Reflection (Artemi Panarin)

Strength

Lesson 20: You were given this life because you're strong enough to live it.

-Taylor's POV-

After a little injury scare Art found his groove once again and he's tearing it up. I mean four points today. The boy's got skills. Brian couldn't be more proud of his dad and I'm right there with him.

Artemis grandparents are back at the hotel with me while Brian tagged along with Artemi for practice. I was cooking with his grandma joking about how much he loved to eat.

"Hey sweetie, can I ask a question" she starts. This should be good.

"Of course, anything" I assure her.

"Are you happy" she questions. Okay that's a weird ass question.

"Honestly, I didn't know what happiness really was until I met Artemi" I reply. She gave me a sympathetic smile and nods.

"I don't know what happened to you, I couldn't get it out of Art if my life depended on it. But I know God wouldn't have given you this life if you weren't strong enough to live it" she says.

I stayed quiet long enough to think. What is strength really? Is it just toughing it out or is it actually making a change? Have I changed? I still have all those notebooks back at home because I can't let go of what happened. "Can I ask you a question?" I say and she nods. "In your opinion, what does it mean to be strong?"

She stops cutting the garlic and looks at me. "To me... Strength is when there's only two options left. To give up everything you fought for or to keep going with all the faith in the world, and taking the second option." I knew Artemi got his great mind from somewhere, and I found it. I nod in agreement and we go back to cooking.

Artemi comes home after a hard practice and he showers while Brian and Arts grandparents talk about anything and everything. I love meeting new people, getting to know them and how they live. I love it all. He soon joins us and we eat. I helped his grandma clean up and I soon felt my phone buzzing with a text from Jonny.

Jon: Warning. I might have just purposed to Lindsey and she might be freaking out that you're not here to help plan the wedding.

As if on cue I get a call coming from Lindsey and I couldn't help but laugh. I excuse myself and step out into the patio to answer

"Hello, this is Taylor. How may I be of service to you" I tease.

"TAYLOR! Jonny purposed" she squealed.

"I know Linds" I chuckle.

"- I'm so freaking... Wait. How did you know" she wonders.

"Jonny might have mentioned proposing at locker clean out and he also just told me" I shrug.

"Babe... You can't tell my maid of honor before me" she says a little ways away from the phone.

"Wait hold up... You want me, to be your maid of honor" I gasp.

"Of course. I think the world of you. Maybe some of your insightfulness will rub off on me" she giggles.

"I don't see how those two correlate but I'll see what I can do" I promise.

"Alright, well I'll let you go. I have to call more people before Jonny tells them. Tell Art I say hi" she cheers.

"Alright. Talk to you later" I smile.

I walk back inside with the biggest smile on my face. "Who was that babe" Art asks kissing my temple.

"Lindsey, Jonny finally purposed" I say a little too happy. What can I say, I love love.

"When are you purposing" Artemi's grandpa asks and he quickly turns red.

"Different country, same question" Artemi mumbles as he pulls me to the couch.

We've been together 6 months and people expect us to be married already. Damn. "I want more great grandkids if they're gonna be like this one" Arts grandma states kissing Brian. Can I just say I love his grandparents.

LI don't know. Brian's one of a kind" I say winking at him and he giggles.

"I'll marry mommy if you won't" Brian threatens sitting on my lap. Art shakes his head,

"No can do buddy. I'm gonna make her mine" Artemi smiles. Has he thought of marrying me? Have I thought of marrying him? I've never been one to think about the future, I just let things happen and feed off of it. I guess I'll just have to do that now too.

The tournament ended and Russia got bronze. Not too shabby if you ask me. Art was happy, therefore I was happy. He even had the second highest point total with missing part of the tournament. Now we had time to chillax and sight see until we had to go to the NHL awards. His grandparents has to go back home sadly. I get why he missed them so much. I haven't become this attached this quickly since I met Artemi. The first part of June was just us going around Moscow, we went to the park and Neskuchny Garden. I had to throw in some acts of kindness in there so everywhere I went I picked up tourist like stuff for Pat because he was jealous I got to go and he didn't. As fast as it all started it ended and we were in our way to Vegas for the awards.