One Night in New York

Chapter Thirty-Two

Sometimes our dreams for our lives aren't meant to come true. Perhaps something else will take the place of what we most desire. Liam had yearned for me, but he couldn't keep me forever. He had to go through life without me, which was never something I wanted him to do, but he did it, and he made sure our children knew me the only way he knew how. It may have only been two years, but he gave me the best years of my life. We changed each other in ways we never imagined possible, never expecting to fall so deeply in love with each other, but we did. A beautiful life was created, and we celebrated daily with each other, and with family, and friends. Our support system was phenomenal, with so many people always looking out for us and having our backs. That was what a great life was like, and everyone should have the opportunity to experience what we did. I hated saying goodbye, but I had no choice. It was time for me to go, leaving behind my love, my children, and everything I cared about.

We aren't supposed to understand this intricate design called life. If we did, then we would hold all the answers and would never get to experience great excitement when someone wonderful walks into our lives, sadness when they die, or love when we say I do, or hold them in our arms. We would know ahead of time the outcome and prepare for the inevitable.

So, where am I now? Please don't cry for me. I'm standing here with Liam, looking over at him and holding his hand like it's what we've been doing all along. When you die, time seems to move at a glacial pace, mostly because you are waiting for the one you love to return to you one day. I finally got him, and he hasn't aged a day, looking exactly as he did when we first met.

Did I see anyone I know up there? When I arrived, I expected to see Liam's mother, Connie, but she had gone to where she was supposed to be next. I never saw her up there with me because her new book was written on July 3, 2020, the day our beautiful Connie was born. And, yes, I got to see my babies grow, not in the way I had hoped, but I did, and I couldn't be prouder of the adults they have become. I know, I know, it sounds awful not to have the people I care about physically in my arms, walking through life with them hand in hand every day, but that was never in my book.

And Liam and I didn't have our happily ever after while we were on earth together, but our story is not over. When we wed, we had promised to stay together forever, however long that means. We had vowed to be only with each other for all eternity, which we conveyed to one another as we spoke those words. Liam and I took our vows seriously and held them dear to our hearts, so we will continue honoring those commitments now that we are back together again.

See, I won't remember who Liam is for the first few years of my life, but I have a feeling we'll cross paths again sooner this time. A new book has begun, and the chapters will begin to fill in the blank pages within a few months. Mine will begin in April, while Liam's will begin in February, just before mine. What does this necessarily mean for us? We're not sure, but we know we'll be together and get to experience something amazing all over again. So don't cry for us right now as we stand behind Connie and Kara. We're holding hands as we wait for our second book to begin.