Just like that, I took off. Twenty minutes later, I was in John's living room. Looking around at all the pictures on the mantle, it was hard to believe that we're the people we are now. That we let things get this bad. That's the thing though; did we really let them get this bad? Or did the things we did and people we were begin changing right before our eyes and we just couldn't stop it from happening? The world continues spinning, and life continues on whether you are happy with the things you do in this world or not.
"Taylor?" I turned around as John came down the staircase. He was clad in a black wife beater and a pair of basketball shorts, his hair still damp from the shower. I smiled remembering all the things we did in there, and all the memories this house, holds; the memories that our hearts hold. It hit me in that moment that this just might be it, depending on whom or what I chose. Maybe I'll do what Kelly did in Beverly Hills, 90210 and choose myself over them. I always thought that was selfish when I was younger, but was it really?
"Hello, John. I thought we should talk."
He found his way right in front of me, and then led me over to the couch. He sat on the new table, placing his hands on my knees. He quickly leaned in and kissed my forehead, and we stayed like that; forehead to forehead, for a few minutes. It was like old times, but I think that's our problem too. We all spend too much time doting on the past and old feelings that we often lose sight of what we want, and where we're going.
"I didn't think you were ever coming back to me. I realized the possibility that I could wake up every day, without you, and that thought hurt-"
"John," I began, but he quickly put down my interruption,
"No, let me finish. I know we aren't the way we used to be. I know we hurt each other, but I forgive you for all of it, and I want you to forgive me too. I've loved you since I first saw you, and knew I wanted you. I told you not long ago that I didn't want to have a family. I was such an ass for even saying that, because I do want a family. I want one and I want it all with you Taylor." I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, John was on one knee, a little black box holding a diamond engagement ring in its embrace.
"Oh my God, John are you-"
"Taylor Lynn Helmsley, will you marry me?"
My heart was pounding profusely in my chest, that I thought I was going to have a heart attack right then and there. I wasn't sure what to say, I mean he offered me everything a girl would ever want. The thing was did I still want the same things? Did I still want them with John Cena? In my heart, I knew the answer. I knew it all along.
An hour later, I stood in front of Hope's gravestone; a place I hadn't been in such a very long time. I cleared more leaves, and the dead flowers, and placed a new bouquet of lilies on the site.
It's almost been a year since she's been gone, and it feels like a lifetime ago that I was able to see her. Hear her laugh, and watch our favorite TV shows together. The wind blew, and I wrapped my grey cardigan tighter around me, cursing myself for not wearing something warmer.
"Hey girlie, I know it has been too long, and I'm so sorry. God, for more than just not seeing you, but I'm sure you're up there watching all of this. I never intended for any of this to happen, and I just pray that you don't hate me for what I'm about to do. We miss you. I miss your laugh, and all your jokes. The way you'd say things that could be taken wrong, with a complete straight face," I wiped at a stray tear and then continued, but most of all, I just miss my best friend." The sound of twigs breaking and leaves crunching made me jump. Looking at the source of the noises that caught me off guard, I saw my Dad walking right towards me.
"Hey baby girl, I knew you'd be here." He pulled me into his arms, and I felt like a little girl again; too small for big girl problems.
"Daddy, how'd you-"
"I just did. I am your father after all."
I nodded and he pulled an envelope out of his pocket. I took it from him questioningly. 'Taylor' was on the front, in handwriting I knew all too well.
"Hope told me to give this to you if something were to happen to her. I lied to you honey, I knew about her condition, but promised to play along. She said to give it to you, when you needed it the most. I figured this would be the time." He knew, but I wasn't mad. Life is too short to spend getting mad at people.
"Okay, I'll read it. Thank you Daddy, I love you." He kissed my head, said no problem, and left. Taking a deep breath, I opened the letter:
'Dear best friend' the note began. I stood there and read it. After I was finished, all my tears were gone, and I was positive of my choice now. I knew it was the right one.
After long lines, I sat there in the local airport with two tickets to Las Vegas. Looking at his number, I pressed send, hoping he would say yes.
Meanwhile both John and Phil sat by their phones, both waiting and hoping that Taylor would call. Punk dropped his daughter off with Randy and Haleigh. John didn't go to the gym. John paced back and forth; Punk was staring out his bedroom window at the snow that slowly was falling. John couldn't believe how badly he fucked up; enough to push her away. He loved that girl with everything he had, but he knew that he needed her more than she'd ever need him; in a relationship that's a scary thought. He wanted a time machine to go back and fix this. They had been through too much; they were together for so long. Closing his eyes, he envisioned Taylor walking down the stairs, all the memories of her and them, and then her face as she walked down the aisle towards him, her Daddy at her side.
As Punk watched the snow fall, he pictured the three of them running around once Emma was old enough to. He could never regret Hope, she meant so much to him, but he couldn't deny the fact that he'd always loved Taylor. He let her go years ago thinking it was what was best; he'd never regret it because he loved his baby girl. Nor could he wish to take back the past months; although he'd never admit it, Punk didn't want to hurt John. He's a good guy, and a good friend. However, the fact was, he never let someone in the way he did Taylor, looking back, maybe not even Hope; though part of him would always love her. Yet, Taylor and John had a history people would be envious of. Taylor needed to call him because truthfully, he didn't know what he or Emma would do without her. That's what scared him most.
John's phone rang and he leaped to it,
"Hello?"
At the same time, Punk answered his phone,
"Yes?"
My breath caught in my throat as his voice answered his phone.
"Hey, it's me. I'm sitting at the airport with two tickets to Las Vegas. Want to get married tonight?"
After the most nerve wrecking phone call of my life, I wondered how things came to this, and whether he'd show, and whether or not I made the right choice. Then as I stood up, and the crowd cleared, I saw his face. The face of the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and when he smiled at me I knew I had made the right choice; no regrets. It was him all along.