I have come so far in the last couple of years. I have no fear, no trepidation as I sit here on the window seat, looking out onto the sandy white beach.

I feel strong, revived, but more importantly, I feel beautiful. I never thought that would ever be possible. But I do. I feel truly beautiful. I feel beautiful with Austin. I feel truly beautiful with him… within myself.

The voice is still with me. I know he will never leave. But today, all I hear is a peaceful silence from my mind and the wonderful soft lullaby of the birdsong drifting in from outside my room.

I’ve never had such peace.

My journey with you has been hard and long and, more than I’d like, full of grief. But today, surrounded by my closest friends and family, I feel joyful and happy that this is my life.

I now understand that unless you have traveled an uneasy road, you fail to appreciate what is truly important. For me, this is accepting myself, flaws and all. But it’s also love. Being completely, head over heels in love with the person who, despite it all, makes you feel like the most beautiful girl on Earth.

I know after today, I will never be alone with my fears. I know after today, my heart will be complete, joined eternally to the only man who has ever known how to love me in the way I needed to be loved.

He saved me. I saved him.

And he has made me the happiest woman alive.

I once vowed that I would never fall again. But today, I fall willingly.

I have fallen hopelessly in love with the Italian tattooed bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. And I fall into his protective, open arms with one hundred percent abandon.

Tonight officially marks the beginning of my beautiful new life.

My imperfectly perfect ever after.

And tonight, under the burnt-orange glow of the Hawaiian sunset, on the white powdered beach, and against the sounds of the rippling blue sea, I will cherish the sweetest, most beautiful fall…

With Austin Carillo, my home.

The End