Save Me From Myself

Chapter 19-Taking the Right Decision

Danny's POV

I was in shock, a complete and total shock. It was as if a train just hit me or I fell off a cliff smashing my body to the ground. Al helped me get my stuff and she calmly took my hand as we were walking out the hospital. My elbow kinda hurt me from the fall but I had far more bigger stuff to worry about. I was losing  my senses, in a couple of months or years I wasn't going to be able to move. That came in as a shock to me. I wasn't going to go on tours and sing to people and share my music.

And then it hit me even more. Al's life next to me would be a shit. She would have to take care of a crippled man. She will have to help me go to the toilet and help me shower and deal with that and I couldn't put her through it. She had her whole life ahead to be happy, get married, have children and a husband to take care of her, not the other way round. I stopped her as we were slowly walking by to her place.

"Al...we have to talk..."
"What about love? You will be okay, the doctor said...oh screw the doctor!", she said looking straight into my eyes.

I took a strand of her hair that was loose and tucked it behind her ear...then I gently kissed her forehead.

"Al, you and me both know the doctor was right...it's...just a matter of time until it happens...", I said gutted.
"So, what? We will go through this together...like we always did..."
"Al...as we were walking out of the hospital two things hit me...when that happens I won't be able to make music anymore and the worst thing you will have a crippled boyfriend to look after. And you're young Al, you're so young..."
"I'm not young Dan...anyway what is your point?", she asked me worried, tears starting to gather in her eyes.
"I'm trying to say that your life will change completely...and at one point you will want to start a family and you can't just give up your career for me..."
"Are you trying to break up with me Dan? Because I don't wanna follow you right now!"
"I'm setting you free..."
"If you wanna take the last breath from my lungs throw me in the fucking Liffey here and now!! Because, listen carefully to my words! I tried living two years without you! It's been crap! It was like being in a coma. I could hear people talking to me, I could feel everything but I had no fucking reason to live! You are my reason to live! Don't you fucking take that away from me! Understand? I wanna be there, when you fall, to catch you and hold you, I wanna spend the rest of my days with you, because you are my love! My one true love! And for what I care you could be without senses and a complete vegetable! I would still love you in the same way you get that?"
"Al..."
"Don't you Al me! You pushed me away once! I'm not letting you do that! Don't make yourself miserable again just because you wanna protect me! Don't you get it?! After all this time? I'm miserable and my life has no sense without you!"

I looked at the sweet woman in front of me with her determined look on her face, holding me tightly and I realised that if I wanted to live without her I would kill both of us in the process. Have you ever wondered what it will feel like when you will meet your soulmate? If your heart will flutter and if butterflies would be flying in your stomach? Or if you will feel calm and collected?

With Al it was a bit of both. I was calm but inside of me everything was sending signals. From the second our eyes met I knew. And I knew she felt the same. You know how you feel that instant connection? We had that and we have it still, even if we were apart for a time that sounded almost an eternity.

"Marry me.", I heard the words just come out of my mouth.
"Yes, a million times yes!"
"Now!"
"Let's fucking do it! I love you Daniel John Mark Luke O'Donoghue!"
"I love you two Alexis Cassandra Peterson! Let's go! You are going to wear a wedding dress if it's the last thing I will get to do!"
"No wedding dress!"
"Yes, you will be a proper bride with a wedding dress and everything! I will call the lads to sort the rest out. Now we have to buy the things we need.", I said pulling my phone out and texting Mark.

His phone call didn't fail to appear. I answered.

"No I'm not fucking mental! I don't give a shit for waiting lists! And guest lists and shit like that! I'm off to buy a tuxedo and a wedding dress and wedding rings! Sort the rest out quick!", I said quickly hanging up.

I then pulled her into a kiss while with my spare hand I waved for a taxi. Someone eventually stopped.

"Where to?"
"Grafton Street! Fast."
"Oohhh you kids off on a shopping spree?", asked the taxi driver cheerful.
"Yes, we are getting married and we need a wedding dress, a tux, and the wedding rings."
"You're shitting me! Are you drunk sir?"
"He's drunk in love...", replied Al cuddling at my chest.
"Well this is by far the weirdest thing I have ever heard, you are a lucky man your missus doesn't care about string quartets, matching napkins and all the other..."
"You're right I don't give a flying fuck on those things! I want him, he wants me and that is all that matters. Not some fancy flower arrangements or bullshit like that."
"Your missus is a special lady then. Better keep on to her and may you have a great wedding!", said the taxi driver as he was taking a hundred euro note from me.
"No, keep the change.", I shouted slamming the door.
"You are a crazy man. Thank you!", he said as he drove off.

We chose the wedding rings, two simple gold circles and then we rushed into the first bridal store.
The sales woman recognised me.

"Danny from The Script! Oh good Lord what an honour! Big fan! What can I help you with?", she said as she was patting her suit.
"I want a wedding dress and a tux."
"For a wedding?"
"Yes, my wedding. And I want them as soon as possible.", I said with the brightest smile stuck on my face.
"Wow...this is the first time I ever hear this request."
"I hope you can fit the requirements.", I replied with the biggest smile on my face, holding on to Al.
"Hmmm and the wedding dress is for???"
"For me.", replied Al simply.

I could read the disbelief in the sales woman's eyes. She didn't know whether this was a joke or not. She realised how serious things were when Al picked out a dress and put it against her, analysing herself in the mirror. It was a simple, long gown with lace at the sleeves and around her neck. It was beautiful but it wasn't her.

"It is beautiful, but it's not you...", I said gently taking her chin in my fingers.
"I like it...I think you have to feel that tingle, when you buy a wedding dress, but I don't think it's the one...", she said putting it back on the rack.
"Danny we found some tuxedos."
"Sure let me try them..."

I went to the changing room taking three hangers of tuxedos, a white shirt and a pair of shoes. I found a decent tuxedo with a dark blue bow tie and analysed myself in the mirror. It kinda felt weird, seeing myself in something else than jeans and blouses and boots. As I stepped out of the dressing room with a weird grin on my face and saw the most beautiful painting unveiled in front of my eyes.

Al was wearing a long wedding dress and was having her veil put on her long black hair. She found I don't know how the most breathtaking wedding dress. The veil was long but you could see that the dress was backless and all made out of lace. It fit her tiny frame like a glove making her glow like a diamond.

"Wow...baby...you are so...wow...I'm speechless."
"You don't look bad yourself love...", she said giving me a small kiss and taking my hands.
"So...it seems like a match made in heaven! Do you want me to pack these up for you?", asked the shop assistant.
"No!", we both replied and the started laughing.
"No?", she asked puzzled.
"We are going out like this. All dressed up. There is the priest waiting for us as we speak.", I said pulling out my wallet from my jacket and handing her a credit card.

"You know we look like two idiots right now...", laughed Al as we were walking down Grafton Street.
"You know I don't care about that! I love you Al! That is all that matters to me. This and buying you a bouquet."
"What did Mark say?"
"He's waiting for us at Glen's, he called Glen too and Karla."
"No parents?"
"Nope...just us...and my sister..."
"That is what I want. Thank you...", she said pulling me in a kiss.

Everyone was looking at us and taking pictures. I know some fans of the band recognised me. They didn't come to ask for autographs and just settled for taking pictures from afar and following me and Al when we hopped into a cab. They seemed to have a liking for her, she was always bombarded with questions which she always took the time to answer. She was better than me at answering sometimes.

We arrived at Glen's house where him and Glen and my sister were all waiting.

I took Al's hand in mine before going inside.

"Are you sure you wanna go through with this?", I asked her while kissing her hand.
"I'm sure Dan, I love you!", she replied.