A Risk on Forever

by N.S. Perkins

I loved this man more than I had ever loved anyone before. He wasn’t perfect, and he’d made mistakes, but in this instant, I couldn’t imagine ever being with someone other than him. This was his proof that he loved me just the same, that he couldn’t spend another moment of his life without me, either. In this ring, I saw his promise: no more back-and-forth, only eternal love.

“I never really knew why Helen wore this ring,” he murmured, “and I only figured it out a few weeks ago.” The box shook faintly. “When I was a little boy, she used to call me her little moon.” He chuckled, looking at the ring. “That was my nickname. ‘Come here, little moon,’ she’d say before tucking me in bed. And, in the past months, when I missed you so bad it hurt, I looked at this ring over and over again, finally realizing that’s exactly what you are to me. My little moon, brightening my path and pushing the darkness away from my life.”

“Please accept this ring, Addy. Accept it, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make my way to your heart again and keep it safe. I love you so, so much, and—”

I interrupted him by falling on my knees as well. Extending a shaking hand forward, I cupped his warm cheek. “Matt, how could you make your way back into my heart when you never left?”

“So I take it you accept the ring?” After the conversation I’d had with my father, I knew I’d eventually try to make my way back to him, but this promise only solidified what I already knew: we were meant to be together. I nodded vigorously, half-laughing, half-crying. “Yes. Yes, of course, I accept it. I love you so much, Matt.”

“Say it again.” I leaned forward and grinned against his lips. “I love you, Matthias Philips. I love you so much.”

Coming up for air, he breathed, “Addy.” Music was my first love, and yet there would never be a sound more beautiful than my name on Matthias’ lips.

He framed my face with his hands, joining our lips once more. We kissed and kissed and kissed again, making up for the months apart we’d lost and preparing ourselves for our future.

And as I drowned in Matthias’ embrace, I couldn’t help but remember what Helen had written to us: Fight, tooth and nail, for the people you love. That’s what we’d done. We hadn’t let go. We’d taken a ...

The last thing on my mind was doubt about doing this. Matthias was the man of my dreams, the one I wanted to spend my life with. I was reminded of it every time our eyes crossed and my heart beat faster. Butterflies still swarmed my belly with every single one of his touches.

I knew you would end up together the day I saw you meet. You had the perfect ratio of differences and resemblances, opposite enough to complete each other, but similar enough to see eye to eye. Whatever has led the two of you to be together, one thing’s for sure: it was meant to be.

I would’ve loved to be there with you while you grow together, but I’m sure wherever I am, I can still see you. And I would bet my life I’ll love getting to watch the people you’ll become and the couple you’ll form.

On this wedding day of yours, I wish you all the happiness in the world. And if on some days you can’t find this happiness, then create it. Laugh, travel, cook, sing at the top of your lungs, and dance until your feet are blistered...

Addy, Matthias, I would tell you to make me proud, but I know you already have. With more love than ...

After reading Helen’s last words to us, Matthias’ presence was the only thing I needed, bad wedding mojo be damned.

“She knew. She knew all along it would be you and me here today.”

“Her matchmaking skills worked out in the end. I’m sure she’s really proud of that right now.”

“I love you so much. This is only one of the thousand signs that proved this was meant to be.”

“Ready?” A simple question that held a hundred more. Ready to get married, to become his wife, to start our forever? And, to all these questions, I had the same easy answer. “Ready.”