by Kim Bailey
If we hadn’t found each other at our lowest point, if we hadn’t risked living in the moment, we wouldn’t have been able to raise each other up. We found love in the depths of despair. Love gave us our path, it showed us the hope of tomorrow.
We’re still living life day-to-day. We’re always in the here and now.
But we recognize the value of each day, and savor them all, just a bit more than we did before. And we do it all together.
In love.
* * *
Gloriously radiant in her wedding dress, Jamie shines like the beautiful beacon of light that she is. She’s even more stunning than the day I met her, just over two years ago. My brother, standing at her side, beams as well. He looks like the happiest guy on the planet today. Lucky bastard.
Together, the two of them are enough to make even the coldest of hearts melt. The love and devotion they have for each other is kind of disgusting, actually. But in a really good, I’m completely jealous sort of way.
And at first I was completely jealous.
Of Eric mostly. I’d convinced myself that I was in love with Jamie, and seeing the two of them together had eaten away at my heart almost as diligently as the cancer that had been eating away at my body.
But it didn’t take long for me to realize, as perfect as Jamie may be - she’s perfect for my brother, not me. And as strongly as I feel about her, those feelings are a lot more about my near death experience than they are about her.
Being so sick, so uncertain of the future - uncertain if I would even have a future - I was grasping for feelings that weren’t really there. Being fourteen and thinking I was dying had me rushing to experience everything I possibly could. And since my body wasn’t capable of anything daring or adventurous, I let my mind and my heart do all the exploring.
Two years later and I can confidently say, any of my residual jealousy is over the type of love that my brother and his new bride share - and my lack of it.
Not that I’m in a rush any more. Being cancer free is still hard for me to wrap my head around sometimes. I periodically forget that my lifespan has been miraculously expanded. And that’s all thanks to Eric, and the doctors who performed my life saving transplant.
So, instead of being jealous of my brother’s movie worthy love story, maybe I should just continue being really thankful.
Thankful that I’m alive, yes. But also, grateful that Eric remembered to credit me in his wedding speech. Oh, and I’m definitely very appreciative that I can still enjoy how great Jamie looks in her wedding dress.
But most of all, I’m extremely thankful for the type of love that exists in storybooks. I’m glad that it’s real. And I’m happy as hell that my brother managed to find it. Even if he doesn’t believe in fairytales.
I do.
WHAT’S NEXT...
Forbidden Kisses, releasing in 2017 plus,
watch for the continuation of Caleb’s story in Fairytale Kisses, also releasing in 2017
To everyone who took a chance on a first time author – THANK YOU! I can’t express how much it means to have readers enjoy what you do … it’s a dream.
There are many people who helped make this dream of mine become a reality.
Most importantly I need to thank my personal support crew; Suzanne, Vrsha, Kate and Susan. Without these ladies, I would be a complete basket-case. Although, they may tell you that I am one anyway. They listened to my non-stop insecurities, answered my silly questions, and entertained my hair-brained ideas – but most of all, they gave me the best advice, support and encouragement anyone could ever ask for. Thanks for being in my corner ladies – I love you all!
Christy and Angela were gracious enough to read and provide me feedback and encouragement. I appreciate it more than you’ll ever know! Thank you!
My bestie, Amy. She’s not only my full-time support person, but also willingly puts up with my complete neglect of our blog, and my complete radio silence when I’m busy writing. Thanks, babe! I’ll never forget it. CUTO!
My family. They can never be thanked enough. My poor husband and kids have always had to deal with my distracted mind – this writing adventure has really tested the limits of that. Thanks for loving me guys!
Kim Bailey is a Canadian author. She’s a born procrastinator and sarcasm junkie. She gets her motivation from coffee, the fact that her teenage children haven’t disowned her, and the smile on her husband's face when she tells him "maybe".
When she was young and naïve, Kim dreamed of being a documentary filmmaker and script writer. But when real life happened she went to a job that actually paid her. Now she’s a customer support specialist by day and romance writer by night.
Writing is something she’s always done - she has about 20 million half-started story ideas. She may also be a slight exaggerator.
Kim promised herself to set her fears aside and make the dream real. She’s working on that, one day at a time.
CONNECT WITH KIM ONLINE
Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads