Unknown Number

Epilogue

5 YEARS LATER

"Phil!" I called from the kitchen. "Phil, come here!"

It didn't take him long to rush to my side. "What's wrong, bear?"

"Nothing's wrong. I was just looking through some old photos I printed off."

Phil looked at me, confused. "Ok?"

"And apparently I printed off some screenshots of text messages."

His eyes lit up. "You still have them?!"

"Duh. I'm not going to just delete your texts. Those are like our origin story!"

Phil smiled.

"Although," I continued. "I never figured out why you used 'M' as your alias."

"Are you serious?"

It was my turn to look confused. "Yeah. Why didn't you use 'P' for 'Phil' or 'L' for 'Lester' or something?"

Phil looked at me like I had just told him that the grass was purple. "Because I used 'M' for 'Michael'. As in my middle name? So you couldn't guess who I was based on the letter I used?"

I face palmed. "God, I'm an idiot sometimes!"

"Only sometimes?" I punched his arm. "Ow! I'm sorry! I'm just kidding!"

We were both laughing.

I set the pictures back down on the counter, then looked back at my boyfriend and saw him down on one knee.

"Phil?" I asked, shakily.

"Yes, Dan?"

"Phil, what are you doing?"

"Well, what does it look like I'm doing?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but couldn't. I stood there, paralyzed.

"Dan," Phil started. "Ever since I first saw you back in Mr. Spencer's classroom, I've known that I loved you. It's been a long journey, and I've enjoyed every second of it. The good times, the bad times, and everything in between. I've loved you through the ups and downs, through the twists and turns, through everything life has thrown at us, and I want to spend the rest of my life doing the same."

I could feel the tears rolling down my face, but I couldn't wipe them away. Phil reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. He stood up and handed it to me.

Inside was a necklace. On the necklace, there was a charm, and on the charm, there was an engraving.

Daniel James Howell, will you marry me?

"Yes," I whispered. "Yes, Phil I will marry you." I smiled so wide that my face started to hurt, and Phil kissed me, his smile just as big.

Life has a funny way of doing things. But, for once, life's joke is actually funny. And Phil and I both laughed as we processed what this meant.

And to think it all started with a simple text.