Green has always been my favorite color.
Green is him.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathe, gazing at the ring. This moment feels like my very own fairytale come to life, with his as my prince.
Madden carefully takes the ring from the box and slides it onto my finger. The weight of it a symbol of the bittersweet road we’ve traveled to get here and a promise of the future we’re about to build together. “Now…” he whispers, his rough voice filled with love. “It’s official. You’re mine, Wild One.”
“You’re… only ever yours,” I whisper, my heart full.
“Fuck yeah,” he grins, his joy matching mine.
And as the fireworks explode above us, lighting up the sky in vibrant bursts of green— only green, I feel overwhelmed with joy and love. I’ve never been this happy. Only ever with him.
I look at him now smiling so bright that I can’t help but think that his smile outshines every firework, and at this moment, with a million stars above looking down at us, I know this is just the beginning of a big great adventure with the man I love.
Just as more fireworks burst in the sky, familiar voices fill the air.
No way…
“W-what?” I whisper in disbelief.
My family appears from the shadows, their faces glowing under the green explosions in the sky. My mother leads the way, her eyes shining with happy tears. She’s flanked by my father, who looks at me with so much pride and love. Behind them, my uncles, aunts, their husbands, and my grandpa Cathan with his wife, my aunt Maeve all emerge, their laughter and cheers blending with the sounds of the night.
“Happy New Year!”
Congratulations, sweet girl!”
“Cheers!”
I see my Ella, holding baby Jax in her arms, while her husband Shaw has Halley on his shoulders. Both my cousin and her husband are grinning ear to ear. I spot Aza walking hand in hand with his blue haired dream and my cousin Artemis glowing beside a man I’ve only ever seen on the TV.
Wow…
That’s…new.
“Surprise!” they shout in unison, their voices ringing out, blending with the fireworks above.
I beam at all of them, so happy they’re here, and they get to spend this monumental and special moment with us.
God, I’ve missed them so much.
Tears of happiness well up in my eyes as I laugh, the warmth of their presence making everything feel even more magical. What a beautiful surprise.
Madden—my fiancé— throws his arms around me, pulling me close with a wide grin, and together, we look at every one of my family members, their faces glowing with joy. “Are you happy, fairy?” he asks softly.
I nod, my heart full to the brim. The moment feels too perfect to be real.
I lift my gaze to the black eyes I love more than science and whisper, my voice thick with emotion, “The happiest I’ve ever been, Madden. Because my happiness is you.”
And just like that, the countdown hits zero, the New Year begins— and with it, a new and magical life with the man who painted the world green for me and made me believe in happily ever after.
My champion.
My grinch.
My heart.
My Madden.