A Healed Heart. (A mans love book 1)

Part 6: Steps towards the future

"All that you are is all that I'll ever need."

-Ed Sheeran

                                                                                  Chapter 19

(Ryan)

(Eight months later)

I love Anthony. I know he loves me, at least I think I know. But all I know is that if I lose him, I lose everything, and there is no telling what I may do or what will happen to me. I can't go back to girls, because they just aren't my type. Being with Anthony has made me realize that. And it has made me realize that there is nothing I can do to stop him should he decide to leave me. It wasn't too long after letting these thoughts invade my mind when I fell asleep, and it wasn't much longer after that when my alarm clock blared an annoying klaxon in my head that made me want to smash the damn thing against the wall. I felt Anthony try and stop me from getting up, but I knew what today was. Today I went to take the entry exam for the Metropolitan Police Academy. I had been waiting to do this for a while, I know I've studied as hard as I can, so all I can do is go to take this exam and pray for the best. I slid out of the bed as I heard Anthony mumble good morning to me. I hopped into the shower and made it quick before I began to put on my white collared shirt and denim blue jeans. I looked in the mirror and saw Anthony looking at me. "What's going on?" He asked, still a little groggy. "I have a test today." "For school?" Anthony asked. "Yeah, today is one of my final tests to be able to train with a Taser and Pepper spray." I said. Anthony looked surprised. I knew what he was going to say next, and I said; "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to be upset." "About what?" Anthony asked, seeming to be much clearer in his voice. "Well, I'm going to have to stay in their infirmary, their spray and Taser is going to hit me pretty hard, so I won't be home for a while, but I don't want you to think..." Anthony raised his hand to cut me off. "Stop." He said. I obeyed, and he chuckled. "You called this...home." "This is home. This is our home." Anthony smiled widely, and he chuckled. "Baby, your career is for your future, I wouldn't be upset because you have to do what you have to do to secure your future." I smiled, and Anthony got out of bed and headed to the shower as I went to make some coffee. Right now, Anthony was working as a runner for the local law offices of private attorney's. But they had offered him a scholarship at the John Marshall Law school based in Atlanta, Georgia. So it was only a matter of time before he would be away for two years or more. Me on the other hand, I was working as a TSA representative for the local airport. Much has happened in these eight months. My mother was released from the hospital only to be served by the courts to appear for the trial. It took a while, but Anthony gathered the nerve to testify before the grand jury about what my mother had done to him. With the backing of my testimony, as well as numerous doctor reports, a jury had no hesitation in finding her guilty. She had been sentenced to 20 years for assault with intent to kill, and attempted rape. As well as a charge for driving intoxicated, as she was drunk on the way to my apartment. Her house had been facing foreclosure, before Anthony and I decided to rent it for the time being. He had spoken to his employers, and they had decided to give us the money to help us buy the house. We had cleaned it up, repaired what damage had been done, and had taken the first steps in beginning our future together. Without my mother in the picture, there seemed to be a great weight that had lifted off of my shoulders, with no stress to invade the peace that Anthony and I had begun to create. Once I finished getting ready, Anthony and I sat at the table for about fifteen minutes before I put my plate and mug in the sink and kissed him goodbye before heading out of the door. Due to the budget we were on, we had to share one vehicle to get around. Anthony didn't have to work until tomorrow, and since I was going to be at school for the majority of the day, He would just have to come pick me up when I got out. I climbed into the car and pulled out of the complex before getting on the highway. I silently prayed for Anthony to have a good day as I mentally prepared to undertake some of the biggest challenges I was ever going to face...