Epilogue
A few months later
Noah
I was on my way back to my place, carrying a bouquet of roses and a little surprise for Emma. She had moved in with me a month ago, and I couldn’t be happier to have her back by my side always.
Each day brought more joy and love as we got to know each other again, but this time there was nothing more that I wanted than to make our relationship work. She was helping me a lot with my PTSD, always there to comfort me after a nightmare or help me fall asleep when I had trouble sleeping.
Even the anger subsided in time, and I didn’t have outbursts as frequent as I had before. Contrary to what I had feared before, I didn’t lash out on her or put her in any imminent danger. I was getting much better.
Emma was my anchor and my biggest support, which was giving me the strength to keep fighting against the monster in me. She helped me believe that I would be able to get rid of it one day, and I was sure that with her by my side, I would conquer anything.
Feeling a little nervous about what was about to transpire, I entered our place and searched for her.
“Emma?”
“I’m in the kitchen!”
I smiled when I saw her next to the kitchen island as she prepared vegetables for cooking. My chest warmed at the sight of my beautiful girl. I felt so proud of her.
She raised her head to meet my gaze, and a smile broke out on her face when she saw the roses. “Oh Gosh, Noah! You didn’t have to!”
She put the knife and the potato down and rushed to meet me, opening her arms wide for an embrace.
“Hey, easy!” I said when she pulled me into a tight hug, chuckling. I returned her hug with one arm and kissed her, missing the feel of her velvety lips.
“Thank you, honey. You’re so sweet.” She took the flowers, looking at them like they were the best gift ever. She sniffed them, the gentle expression on her face touching and heartwarming.
It never failed to surprise me just how humble she was. She was beyond happy even with the smallest things, and I was glad that I was able to put a smile on her face. She was perfect.
“But what is the reason for the roses?” she asked when she put them in the vase.
I came from behind her and snaked my arms around her waist, bringing my lips to her neck. She smelled exquisitely, awaking my cock that grew fully rigid in two seconds flat.
“Do I need a reason?”
“You don’t, but you look a bit weird. What’s going on?”
I let out a chuckle, surprised with how well she could read me. I took a step and pulled her around to face me, my face turning serious. “You’re right. There is a reason, apart from wanting to make the most beautiful woman happy.”
My heart was pounding hard and fast, and my palms actually started sweating. Wow. I hadn’t felt this nervous since the day I asked her out for the first time.
“You’re scaring me a bit. Is everything okay?”
I cupped her cheek, smiling at her. “Yeah. Everything is okay. The thing is, I’ve been thinking about something for days.”
“About what?”
“You’re the light of my life and you make me immensely happy every single day.”
She beamed, her face full of love. “Aww, Noah.”
“And there is no one else I want to be with. Seriously, it’s like you’re my drug and cure at the same time, and I can’t imagine my life without you.”
I went down on one knee, watching her lips parting in surprise. “Noah?” she asked, clearly confused. I pulled a small black box out of my pocket and opened it, revealing a heart-shaped diamond ring to her.
“I love you, Emma. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, will you marry me?”
“Oh God.” She pressed her hand across her mouth, breathing more quickly. “Oh my God.” Her eyes filled with tears, her lips curling into a shaky smile. “Yes! Oh God, yes!”
An immense joy spread through me, and I stood up to kiss her, wanting to show her just how much she meant to me.
“I love you so much,” I told her and showered her face with tiny kisses. I never felt happier than now.
“Oh, I love you too! You’re my everything.”
I took the ring and put it on her left ring finger, a smile plastered to my face. My eyes filled with tears at the sight of the ring on her finger. She was mine, and I was going to protect her forever.
“It’s beautiful,” she said with tears in her eyes, and I felt relieved. I felt so nervous when I went to look for the ring, hoping I would find something she was going to like.
“You like it?”
“Like it? I love it! Just like you. You’re the sweetest man I’ve ever met. You’re the best!”
We ended hugging again, our lips coming together. Everything came to its place, and I was sure we were in for a bright and joyful ride of our lives. We wouldn’t have it any other way.