Another Way Around

Epilogue

Two months flew very fast and Palm Pen called me and they love my novel. They wanted to publish it this Autumn. That novel is actually my story. I just change the names of my characters but Gino’s character was still named after him because that is his request. They offered me to work for them for good and I accept it. They pay me big time. Finally I’m living in my dreams. Dad was right; touching people’s lives will give us happiness this world can’t ever offer.

Last week Jake and Matea went home and I reconciled with them. They were really sorry and realized they have to apologize and I forgive them. They went back to England after three days.

Till now, I’m missing Gino. I still read his note to me every day and I still look at the frames I did with the dried flowers he gave to me. Till now, he is in my dreams every night and I still wake up at the middle of the night wanting him to go home soon. But he never even emailed back to me ever again.

After my book was released, Palm’s gave me another break after another. Then by December, I took a long vacation. I went to Amsterdam and Finland for a month. Then when I got home, I decided to go to Garden of Bloom, a three hour trip from home. That is the place where our high school recollection was conducted. I want to go there to refresh my mind before going back to my work.

The place was beautiful as ever. The butterfly gardens, the pools, the flowers and trees, it was perfect. It changed a bit; some renovations and improvements were done on bungalows and the event place. After I checked in, I went to the small church nearby. It was old and classic but still, very beautiful. The flower arrangements, the marbles and the crystal glass made it perfect. I walked inside and utter a prayer. I still remember that I said to Gino before that I wanted to marry the love of my life in this place. I walked down the aisle imagining that Gino was waiting for me on the altar, looking at her beautiful bride. It would be a very amazing day.

After that imaginary wedding of mine, I went to hanging bridge, hoping that the bench Gino and I used to love was still there. And I’m so happy it was still there. I opened my book and started reading Gino’s note again.

“Aren’t you tired of reading that?” a soft voice from my back said.

“No it was always like the first time.”

I looked at the man and shocked to see it was Gino. To my astonishment, I hugged him tight and he hugged me back.

“You missed me?” he asked smiling at me.

“Absolutely,” I said while tears were flowing.

He handed me a fresh rose and that made me cry even harder. I’ve been waiting for it every single day.

“I miss you to Gab. I’m sorry it took me long to pass the bridge.”

“I don’t care. As long as you’re here.”

“I love you Gab.”

“Heaven knows how much I’m dying to say I love you too Gino.” tears continued to flow and I can’t keep them.

After a year we got married in this same place.

Good flowers were everywhere, lights and we are surrounded by happy people whom we dearly love.

I walked down the aisle. Gino is looking at me. We waited this for so long and the road we went through to reach the altar was rough. Tears flow when I reached Gino but he wiped it away. “I thought you don’t want to cry on your wedding day?,” he teased.

Then the ceremony begun.

“Now you may utter your vows,” the minister demanded.

“Gab, I’ve been waiting my whole life to stand here with you, together with the people dearly close to our hearts. But most of all, I’ve been waiting my whole life to completely be with you and spend the rest of my life not just loving you but caring for you and for the family we are going to build. I won’t let anything and anyone ruin the moments we are going to share. I will wake up every morning and share this wonderful life with you and I will come home every night after work and spend the night with you looking at the stars and dreaming under the moon. I promise to keep our love for all the days of my life till the day I come home to our Father in heaven. I love you. Forever and always, till death do us part.”

“Gino, you know how much I love you and I will give everything and anything I could for you and for our family. I promise to keep and love you today and till the day I return this borrowed life to our Lord. I promise to watch over our children, to cook you wonderful food and I promise to make your house a home and make your food and drinks a pleasure. I will wake up everyday to serve you and I will wait till you’re done from work and welcome you home. I know the road we came from was narrow and difficult to pass and the road we are about to walked through will be rough, but I know the Lord will help us and will make us through. But if I were given a chance to walk and chose another road, I would never by any means walk to the other side of the road. Not just because it will be another way around, but because now I am certain where I am going and I definitely want where I am heading.”

“You may now kiss the bride”

***

Time flew so fast, and here we are now sitting on our favorite spot on Ever Park, still dreaming and creating wonderful memories and moments. After everything that happened to me, I realized that trying to define life would drive you insane and trying to figure out how to make it easy will make you die young. It is just learning to accept that our actions and decisions create situations in our lives. Situations that may turn out either good or bad, we should be responsible for them. Blame no one, accept failures, try harder and move on. When someone needs you, give yourself away, when you’re called to do something, give your heart out and when you faced the dark era of life, stop looking for light, just walk, there is always someone, always, that will either hold you so you won’t stumble or will give you wings so you can fly.

Here we are again, in this park that is full of flowers, candy carts and happy people.