It's Only Because I Love You

Epilouge

Epilouge

The following year I graduated from the very school that I had met Derek at only a year before. My mom, Jonah, Daniel, and Derek all were in attendance at my graduation. I had also made the decision to pursue my love of kids and went to a local college to become an elementary school teacher. Derek had enrolled into the same college as I did, while he pursued his dreams of becoming a professional Indy Racer.

          It was Christmas break of our junior year of college, I was 20, and Derek was 21, when Daniel had come home from Christmas break, and we all gathered at my house to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Day. We all visited and ate probably more then we should’ve, but that’s ok, that’s what the holidays are for.

          After dinner, Derek had asked if I wanted to go for a walk.

          “It’s freezing outside,” I had said, considering it was cold and I was full, not typical walking weather.

          “Yeah, but I have to burn off some of these calories.” I agreed and put on my white winter coat, my mittens and my yellow beanie hat. Derek slipped on his blue coat, and because he was so tough, he didn’t need any mittens or a hat.

          We started out walking with the snow gently falling on my hat, and on Derek’s dirty blond hair. We walked hand-in-hand as we talked about Christmas and the real meaning of Christmas. What a beautiful thing that is. After a while, I started wondering where we were headed.

          “No worries, you’ll see,” Derek had said. After these few years Derek still used his Australia slang, and his accent was still evident.

          Not soon after, I saw the park that had our first date at come into sight. We hadn’t been to this park in three years! As Derek led, we walked into the park, which was lit only by street lights. We headed back by the bench we always sat on, near the trail where we had our first kiss. Derek had suddenly stopped walking and grabbed my other hand, forcing me to face him.

          “Bethany,” he started. “I didn’t bring you here to this park by accident. I brought you hear so you could remember everything that started what we have become today.” Derek paused and looked into my eyes. “I texted you one day during your junior year, and I told you to meet me here. We had our first kiss here. You told me about you receiving Christ here. Then, you told me you wanted to go somewhere else to start new memories.” I nodded. “But Bethany, tonight, I wanted to take you back to what started us.” In that moment a flood of emotions came rushing forward, as I recalled everything that did happen at that park, and to be honest, I missed the park. “But Bethany, I didn’t bring you here, just to take you back, but to venture forward. Bethany, I didn’t come back to America to date you and hang out with you forever, I came back here so I could make you mine, so I would never lose you again. I love you with all my heart, so Bethany,” and with that Derek dropped down onto one knee. Tears flooded my eyes as I started to smile at the same time. “Bethany Rose Ashton, will you marry me?”

          “Yes! Of course!” And will that, I ripped off my mitten and Derek slid the most beautiful ring I have ever seen onto my left ring finger. He got back up onto two feet and put his hands on my neck and kissed me passionately. It was the best day of my life. And this time, I meant it.

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          It was two years later on May 21st that I found myself in a white gown on my wedding day. I walked slowly down the asile of the very park I had my first kiss at. My pastor was waiting with my fiancée at the atler, and it would only be minutes until I would be Mrs. Derek Reet.

          To my surprise, I was able to get a hold of my Dad to walk me down the aisle, and he willingly did. After everything he did to my mom and our family, I found the courage to forgive him.

          Derek was as handsome as ever, and Jonah and Daniel stood at the alter looking great as well. My mom sat in the front seat wiping away tears of joy. As I approached the aisle, my father let go as he gave me away. The pastor started the ceremony, and before long, it was time for Derek and I to give our vows. Looking into his eyes, I started.

          “Derek Caleb Reet. It seems like yesterday that I was walking the halls on my first day of school and I accidently bumped into you. Ever since that moment, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I tried to talk myself out of even the idea of liking you, only because I couldn’t possibly like someone that I ran into on accident, let alone didn’t even know their name. It took everything in me to sit by you in history class that one day, and looking back on it now, there was no reason to ever be afraid. Shortly later, we became best friends, and the final piece of the puzzle was put into place, I accepted Christ as my Savior. You were my first kiss, and the only boy I ever have, and ever will kiss. You have been my rock through thick and thin, and I’m so glad that you’ll be there for me forever and ever.”

          As I finished, I was Derek tear up, and he pulled out a piece of paper that he wrote his vows on.

          “Bethany, you have opened up your whole life to me. You never hid anything from me. From our history class discussions to running around the town of New Haven together, to our college study sessions, you’ve been my best friend, and now, you’ll forever be my best friend. Your kindness and you’re ability to forgive and forget is amazing to me, and is truly something I don’t deserve. But because God has brought us together, the only thing I can say it thank you. In your journal you gave me five years ago, you told me that you thought you would never get married, and I didn’t tell you, but I thought it all along, that I would never let that happen to you. You mean the world to me, Bethany Rose Ashton. I’m glad I’m the last one to call you by that name. Although you’re identity won’t change by taking my last name, mine forever will. I won’t be the same man, because you make me a better person every day, and now I’ll have that person with me for the rest of my life into eternity.”

          It took everything in me to not cry, I knew I had to keep it together. Jonah stepped forward carrying the rings, and Derek, with his hands shaking, slid the band onto my finger. Then I, whose hand was probably shaking more, slid his ring onto his finger.

          “It is now my pleasure to present you for the first time Derek and Bethany Reet! You may now kiss the bride.” And with that Derek kissed me. Everything in my life was perfectly in place.

          As we left the wedding area after our reception, I came to the realization that I won’t use the saying “the best day of my life” anymore, because with Derek in my life, every day only gets better and better, because when God finds you the right person, that’s how it should be, and now, my life only will be better and better.

******************************************************************A few months into our marriage, Derek and I finally settled completely into our apartment and were sitting on the couch one day.

          “Derek, at our wedding, you said that you read the part in my journal that said I would never get married, and you said that you though that you would never let that happen.” I said.

          “Yeah, I always thought that.”

          “Why?”

          “Why did I think that?”

          “Yeah.”

          “Oh Bethany,” Derek put his arm around me, “it was only because I love you.”