How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

51- Wouldn't Change A Thing

Anthony

We spend a month and a half in Arizona soaking up the sun... I mean working. We were definitely working. There was a lot that happened in the month of March and it all happened so fast it was kind of all a blur. After the Cubs Convention we went straight to Mesa, Arizona and got started on the 2016 baseball season. We didn't even get to do anything for Valentine's Day because all the guys were ready to get started on the new season, but no one really complained, we all knew what was at stake here. And once we got started spring training kind of flew by.

It all started when Dexter surprised everyone and showed up to training camp. The news was that he signed with the Orioles so I sent him a text congratulating him. He never answered that text which I thought was weird, I should have known he couldn't leave us just yet. Plus that made my pregnant girlfriend very very happy. After that we all mended together quickly and I loved the dynamics our team was able to put together almost immediately. There was a lot of theatrics going on like real life bear cubs and we got to karaoke and a lot of other fun things. Kris and I even got our own commercial and we got a bunch of new guys comfortable playing with us. We were set up for a great season and we wanted to get this started sooner rather than later.

But spring training is over now and it's April, we were back in Chicago excited to kick things off. We had a few days off before the season was underway so we were going to prepare for the season the best way we knew how. And I was going to prepare by making sure my girlfriend is happy and healthy.

"I know it isn't the same as most other couples anniversaries, but it's been a year since we first met" I mention to her as we sit at breakfast. She was about five months along now and is really into buying maternity clothes. She likes to think of her stomach as something to balance stuff on top of and it was honestly adorable, how much she loves that she's pregnant. I loved it too.

"In my defense, I was unconscious when we first met. So pardon me if I don't get all sentimental" she defends.

"You will" I tease.

"Yeah... you're right" she giggles. "So what are your plans" she wonders.

"What makes you think that I have plans" I question.

"Do you" she asks.

"That's not the point" I defend and she laughs. "But on a totally unrelated note, we're going on a boat ride tonight, so plan accordingly" I tell her.

"Ooooh a boat. How romantic" she says and I laugh.

"I try."

After we spend the whole day messing around and cleaning up the house it was time for our date. The sun was about to set on this beautiful day so we take off into the lake to drop anchor just outside the city. The water was pretty still so we could just peacefully float on top of it. The sky was brilliant colors as the sun was about to disappear over the horizon. And the most beautiful part of this view was my girlfriend letting her hair blow in the Chicago wind as she watches it all happen. A smile set on her face as she stares out at the water.

"I get why you like watching the sunset so much" she admits as she continues to stare out over the water.

"Every ending is a new beginning" I say and she turns around to smile at me.

"That's was quite insightful" she notices.

"I read" I defend.

"I never said you didn't" she challenges.

"Okay I don't read" I admit. "But I do look up anything to say to see that beautiful smile on your face. So I think that I got it down pretty good" I insist.

"Can you believe it's been a year" she asks.

"Feels like a lifetime" I admit.

"I know... and we haven't even had the kid yet" she teases.

"How are you feeling" I wonder. "Anything I can do for you?"

"Nope. I don't want you to change a single thing" she smiles. I reach across the table to grab her hand and kiss the back of it. She squeezes my hand tight as she stares at me with those insanely turquoise eyes.

"What do you think the next year of our lives together with bring" I wonder.

"You mean besides a a kid" she teases and I send her a glare. "Hopefully a brighter future. A World Series would be nice too. Good times with friends and family. Lots of painting" she lists off.

"What if I was to purpose within the next year" I wonder and she stops rambling. Her lips pull tight and I swear there was a halo above her head.

"You're little late don't you think" she asks as she rests her hand on her stomach.

"Maybe a little" I joke.

"I think that would be pretty great" she admits and I nod.

"Good. Because if you would have said no I probably would have jumped into Lake Michigan" I admit and she laughs.

"Why on earth would I have said no" she asks.

"I don't know. Life works in mysterious ways" I shrug.

"It sure does. Like how it put you and I together, how it gave us a child to love and something thats going to last forever" she explains.

"Yeah. I guess after everything we've been through we got pretty lucky" I smile.

"After what has been the most insane year of my life... I think crazy is a good description" she admits.

"But you're good now, right" I ask.

"There's nothing that could happen to me that would make my situation good" she insists. "But I can tell you, truthfully, that I couldn't be happier with how things turned out. Losing my parents, being with Eddie, you're what makes all of that worth it. I would go through it all again if I ended up on this boat with you and the prettiest view within a thousand miles of this place" she insists.

"I know, I still wish things were different though" I sigh.

"I do too. But being where I am now, nothing can convince me otherwise that this is where I'm supposed to be. This is how I'm supposed to be" she says.

"And while I wish things were different, I wouldn't change a single thing about you. I know you only love because you've felt hate. I know you only care because you know what it's like to be neglected. But those are the things I love most about you. And when you have our child, it won't see your scars or judge you for your past. It'll love you unconditionally no matter what, just like me" I smile.

She wipes away a tear before laughing at herself.

"I promised I wasn't going to be emotional" she sniffles.

"Well you're pregnant" I remind her.

"At least I'm still pretty right" she asks and I smile.

"Stunning."