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Yes, I remember. I remember how you made me feel. I remember how you used to tell me that no matter what the others said, I mattered.
I mattered to you.
Although, I guess that's all I really need. I remember how we used to walk down that muddy brick pathway in that old neighborhood that everyone thought was haunted because Jamie Rilesday swore he saw someone holding a bloody knife on a roof. I remember how we used to chip pieces of bark off the old Apple tree and paint them with your mom's nail polish.
I remember rocking out in your bedroom to Lucky Star by Madonna. I remember holding your hand when you were scared at Six Flags because you thought the roller coasters were gonna blow up.
Oh, the strange ideas you had.
I remember when you showed me your journal of sketches and stories.
I remember when you made a super hero named Salon Man, the magical super hero who would take out the bad guys with hair spray and dry shampoo.
I remember when your dad left and you cried on my shoulder for two solid hours.
I remember I cried on your shoulder when my cat, Mr. Blub died.
I remember we cried together when Diana DeGarmo didn't win American Idol even though we were only nine.
I remember how I felt when you smiled at me or when you would grab onto my arm when you were nervous. I remember how you would sing me to sleep over the phone when I had a nightmare and called you and four a.m.
I remember when I was twenty-four and you got a boyfriend. I remember meeting him, too.
I remember shaking hands with the boyfriend, Bill. I remember how nice he was, although I still didn't like him. I remember how you were pissed off because you knew I didn't like him.
I remember when Bill dumped you.
And I remember you crying in your bedroom with the door locked as I sent comforting words from outside the door. I remember you crawling into bed with me that night.
I remember kissing you for the first time on my twenty-fifth birthday. I remember you kissing back.
I remember us falling in love. I remember the little sparkle in your eyes when I smiled at you. I remember you picking up little stones and cleaning them, then giving them to me because you just felt like it.
I remember the first time I said ''I love you'' underneath the cherry blossom tree back in our old neighborhood. I remember you saying it back with no hesitation. I remember continuously falling in love with you everyday for five years. I remember buying a ring--
"--I can't stop remembering your smile when I'm without you. I just can't get you out of my head, every fiber in my body just dwells on the though of you, and your entire existence, your entire being."
Mitch began to cry.
"I'm so, so freaking head over heels for you."
"And...I remember last night, I remember imagining when this moment would be like.." I trailed off, "and I can't believe it's happening. I know ill always remember."
"And I will always remember that vow because goddamn..." He said with a laugh and a wipe of his teary eyes.
I stared at his brown eyes with nothing short of pure admiration. He's just so...so...
Beautiful.
"Do you, Scott Richard Hoying, take Mitchell Coby Micheal Grassi to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"
I nodded, the largest and fondest smile on my face. "I do." I said, surprised I could actually form the words.
"And do you, Mitchell Coby Michael Grassi, take Scott Richard Hoying to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"
Mitch bit his lower lip, something he always did.
"I do." He said, looking into my eyes as if we were the only people there, our souls dancing in sync as we proclaimed our love and faithfulness to everybody, to ourselves.
"Now by the power invested in me and the holy spirit, I now announce you, Scott Richard Hoying, and you, Mitchell Coby Micheal Grassi, husband and husband. You may kiss groom."
And, as they usually say, we sealed our marriage with a kiss.
One ill always remember.
