And that’s because I knew what love really looked like. Ruby, Lisa, and Maggie had made sure I was given it in spades. And that love sustained me.

“I love you too, Ruby,” I replied, giving her a final squeeze before letting go.

We walked down the familiar hallway of Maggie’s parents’ home. Down the stairs and toward the backyard. The house had been transformed with flowers and decorations. Outside in the yard, there were people in the rows of chairs that had been set up for the occasion. At the back of the garden was a gazebo where Mr. Young spoke with Reverend Miles, the man who would officiate the ceremony.

There were no more than fifty people there, but that’s how Maggie and I had wanted it. I felt a tug on my pants leg and looked down at Rachel and Daniel’s daughter who stood with her arms outstretched for me to pick her up.

Grinning, I reached down and lifted her into my arms. Poppy’s little brown head rested on my shoulder and Daniel rolled his eyes. “She’ll never get used to walking anywhere with you and Maggie around. You spoil her rotten,” he joked, not meaning a word he said. Daniel Lowe doted on his daughter and wife in a way that was amazing to see.

“You and Maggie need to pop out a few, give this little diva some competition,” Daniel teased, running his hand over his daughter’s head.

“My hair!” Poppy yelled, swatting her dad’s hand. Daniel and I laughed.

“She’s her mother’s girl, that’s for sure,” Daniel said, chuckling as I handed the little girl back to her father.

I spoke with Tyler, Maria, and her boyfriend before heading to the gazebo. I tried to still my restless energy as I spoke with the minister and Daniel while we waited for the ceremony to start.

But I was ready to get things started. I wasn’t sure I could wait another moment to make Maggie my wife.

Then it was time. Everyone took their places and the music started. And it was then that I felt my heart fly out of my chest.

I watched as Maggie May Young, the girl who had stolen my soul on the sidewalk in front of our high school all those years ago, came walking into the backyard on the arm of her father.

She didn’t wear a veil so nothing obstructed my view of the face I adored above all others. Her brown eyes were wet and I smiled so wide I thought my face would split in half.

When Mr. Young put her hand in mine and I looked at the woman who would be my wife, I knew we had come full circle. I leaned down and brushed a kiss underneath her ear.

“Are you ready?” I asked in a whisper, knowing the answer as her eyes shone brilliantly up at me. I noticed that she wore the butterfly necklace I had given her when we were still kids trying to figure out the messy world we had been thrown into.

She was my butterfly.

My warmth in the ice.

The reason my heart beat in my chest.

“I was ready the first time I saw you,” she said softly, lacing her fingers with mine.

I lifted our joined hands to my lips and gently kissed her knuckles. We stood together, in the light of a perfect April afternoon, saying our vows of forever in front of the people we loved.

And finally, after all this time, the darkness was behind us.

THE END