An Emerson Ending

Our story dates all the way back to 2008. We met in seventh grade after I transferred from private to public school and became the new girl. We were friends throughout middle and high school, but never anything more, only passing by each other in the hallways with a smile or a "hey". It wasn't until the summer after our Senior Year, a time when friends begin to drift apart, that we became closer.

After many debates about whether or not we were truly ready for the journey we were about to embark on, we began dating the summer after my freshman year of college and his first year in the military. Though we were 700 miles apart, we knew what we wanted and were both stubborn enough to fight for it. We dated long distance for 3 years, attempting to fly or drive out to visit at least once a month. That time apart, though seeming to be what was tearing us down, was building us up for life to come, making our relationship stronger with each passing day. We knew if we could get through that, we could get through anything. And after a long 3 years of time apart, on March 10th, 2018, with my graduation from college and his end to the military near, he asked me to be his.

I had spent all month helping his family plan a surprise "Welcome Home" party for his return from his 7-month long deployment. I was already in utter excitement for him to be home, but was filled with butterflies trying to put the party together without him knowing, especially the day of. We both got dressed up and headed from my college town of Bowling Green to his mother's home in Lexington. I began recording as soon as we got out of the car. I should have known something due to his lack of surprise as I cheesingly led him to the door. Inside were both mine and his family and friends yelling "Surprise!", cameras recording. Still confused by his lack of shock, I laughed and didn't realize I was the one missing the real purpose for us being there. He motioned towards a cake that read "Will you..?" and that sat beside a diamond ring. The surprise wasn't for him, it was for me. "You changed my life and I can't think of a better way to repay you." were his exact words before asking me to be his. How could I not say yes to the man who had changed my life in more ways than he knew?