Two Steps Behind

Garden Wedding

Myrtle's POV:

October 3, 2026

It has been 1 year and 5 months mula nang magpropose si Devin. October 3 which was my birthday ang napili naming, wedding day. The day has come, finally. We are at a resort called Terranea, 12pm ng tanghali pa kami magsisimulang gumayak para sa kasal namin ni Devin.

Napagkasunduan na sa dalawang magkahiwalay na section kami ng resort kakain ng breakfast, dahil hindi pa kami pwede magkita ni Devin. Doon siya sa North side at kami ay dito sa South side.

Parang walang kasal na magaganap mamaya at sunset, dahil wala namang mga nagkakagulong organizers, tahimik at maganda ang lugar. Very relaxing. Kagabi lang kami nag-check in after ng Birthday Salubong party na ginawa ni Devin for me. Before the party ended at exactly 11:59 PM, Devin had given me a birthday present. Which I am now wearing, a black hoodie with a print at the back that says "Mrs. Lennon".

I was smiling all morning, pagkamulat na pagkamulat ko pa lang. Who wouldn't? I will finally marry the love of my life today on my birthday. Ate Madison came in my room with a box, nakangiti siya ng nakakaloko.

"Ate, ano yan?" I asked her.

"Regalo daw ni Devin sayo, para sa birthday mo daw. Pinabibigay lang nya bunso, ewan ko bakit apat yan eh. Basahin mo na lang muna yung letter nya sayo."

Ate said as she places four boxes stacked together down at the vanity table.

"Thank you, Ate." I said as I picked up the envelope on top of the box.

I took out the letter and read it, it said:

Love,

Happy Birthday to you! I hope that you enjoy your day today. These boxes my love are for you, I have waited four years to give them to you, every year that you and I were apart, I remembered your birthday and made sure I never forgot about you. This were the little things I did to remember you. Thank you for loving me unconditionally, through the last 5 years. I can't wait to finally be with you, forever and always. To spend your birthdays and mine together.

-Devin

I opened the first box, it had a bookmark from Italy, the last place we were together. A first edition book of Romeo and Juliet, we visited both of their houses in Verona. Then a book of our photos from Italy.

The second box contained a book of our photos from The Bahamas, it also had a first edition book entitled Islands in the stream, there was another book mark from The Bahamas.

The third box was from college, it had a university varsity jacket, a mug that had my department's logo printed on it and a bag of coffee beans from our favorite cafe. A book of our photos, one of the photos was taken when she serenaded me in front of the student body, I never knew we had a photo back then.

The fourth box was for highschool, it had a book The last time I'll write about you, the poetry book I liked so much. It had a book of our photos and then a frame, the photo she took of me, while I waited for her return.

Then another envelope, I opened the envelope and read it:

Love,

I know I took my time to remember who we were, that's because I wanted to remember you exactly as I have met you. All this little things reminded me of you, how I am lucky to have had you in my life. Marrying you today is the most beautiful apology you ever gave me, I won't make any promises I can't keep, I'll make sure to do what it takes to make you feel my love and gratefulness. To make you fall for me every single day of our lives.