From the Bottom

“When you love, you get hurt, when you get hurt, you hate, when you hate, you try to forget, when you try to forget, you start missing, and when you start missing... you’ll eventually fall in love again.”

When I first read this quote, I immediately thought of all the past troublesome times and didn’t think of it again for a few months, but then I came across it again one day, and I realized the depth of what it is depicting. After everything that I’ve been through, and she’s been through, we eventually found our way to each other. We survived so many hardships that one is most likely incapable of conquering. Together we are unstoppable, but without each other we can’t function the same.

“Our story isn’t the traditional fairytale love story that most young girls dream about, but it is definitely one that you will remember” -Kody

Before I met her, my life was a tragic mess that I thought could never be turned around. I was facing so many problems at once that I had no idea what to do, or how to handle anything. Quick flashback to a month before this. I was struggling with depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and I was contemplating doing something that I thought, at the time, would make everything and everyone else better. Every day had a new and more challenging battle for me to face, and I was at my breaking point. I felt like I had no one and that I was completely worthless, even though I realize now that isn’t true whatsoever. She is everything that I have ever dreamed of, and she constantly proves to me everyday that loving her is the best thing I’ll ever do in my life. I’ve been writing this for a while now and I was going to make it a whole book, but I’m going to give you this version until I’m finished... I know it’s not perfect but It will be. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy our love story in a little summary:

It was a long, hot, strenuous Friday in Twentynine Palms. The sun had beaten me all day, and all I longed for was for the work day to end, so I could finally catch up on the rest I had been deprived of, but my best friend Clay had earlier offered me a ride to his mom’s home in Arizona so I didn’t have to spend thanksgiving alone, and I had been going back and forth for hours trying to decide if I wanted to go or not. I had finally made my decision and I told him at the end of work that I was just going to stay here because I was so exhausted. About 45 minutes go by and my phone rings, and it’s a text from clay saying, “Hey man, we’re leaving in 10 minutes if you change your mind. You’re still more than welcome to go.” As I sat there trying to fall asleep I had this voice inside my head screaming at me to hastily pack a bag and go get in the car, so me being the spur of the moment guy I was, packed my bag, and before I knew it I was on my way to the great state of Arizona.

I didn’t know why I went but I knew that there had to have been a good reason, especially since I was giving up sleep. Within the first 30 minutes of our trip we got pulled over and I thought to myself “why did I come along I could be asleep right now,” but I told myself to be quiet, and to make the best of whatever this situation is. Four hours later we make it to his house and the holiday begins, or so I thought.

The first two days were extremely slow and boring, and I was constantly regretting the decision I had made in coming to Arizona. So, as a young, single male I did what we do best and downloaded the most popular dating apps that were out at the time, one of which included, “Bumble.” A few hours tick by and I start getting all these matches, but none of them were intriguing me until BAM I see this young woman who to me is absolutely perfect. I thought, "wow she’s definitely going to be a catfish, but whatever I’m going to swipe anyways,” so I did it. A few minutes later I get a notification saying “ you’ve got a new connection,” and I immediately started hoping and praying that it was her, and lucky for me, it was. I knew she was the one for me, because she has the same favorite song as me and she started the conversation off with “tell me your best dad joke.” I spent around 20 minutes trying to think of one, and I guess the one I said was the winner. We talked constantly and things were going great, and we made plans to hangout later on that week.

My friend Clay at this point is basically begging me to go out on the town with him, so I caved in and we made our way to “the strip.” I had all this unwanted attention from numerous people, and all I could think about was this girl from bumble. I hadn’t even met her and she already had me hooked. I texted her, and asked what she was doing and where she was at, and she was nearby so I asked if she wanted to come meet up, and she said yes! Roughly an hour goes by, and she says she made it and we go looking for each other.

Two complete strangers who have no idea who each other really are, or what they look like are gallivanting around this avenue looking for one another, and then I finally see her. I have never been one to believe in love at first sight, but at this point I am completely star struck. We introduce ourselves to each other, and start walking around the same block for what felt like 20 minutes, but ended up being hours. I, without a doubt in my mind, knew that night that she was the reason I had journeyed to Arizona.

The very next day I was already craving to see her again. Later in the afternoon, she asked me if I wanted to go to a family get together with her, I was a little hesitant at first, but I decided ehh what the heck why not? I completely stole the show over there, and was slowly working my way to stealing her heart, and that of her family. Fast forward to that night, we went to eat with my buddy clay, and one of her friends, and it just reassured all of the crazy feelings I had never felt for anyone else before.

Things are going great–actually things are perfect. We are both slowly learning more and more about each other, and falling for each other more and more every day. We took a trip to Flagstaff, and wow I was starting to realize how extremely lucky I was to have someone as magnificently astonishing as her. We didn’t realize it at the time, but this trip was the start of our never-ending love for each other. We grew closer to each other, more than we had to anyone else before, and it was truly amazing.

Big trip number two was on its way, and we were on our way to San Clemente, California! This trip we were in month two of being together, and you could slowly feel the “honey moon” phase starting to slip away, but we didn’t let that stop us. The “perfection” only last a few months anyways, so we kept on moving forward, and started getting serious about the relationship and started talking about our future, and what we wanted out of this crazy thing called life.

I was in a training exercise for a month and a half, and she would come visit me in the middle of nowhere just to spend time with me, and anyone who is willing to do that is definitely madly in love! Just four days into the month we decided that we were getting married, and that’s exactly what we did. It wasn’t the fancy dream wedding she wanted, but at least we were married? Some people may say we rushed into it, or that we’re crazy for even contemplating getting married, but I wouldn’t take it back for anything in this world! When you know, you know, and boy did we know. We were inseparable and were constantly craving each other.

Month one into marriage, and the stresses of finding somewhere to spend our life together were starting to become a little bit more than overwhelming. We started arguing a lot more than normal, but at the end of the day the love would always bring us back to each other, and we would realize that there was no point in us arguing, honestly. On the 23rd we moved into our first home, and a few days later we got our first car together. The not so lucky period in life was finally starting to turn around, and we got even closer than before.

“We of course have had our hard times and rough patches, but at the end of the day all we truly have is each other, and that is how I will always want it to be.“

When I met her she immediately made me feel like I was everything and more, and to this day she still does. She made me understand the importance of life, and all who live around me. She opened my eyes to the fact that, even when I feel alone, I will never be alone, because she will always be there right beside me, no matter what. She gives me strength when I have none, and I have no idea how she does it, but I do know that I will forever and always be appreciative for it. The love that she emits for me is incredible. She truly gives her all to me, and not a percent less.

I just want her to know that no matter what goes on in our life, that I will always be there to pick her up when she’s feeling down. She is the light of my life, my saving grace, and so much more that it would take me years to describe. I never knew that it was feasible for me to find true love, but when I found you, I found all that I had ever dreamed of, and more. I just want to say thank you, and that you’re truly the greatest thing to ever happen to me, and I love you... from the bottom of my heart