Our Almost Happy Ending

Our story was far from perfect. But it was the best one I’ve ever experienced, so much so that I have to recall it just to believe it was true.

It was a sunny day in June 2014. I was looking forward to my birthday, which I knew was going to be "lit" as the kids call it nowadays. Recently, I’d come across a shoutout on Instagram of a young, beautiful, curly haired and evidently talented girl singing her heart out to an Alicia Key's classic, and to my utter most surprise, she took my breath away from the first note. Cringeworthy, right?

As time and many conversations passed, we eventually met. We ate and shared a long walk along the Grand Union Canal. Finally, the awkward smile met the stunning and flawless young woman who I wanted to get to know better. She had a certain aura about her. You knew when she walked into a room. She made everyone in awe of her. She had a tenderness to her touch, a specialness to her voice and a uniqueness to her personality. I didn’t know what I was looking for in my teen years until I found her, and thank God I did.

We’d meet up more frequently, and before we knew it, we started dating. I, of course asked her out first. For now, everything was entirely perfect and pure. The days became more bearable when she was there and I found myself laughing and socialising more, as a result. Don’t get me wrong. There were many doubters of our relationship, but to be honest, it only made us grow closer as a unit. We never seemed to care what others thought because they weren’t us, and never would be.

Fast forward to University. Three of the greatest years of my life. Unfortunately, we didn’t go to the same university and that was clearly not ideal since we ended up breaking up. The trust we had flew as soon we both packed off for our own endeavours. In two vastly different cities, we found love elsewhere. I didn’t know about her, but I certainly regretted losing her. I looked for her in other people. That tenderness, specialness, or uniqueness was nowhere to be found in except her.

When the three years passed, and I had a degree, ready to start working in the real world, I received a phone call. It was from her, and she explained to me how she missed me, and it would be nice for us to reunite since the last time we saw each other was when we broke up. We did, and me being me, I fell in love with her all over again. She managed to make me smile from ear to ear just as I did all of those years ago. It was great to see her well and all grown up, but more importantly, happy and stable.

To my surprise, she felt the same way and wanted to give things a go again. Of course I took the opportunity to re-ignite the flame with the only girl I’ve loved. Things started to look up, and we made the choice to move in together. Who knew tiny one bedroom flat just off Kensington would be my paradise? I, for one, didn’t. With both of us settled down and doing jobs we both loved, in our free time, we decided to pursue our fundamental passions together which was singing. After taking a whole day to decide on a band name, we decided upon the name of “Better With Two” and started to perform at local gigs. Some days were amazing, but some were tough. At times, we’d get two or three people show up, nonetheless, we sang our hearts out as if we were performing in Wembley Stadium to over a million people.

As more time flew by, I took the opportunity to ask her a very important question. I dropped down on one knee and with a tear in my eye, asked:

“Will you marry me?”

She said faintly with tears of joy, “Of course. I’ve waited so long for this.”

Fast forward to our wedding day, one of the most joyful days I have ever had. It comes close to the day I met her. Everything was magical. I couldn’t help but cry the moment I saw her walk down the aisle. Alicia Keys played, and as you can imagine, I was a wreck before she even took a few steps towards me. I gazed at the congregation, seeing all my loved ones here to celebrate our love was a beautiful thing to witness. With my best man by my side, I swear I felt like I was the luckiest man in the world.

One year later, our first child was born. We named him “Jayden” and surprisingly, that didn’t take long. It felt right. I had a wife, a child, a roof over my head and pursued a job that I loved. Nothing could’ve gone wrong from here. But it did.

However, things took a turn for the worse when one summer evening, I came home to my wife in tears. Before even asking her what was wrong, she trembled with fear and uttered:

“I’ve got cancer. They predict I’ve got a year to live”

Not being able to reply, I stood there in shock with the belief that this was all a sick joke. I cursed whatever being did this to my perfect wife. I couldn’t conceive the idea that someday she was going to pass from this world. My whole world would’ve been destroyed the moment she wasn’t in it. We spent the rest of that evening cuddled up together, watching our favourite movies and singing. Anything to suppress the thought.

A week later we decided to drop everything and travel the world since it would be the last time she could. We travelled to 14 countries in the space of 6 months. From America to Portugal to The Philippines to Greece. We went there, and soaked up every memory we could. As much as we both enjoyed and were humbled to go to all these places, it broke my heart every day to see her get weaker and weaker. I tried not to think about the inevitable since every time I did, I made myself depressed. I couldn’t do that, especially in front of her. I had to put a brave face for her because the pain she had endured was far more worse than I.

It had now been 8 months and we decided to come back to the UK, to our home. Jayden had gotten so big, and started to look like my wife. By now, my wife was on her last legs, emotionally and more so, physically. She started to become frequently ill and her medication increased drastically. As I cared for her, I was also preparing myself for the worst. But, never once did I look at her any different. She was still the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever known.

Two weeks later, she was rushed to hospital. I waited anxiously for God knows how many hours. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I isolated myself from my family who were also present at the time. I kept fighting until the very end.

Hours passed, and as I awoke the next morning, she was peacefully sleeping. Only this time, as I gently tapped her, she didn’t wake up. I continuously attempted to, but with no hope, the doctors declared she passed. I sat by her for as long as I could before the doctors checked her over for the last time.

I spoke to her about all of the memories we shared over our period of time together. Every time I tried to speak, I cried, and trembled and broke down and felt sick. The doctors came, and I had to let go of her. After refusing many times, I eventually did.

One of the doctors came and handed me a note. It read:

“To my beautiful boy,

When you’re reading this, it means that I am no longer physically there with you. But, it doesn’t mean I’m not with you in spirit. Because I am. I swear, I am so fond to have you as my soulmate. You have always been the one, no matter how hard I convince myself, you are the one.

We have built a home together, and although I may not be there when you get home tonight, know that I’m with you in your heart. Please promise me to smile every day and remember me for what I am. I do not want you to dwell on my death, since God has a plan for everyone and he chose this one for me.

I’ll still be here pestering you to change Jayden’s nappy, or nag you for you stop singing, or shout at you when you’re being annoying as hell.

Other than that, I know that you’ll continue to look after our son and raise him up to be a gentleman just like you. I do not doubt for any second that he’ll grow up to have the same qualities as you, and I cannot wait to see what he does with his life. I do ask that you tell him all the time that his mummy loves him unconditionally.

To leave off, I want to thank you. I’ve probably said this too many times, but I do love you, and I will wait for you until you come again. Do not think of me and cry. Think of me and be happy because I was happy to share my life with you. I’ve been so fortunate to experience love, start a family, and explore the world with the best partner in this universe. You have given me everything I could’ve ever dreamed and more.

It’s time for me to rest. I love you, and don’t you forget that.

Love,

Your Wife.”

Upon reading the heartfelt letter, that’s when I realised that I have been so blessed to have someone like her in my life. She was my one and I will never find anyone to match her.

I’ve kept that note, and treasured it. Whenever I feel down, I read it since it reminds me I’ve got my guardian angel watching over me. Losing her was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. She was the only one worth getting up for in the morning. Nights grew colder when she wasn’t there. Adapting was hard, but ironically, somehow the thought of her got me through.

And that was,

Our Almost Happy Ending.