198. Imagine a lady standing in the middle of a pool of flames, desperate for a way to safely escape the danger beset upon her. When all hope seems lost, a knight in shining armor astride a magnificent steed breaks through the flickering pyre and rescues the helpless lady. She is grateful for the greatest gift of a second chance at life given to her by this handsome and courageous stranger, a stranger she repays with a kiss and a promise- that her heart will be his alone. Then comes happily ever after. Reality hits. I am not this lady. And you are not this knight. We're just two ordinary people, not characters out of a fairy tale; with far more ordinary lives and flaws sometimes too many to count. You've had your heart broken even by me and somehow have pieced it together like a jigsaw puzzle. You're never there the moments I need the most rescuing, making me wonder if I attract these seemingly bad elements naturally. And I am left to fend for myself at times. These moments challenge us. They make us grit our teeth and wonder if this is really worth it in the end. They taunt us and call us names, calling out to us... are you willing to fight for this? Whatever 'this' is still highly changeable no matter how good the outlook and bright the horizon. A risk. A dare. The very word life has an 'if' right at the center of it. Our world doesn't revolve around us, and can so easily break apart at the mere snap of unseen fingers just as easily as it has fallen into place for us. And again comes the question, in spite of everything, are you willing to go on and tell the world with the greatest confidence, that you knew I would fight for you? Some nights I wish our lives were easier, that I knew what went on inside your head and you'd know what's really inside my heart. Face it, words can be empty and can potentially form terrible lies. But do you know what's truly amazing though? It's not how long we've lasted together, nor our undeniable chemistry. It's our complete willingness to be led and to lead. To hurt and be hurt. To fight until the center of our chests tighten and our hearts feel like they could explode and we are out of breath. And although I face some of my battles alone, wearing my own kind of armor, that at the end of the day, I can simply run into the safety of your arms and all is right with the world. And you have that special trait that allows you to show your vulnerability to me without the least sense of insecurity. Two people just loving each other the the best way they know how. Breathless and dizzy and giddy for the next chapters in their story. Yes, we are ordinary people but our love is indeed something extraordinary. Something real. Something to fight for. To die for. I would die for you any day. Any day at all.
