“Today was one of the most important days in my life, Isla. Arguably one of the best days of my life, too. Having you by my side has made me a better man in so many ways–a man I never thought I’d actually become. Honestly, I’m not sure I would have made it this far if you hadn’t been. When we met, I was hanging on by a thread, living day by day. I knew what I needed to do to make my life better, but wasn’t sure how to execute it fully. Then I saw you in the library and it was like you were there to guide me. There’s a reason why I’ve always called you Starlight, and I hope you know how much you mean to me. I’m just eternally grateful you didn’t listen when I told you no strings attached.”
“I love you,” I whispered, batting away another tear that fell.
“I love you more than I could ever fully express. Throughout graduation today, the only thing I could focus on was the box in my pocket and taking you home so I could propose to you. Isla Marie Donohue, will you make me the happiest man on the planet and marry me?”
As Caleb opened the box, my eyes connected with what was inside and it was like a dam broke—tears began streaming down my face in rapid succession.
“One day, I’ll take you to the jeweler and you can pick out any wedding ring you want, but until we are in a place where we can do that, I wanted to offer you a piece of jewelry that means just as much to me as the one I’ll be able to place on your finger in the future. I had the clasp repaired on my mother’s necklace, and I want you to have it. Two hearts, Isla. Yours and mine. Forever.”
His mother’s necklace glittered from the velvet box, the small crystals encrusted in the hearts sparkling. This small piece of jewelry meant so much to Caleb—it was the only thing he had belonging to his mother. A symbol of the relationship they had that’d meant so much to her. Every time I thought about Caleb’s childhood, my heart broke for the woman who I’d never meet—taken away from her child too young.
When I looked back up at Caleb, he had tears in his eyes, and I realized I hadn’t given him my answer.
Lifting myself up to kneel, I cupped Caleb’s face between my hands and placed a soft kiss on his lips. “Yes,” I said against them. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Of course I’d marry him. There was no doubt in my mind, no hesitancy or question. Caleb was my other half. The man I was destined to collide with—my beacon of hope when I thought all hope of having a normal life was lost.
He’d told me since the beginning I was his starlight—the one who helped guide him through his darkness—but I didn’t think he realized just how much light he brought intomylife. So much so, he had lit up my whole world.
