The Experience Buddy [Completed]

Chapter 44

Note: For full reading experience, would recommend that you listen to Parachute's Forever and Always on repeat.

Day after day, Hero's condition worsened. He looked like he had grown older by a few years in just a few months. With him constantly in the hospital, it became lonely for me to return to his place by myself. It was harder to cling onto hope than I thought. Everyday was an uphill climb for us, more so for him.

I spilled my plans to Heath and he kindly accompanied me to buy wedding bands. I had secretly measured the circumstance of Hero's fourth finger while he was asleep last night. It didn't take long for me to choose the rings as I just settled for a plain silver ring in one of the cheapest ranges. For me, and I believe I can speak for Hero too, that we only needed the ring to serve its purpose so a decent looking one would suffice. Besides, I'm not into diamonds.

That night, I sat by Hero's bedside, awaiting him to return from the toilet. Clenching the small box in my hands, close to my chest, my heart beat increased and palms began to sweat from all the nervousness.

After he climbed back onto the bed with a slight struggle, I moved from sitting on a chair to the edge of the bed. Then I opened the box in front of him as he stared at it with eyes widened in surprise.

"Hey Hero? Will you marry me?" I asked.

"No." He answered swiftly and my face fell.

"I should be the one to pop the question." He added as he got off the bed and took the box from my hand. Then he went around the bed and got down on one knee.

"Emily Lee, will you marry me?" He asked in a clear voice.

"Yes of course." I replied, never feeling more sure about my decision now more than ever.

I was so excited the entire week planning for our wedding. It would be a small event with our closest friends and family in the hospital chapel. We have decided that there would be no officiant and we wouldn't be signing on any marriage certificate. Insisted by Hero.

His reason was that having a legal document doesn't make our wedding any less valid. Actually, I know that his real reason was that he didn't want to leave me officially widowed, just in case. I wasn't going to argue with him further since I feel that the certificate is nothing but a piece of paper.

With Heath's help, we managed to get permission from the hospital for the venue and ordered catering. Nat and Cheryl helped me with the dress. It was a simple yet elegant white gown with a short train so that nobody really needed to help me hold on to it for fear that I might trip over it.

It wasn't my first time seeing Hero in a suit but he looked exceptionally dashing on that day. As I walked down the aisle with my arm in my father's and a small flower bouquet in the other hand, Hero's eyes were welling up and the liquid reflected the lights from the ceiling, causing his eyes to sparkle. I, myself, was trying to hold my tears in so that my makeup won't get ruined.

My father went to join my mother on the bench after I let his arm go. Hugh and Frank were letting out wolf whistles, Nat, Cheryl and Toby were clapping their hands excitedly whereas Madison and Davin were clapping and balling their eyes out at the same time. Hero's parents were sitting in the first row as they witnessed the event with small smiles. Heath was our emcee and "officiate" who would read out the usual vows that a couple promises to each other.

From that day onwards, I took Tiffin as my last name.

"...until death do us part." Hero and I said in unison.