Part 18

Years had passed,

the memories had faded,

the scars had healed,

but the lesson remained,

the lesson of strength,

the lesson of courage,

the lesson of truth,

I was a different woman now,

I was a stronger woman,

I was a wiser woman,

I was a kinder woman,

I had empathy,

I had compassion,

I had grace,

I understood the complexity of the human heart,

I understood the fallibility of the human soul,

I understood the fragility of the human life,

it had made me more human,

it had made me more grounded,

it had made me more connected,

I gave back,

I mentored the young,

I supported the weak,

I championed the cause,

I was a leader,

I was a teacher,

I was a guide,

I had found my purpose,

I had found my passion,

I had found my peace,

I walked in the park with Arthur,

we were older now,

we were grayer now,

we were slower now,

but we were happier,

we were more deeply connected,

we were more profoundly in love,

it was a different kind of love,

it was a seasoned love,

it was a tested love,

it was a durable love,

it was a love that had withstood the test of time,

the test of trial,

the test of change,

and it had grown,

it had deepened,

it had matured,

I looked at him,

I saw the man I had married,

I saw the man I had trusted,

I saw the man I had loved,

I saw the man who had been my partner,

my rock,

my shelter,

and I felt a surge of gratitude,

a surge of appreciation,

a surge of joy,

we sat on the bench,

the same bench where we had met,

the same bench where we had talked,

the same bench where we had fallen in love,

it was a full circle,

it was a beautiful arc,

it was a perfect journey,

I held his hand,

I felt the texture of his skin,

I felt the strength of his grip,

I felt the pulse of his life,

and I knew,

beyond a shadow of a doubt,

that I had made the right choice,

that I had taken the right path,

that I had lived the right life,

and it was enough,

it was more than enough,

it was a treasure,

it was a masterpiece,

it was a life well lived,

and I was content,

utterly,

May you like

When I Came Home From Deployment, My Wife Told the Neighbors, “His Mothe...

CHAPTER 2 – The PerformanceAt exactly seven-thirty the next morning, the smell of coffee drifted through the house.Liam stood at t...

My Husband Said He Was Saving Lives In Emergency Surgery—Then I Found Hi...

CHAPTER 2 — THE FILE THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN OPENEDJack froze so suddenly that the blonde woman nearly walked into him."What i...

After five days on the road, I walked into my kitchen and found my wife...

CHAPTER 2: The Truth Waiting Inside My Own HouseMelissa stood up so fast the bowl of apples tipped sideways, sending slices rollin...

profoundly,

peacefully content.