Reflection (Artemi Panarin)

Mirror

Lesson 12: Stop hating yourself for who you were and start loving yourself for who you can be.

-Taylor's POV-

It's February now and I can finally say I'm feeling better. Don't get me wrong, I still need time to myself. But Artemi and Brian and the boys love me and I'm starting to also. It's been about three months since my surgery and things are going well. As well as eight years of knee trauma can be fixed. There's still times where I need help but won't admit it, but I'm getting better. As far as random acts of kindness goes Artemi, Brian, and I volunteered at the soup kitchen then passed out sweaters and shoes recently. Brian is doing great in school. He actually might be smarter than I was at that age so I gotta keep a eye on him. The team was looking sharp even after the little skid following their twelve game winning streak. Artemi was sick earlier this week and missed two games. It was my turn to play doctor and he hated it. But he played against Anaheim yesterday and felt 100 times better.

So that brings us to today, which is Valentine's Day. I hate the idea that you're supposed to love more today more than any other day, but it's another excuse for me to be nice to people without them questioning me so it's okay. I made 20 pink, red, and white heart shaped cookies and we're going to give them to the people in Artemis building. I was wearing a shirt with Nala on it and he had a shirt with Simba on it and Brian had a shirt with Timon and Pumbaa on it. Brains shirt was a part of his birthday present and Art just recently got ours for today.

"Good morning Mrs. Baker how are you today" I ask the lovely lady who lived down stairs.

"I'm good Taylor, how is Artemi treating you" she asks taking the cookies.

"Great as always. And how's Tom" I tease as she shakes her head.

"A pain in the ass, but he's my pain in the ass" she insists. That causes Brian to giggle. There's no point in trying to keep him from the strong language, he's growing up around hockey players. For a sixty something lady she was super sassy.

"Wouldn't want it any other way" I laugh waving at Tom.

We finish up giving the cookies to everyone in the building and we take the leftovers back up and eat them.

At about 3 o'clock there was a knock on the door and Artemi jumps off the couch yelling he got. I look at Brian and he shrugs so we continued to watch Sportscenter. A few minutes later Artemi emerges with Nancy and Greg behind him. "Nancy! Greg! I didn't know you were coming. Oh my gosh. Happy Valentine's Day" I yell hopping off the couch and hugging them. They were like second parents to me.

"Good, that means someone didn't spills the beans" Greg says looking at Brian.

"Hey! Not cool" he pouts from the couch.

"Nancy here is going to help you get ready for our date" Artemi nods with a smile.

"A date huh... I don't know. Seems like a lot of work" I fake sigh failing to be convincing.

"Oh gee, who's going to eat sushi with me then" Art teases. Dang. He got me.

Nancy pulls me to her room and sits me on the bed. I didn't go into Nancy and Greg's room too much but it was homey. She pulls out a full length white dress with sleeves and most of the back cut out.

"Nancy... Why do you have this" I wonder. She never dresses up and from what I know she had no sister or kids.

"I saw it and thought of you. I didn't know when to give it to you so I thought now was good" she smiles.

"It's beautiful" I say. I put it on and it fits perfectly. It was fitted throughout and flowed at the bottom. I had a pair of white heels and simple pearl earrings to throw on. She straightens then curls my hair. That took the most time.

Finally was makeup which I wasn't excited for. I hated it. She pulls out a bunch of stuff then looks at me.

"Looks like all you're getting is mascara and eye shadow. And lipstick of course" she laughs putting most of her makeup away. After she gives me eye shadow and mascara she finished off with a deep red lipstick. I look in the mirror because I can now. And for once I liked what I saw. "You look beautiful" she says behind me holding my shoulders. I put my hand on hers and turn around.

"Thank you so much. I can't even begin to explain what this means to me" I say turning back to the mirror. I looked and I didn't see a broken girl. A saw a healing one. I was doing my dream job working for amazing people with a perfect boyfriend and a adorable son. I was finally letting myself get better. Suddenly I felt like I needed to thank the man that made it all possible.

I walk downstairs to see Artemi in a suit bragging to Greg about how great Brian was doing in hockey. "Holy shit" Artemi gasps as I walk up to him.

Instead of answering I walk right up to him and passionately kiss him. "I love you" I breathed after finally break apart.