The day included pictures, games, and dancing. My parents left after dinner. Both Taylor and I had moments that were stressful. A popping balloon made us both flinch. I wouldn’t let her out of my sight and she seemed to be gripping her phone tightly. This wasn’t just a reunion, it was an anniversary of trauma. When we were all exhausted from the day, we headed home.

I held Taylor’s hand and kept sneaking peeks at her face. She was glowing despite the blips of sadness in our day.

The posse of friends that came back to Taylor, Parker, and Tinsley’s apartment was overflowing. Teddi, Ruffian, Gaze and Pixie, a huge group of Gaze’s basketball friends, and a few of Ruffian’s crew from when he was on the streets.

I stood on the coffee table and held up my hand to get everyone’s attention.

“Thank you. Thank you for coming here. I don’t know if you all know the reason we’re dressed as brides, but it's because my sister and brothers never let a guy stand alone, even if he’s wearing a skirt.”

The hooting and hollering picked up, and I stepped down from the table. Taylor’s beautiful smile was like a beacon that I had to be near.

She was close to her bedroom door, and when I was in arm’s reach, she pulled me inside.

The room was very her. It was soft and a little edgy and smelled like warm cinnamon.

I stepped up to her, now alone. “Hello, beautiful.”

She tilted her head up at me. “Hello, handsome. I’ve missed you.”

I put my hands on either side of her, as she put her back against the door. “I missed you, too. I’ve said goodbye to him. Finally healed. Finally.”

“I’m glad.” She straightened my lapels.

“Have you healed?” I searched her face, the pristine skin luminescent in the soft light.

Resolve built in her gaze. “I’ve grown, but the only healing I could do was learn how to do without you.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “And I failed at that.”

I echoed her, “I’m glad.” I leaned my head down and nuzzled her face, letting my nose trail up her jaw to her earlobe. “I learned that I wanted to feel this again. With you. I wanted a love that didn’t hurt.”

She took in a quick, sharp breath and held it.

I ran my thumb over her lips and then touched my forehead to hers. “Breathe for me.” She exhaled and I heard the shakiness there. “May I kiss you? You can say no. I’m yours, no matter what.”

Her eyebrows pushed together. She put her hands on either side of my face. “Say that again.”

“I’m yours.” I felt my smile matching hers. My heart swelled at her joy. I felt my soul matching hers.