Chasing Arizona

Heaven

Rhett

This is perfect. 

My eyes scan the large crowd of people milling around, all talking loudly trying to drown out the noise from the airport. As one could imagine it was immensely difficult to transport twenty-two people across state, let alone half-way across the country. We were managing quite well though. Somehow we'd all managed to book a place to stay in Maine for a week long family vacation, where, unbeknownst to Arizona, I was going to propose. Contrary to what most people thought on Christmas last year, I wasn't asking her anything with the recreation of her mother's necklace. I was making her a promise. 

A promise I intended to keep. 

Arizona was my world, the love of my life and many lives over if God decided to bless us that way. I wanted her to be my wife and the mother of my children and if all went well this week, we'd be coming home to plan a wedding. 

Arizona

In the end, we eloped, not wanting to deal with the drama of wedding planning. We did it right there in Maine, surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery I could imagine and our loved ones. We didn't want to wait, there was no reason to. I knew how quickly life could come to a screeching halt, and I think we all agreed that if Rhett and I were certain, there was no cause to wait. So, in a brand new dress from one of my sisters, a borrowed pair of shoes from Susanna's own wedding, a set of blue carnations in my hand and with the ring Caine had worn for most of his life, we married. 

Life was blissful for the weeks after, newlywed euphoria covering us in rosy blanket. It was lovemaking and sweet nothings, fights about the littlest things and cozying up that bachelor pad of his into a real home. While we were happy, and things were fairly clear I still had nightmares and moments where I had the urge to down a bottle, we had days where I could barely function. It was to be expected and we endured it as well as we could. I was lucky, and I knew this without a doubt. I had a man who loved me more than he seemed to love anything on earth and would do anything to make sure I was going to be okay. I knew I was. 

For most of my life I'd lived in a constant state of oblivion trying to escape the truth of my life, the memories I couldn't seem to rid my self of. Now I wasn't running from them, instead I was trying to live through them. But now I had even more to live for, it seemed. Things to look forward to. I had a fantastic family, a beautiful life and a loving husband. 

I didn't run away from things anymore, but I knew that even if I did, I'd always have Rhett chasing right after me.