didn't go by that I didn't think of you. You own my mind. My love, you will never be unloved by me; you are too tangled in my soul. You are my biggest plot twist." My eyes water as I try to absorb what he is saying.

"Sebast-"

"Just wait; let me show you what I wanted you to see. Please." I nod as we walk back into the car quietly to prevent waking up Daisy.

Sebastian stops on the street, turning off the radio. We both get out of the car, keeping Daisy in her seat, fast asleep. She had such a long day she must be exhausted.

Sebastian's tall figure is right in front of me as I close the car door. "Watch your step," he tells me as he grabs my hand and leads the way. The trees intertwine boundlessly, gradually soaking in the night sky as we walk through the trees. The wind wraps my body like a warm cloak healing all the worries I've had through the years as the moon glistens in this captivating night. We finally stop as we arrive at a house. The house stands silhouetted against the cloudless sky. It is neither small nor big , rather the perfect size, with five bedrooms and a vast backyard. The red, white, and pink roses are all positioned in perfect symmetry. The colours are not diverting from the main house, but rather produce a welcoming entrance. . A medium-sized, ornate marble fountain is home to a praiseworthy sculpted horse statue at the top, pouring fresh, clean water. As I walk closer, my eyes lock on the scene. I see a giant treehouse in the backyard with a miniature swing set at the bottom. It swings in the blowing, whistling wind. The treehouse is like a miniature home, built overlooking a 20ft drop picturesque dell, with deciduous trees at the very top. I pull out my hand and turn the handle as I take a step inside. Paintings by renowned artists hang on the walls. As I look to my left, I see a dining hall that seats fourteen people. A gigantic crystal chandelier graces the entire room. The table is fashioned from fine marble and surrounded by white chairs sitting in front of the window overlooking the square-sized pool. Turning to my right I see a grand living room with a fireplace and a white piano also overlooking the front of the house. It is exquisite, beautiful. Why did he take me here?

"I've been working on this for five years," he whispers behind me. "Isn't she a beauty?" Sebastian walks towards the grand spiral stairwell centred in the middle of the house. He brushes his hand across the railing, "fresh oak from Thailand, handcrafted just for this house." Sebastian continues to walk inside the dining room. He leans one shoulder against the wall and crosses his arms against his chest looking up at the ceiling, "Royal Hanover German chandelier designed by William Kent himself. All for this house."

"So, you brought me here to show me a house, Sebastian?" I say as I start to get frustrated. What is he trying to do?" He slowly starts to step towards me, his large figure overlooking me as he gets closer.

"This house was built for us," he tells me. My heart stops, and I can't breathe. "Built exactly how we envisioned it, exactly where we pictured our kids to live." This can't be real. He built this for me? It takes a second or two for the information to sink in. My heart starts to rush as my blushing reveals my emotions, a tribute to the exquisite tenderness inside of me, to the obvious connection between us; my smile and timidity result from some profound feeling... and that's a beautiful thing, something authentic. This man.

"Maybe you will never forgive me. Maybe you will never let go of the pain and suffering I caused you. Maybe I'm the reason you don't believe in love and for that, I am deeply sorry, but I hope you realize it broke me too in ways I will never know. I thought of you. Day and night. Dreaming of you was my only escape from the pain I put myself through. You will always be my favourite reason for losing sleep. Without you there is no air Celine, I have never met anyone like you in my life, and it drives me mad. I miss you, Celine." He takes a step closer, "I love you. I need you. I want you." Sebastian was my heaven. No matter how much I denied it, I missed him so much. Our breaths synced as we stood inches apart. He slowly leaned in and stole my breath away as our worlds collided, connecting our souls.

-

The thin clouds slowly drift apart, presenting the beautiful sky above. The early sun shines softly on the water reflecting on my dream beach venue. The wind becomes the orchestral conductor of the sea, sending waves crashing into the shore. I walk down the aisle with lavender in my hand staring at the love of my life. I am wearing a ravishing white dress while Sebastian wears a black, satin tuxedo with a white-wing collar shirt. As I reach the end of the aisle, I notice our beautiful daughter Daisy sitting on the side in her cheerful pink dress. She approaches us handing over the rings to complete the ceremony. Daisy gives a quick kiss to Sebastian and I, and returns to her seat. I look Sebastian in the eye as we say our vows. He is my today and all my tomorrows.

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest says. Sebastian wraps his arms around my waist as he steals all the air from my atmosphere, so perfect. Love is about finding the one who makes your heart complete, who makes you a better person than you ever dreamed you could be, the person who gazes back as you search their eyes, knowing deep in your bones he is the one for you, and that you are the one for him. Sebastian lifts me up, carrying me as he whispers in my ear, "I love you, Celine."

I could listen to those words every day.

He looks at me, sees my eyes, and touches my heart full of butterflies. As I lay my head against his, he carries me to the car to take me on our honeymoon. Once we get inside, he stares at me as he runs a hand across his mouth.

"You're my wife," he says in disbelief.

"And you're my husband," I reply. His hand grabs the back of my head and he touches my lips. As he looks me in the eye he whispers in my ear, "You will always be my person, Celine."