AN: Well guys, here's the epilogue. Thank you so much for all the reviews.
Ventje, you're getting all the credit for the idea. Dank je wel voor jou.
Rabb Residence
Rosslyn, VA
1643 hours local
Five years later
I push the back door open with my shoulder and walk out onto the back porch. Smile at Harm who's playing with Levi, and settle myself with a wide awake four-month-old on the steps. It's been five years. Five long years since I let Harm in completely. Five years since I took that giant leap of faith and let him show me that I was worth it.
As much as the past four years have been great, it's also been a crazy journey. I've had my ups and downs, and somewhere deep down inside I'll always have a problem with it, but I've learned to cope and won't let it affect me as much as it used to. Which is good.
Short before we got engaged, Harm gave me a present. One out of million presents, really, because he's always been amazingly generous to me. But this present was, I think, one of the best I've ever had. It's safely tucked away in the top drawer of the desk in the office upstairs. It's a list. A list I've memorized over time. A list he made because he wanted me to know why I was special to him. Why I still am, and always will be.
You'll always put others in first place to yourself.
Harm looks up to me and winks. "She's slept long," he says, directing to the bundle of joy in my lap.
I nod. "Just like someone else I know."
You're there when I need you to be.
You know how to keep me grounded, more than you know.
Although we've been keeping each other grounded for the past few years, I think that I don't know how much I'm influencing him. I'm not really sure that I will ever know what I mean to him. But you know, that's fine. That's okay. I know he values me, more than I can comprehend.
You were important to yourself when you decided to go into therapy. All you needed was a little backup.
You challenge me to be a better person.
Levi comes running over to me, almost crashing in my lap.
"Hey there, big guy." I smile and stroke over his head. "Were you having fun with daddy?"
He nods. "Hey, Hailey," he greets his little sister.
Like me, you want to fight for what is right, and you do it with so much passion and determination, that you keep surprising me, every single day.
Because you trusted me enough to tell me what exactly it was that was bothering you.
Harm picks him up and sits down next to us.
Even your dumb antics are funny. That's why I never make you stop singing.
Hailey reaches for my necklace and I softly entangle her fingers from it. "Don't you dare to break that, Hailey Rose," I softly say. "That's a very special necklace."
Looking up to my husband, his eyes are smiling. I've come a long way. A very long way. And I still have a way to go. But now I know that there will be people with me, who will love me unconditionally, no matter what. That realization took a whole while to sink in, but here I am. And I'm a better person for knowing it.
Which brings me to the bottom of the list. The most important reason, Harm says.
Most importantly, you're special because you're letting me love you. And I'm honored that you do.
The End