It together

Emily's POV

The morning was crisp, the air just chilly enough to make me wish I had a scarf but not so cold that it drove me inside. I had grabbed my camera before heading out, planning on capturing the beauty of the city and the world around me for my blog. It wasn't the most glamorous job, but I loved it-those quiet moments, the things most people overlooked, caught forever through the lens of my camera. I had started blogging as a way to reclaim some of my life after everything that had happened with Reuben, and over the past two months, it had been an escape. But now, it felt like something more-a way to share what I had found in the quiet spaces between moments, my own healing journey.

I'd never been much of a morning person, but I had to admit, there was something beautiful about the way the world woke up. The soft golden hue of the rising sun filtering through the trees, the chirping of the birds, and the occasional rustle of leaves as a gentle breeze blew through the streets. There was life everywhere, and for the first time in months, I could feel the weight of my own burdens beginning to lift.

As I wandered through the streets, snapping photos of the vibrant flowers in the gardens I passed, the quiet hum of city life became a soft background to my thoughts. I had learned so much about myself these past couple of months. The pain of Reuben's betrayal was still there, somewhere deep inside me, but the love and support I had received from the people around me, especially Ethan, had helped me see that I was worth so much more than that chapter in my life.

I smiled as I focused my lens on a patch of bright red roses blooming on a small bush by a coffee shop. I had been thinking about Ethan a lot lately, too. Since the day we'd brought the twins back home, something had shifted between us. Our connection had deepened, and what had started as a bond born out of duty had turned into something real, something neither of us had expected but both of us cherished.

I had never been good at naming emotions, but it was like everything just... fit. With Ethan, I didn't feel scared anymore. I didn't feel like I was walking around with a weight on my chest. I felt light. Seen. Loved.

As I snapped the final shot of the roses, a little voice caught my attention. "Excuse me, Miss," the voice said, small but clear. I turned around, startled but instantly softening when I saw the little girl standing there. She couldn't have been more than five or six, her big brown eyes sparkling with innocence and wonder.

She was holding something behind her back, and her face was framed by a messy mop of hair, clearly untouched by the day's worries.

"This is for you," she said, stepping forward, holding out a small bouquet of flowers-bright daisies and white lilies that smelled sweet in the morning air. My heart melted immediately, and I knelt down to her level, accepting the flowers with a smile.

"They're beautiful, thank you," I told her softly, touching her tiny hand with my fingers. "What's your name?"

"Lily," she replied, beaming at me. "My mama told me to give them to you, 'cause you look happy."

I laughed, a soft chuckle escaping me. "Well, your mama's right. I am happy."

Lily's grin widened, and she gave a small curtsy before running off, the sound of her footsteps light as she skipped away, leaving me with the flowers in my hands.

I stood up slowly, my fingers gently tracing the petals of the flowers as I took another deep breath, letting the moment sink in. It was a small thing, but it made my day. Made me feel… seen. In the way that only little things can.

As I continued walking, taking more photos along the way, I noticed that more and more people seemed to be looking at me. At first, I thought nothing of it-just the usual people going about their day. But then, a woman in her thirties, dressed in a floral dress, smiled as I passed and handed me a small bunch of white roses.

"Just for you," she said, her voice warm and kind.

I blinked in surprise, accepting the flowers, my heart warming with the kindness of strangers. The woman didn't say anything else, just waved as she walked away, and I stood there for a moment, unsure of what was happening.

It wasn't until a few moments later when I walked past a small café and noticed a man sitting at a table outside that I began to piece things together. He was holding a camera and quickly turning away when I caught his gaze. A flash went off just as I walked past, and I realized what had been going on.

People had been taking my picture. Random people, all throughout the day.

My stomach dropped, my thoughts immediately flying to the past. To the fear that had once gripped me when my every move felt like it was being watched. I had been in a different place back then, a darker place.

But now, it was different. There was no malicious intent behind it-just curious eyes. And, if I were honest with myself, I kind of liked it.

I shook my head and smiled, trying to shake off the unease as I continued on my way home. The flowers and the pictures didn't bother me in the same way they would have before. In fact, as I approached the house, I felt a strange sense of peace settle over me.

I had made it through. I had made it past the darkness and into something brighter.

As I walked up the front steps to the door, I noticed something different. There, in front of me, was Ethan.

My heart skipped a beat. He was kneeling.

No, wait. He was kneeling.

Before I could even make sense of what was happening, his deep voice broke through the silence, low and steady. "Emily…" he started, his gaze meeting mine, and I froze in place, my breath catching in my throat.

"I don't know exactly when it happened," Ethan continued, his eyes never leaving mine. "I can't pinpoint the exact moment. But somewhere along the way, I fell for you. I can't tell you when it started, or how long I've felt it, but I know this: I can't live without you."

The world seemed to stop moving for a second as the words settled into my chest. I stood there, frozen, the flowers from the little girl still clutched in my hand, my mind racing to catch up. Was this real?

I looked down at Ethan, who was holding something in his hand. A ring. It sparkled in the late afternoon light, the stone catching my eye as he held it out toward me, his voice softer but no less sure. "Emily, will you marry me? Please. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Tears prickled at the back of my eyes, and I couldn't help the smile that stretched across my face. I wanted to say something-anything-but the words got stuck somewhere deep in my throat. This was happening. This was real.

But even though the words I wanted to say weren't coming, there was only one thing that mattered. I stepped forward, lowering myself down to kneel in front of him, my hands reaching for his, the flowers forgotten in the grip of my fingers.

"Yes," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "Yes, I'll marry you."

And in that moment, everything I had been running from, all the fear, all the pain, seemed to melt away. I was no longer bound by the past. The future was waiting for us, and it was bright, filled with love and possibilities.

Ethan's face broke into a grin, and he slid the ring onto my finger, his thumb brushing the back of my hand. The world faded around us, and in that quiet, sacred moment, I knew that no matter what happened, we would face it together.