Page 40 of To Feel Like This Again
“I do.”
And she pecks me on the cheek.
Scene 4 was to have been recorded on May 7, 2019, the day I planned to propose to her in front of our closest friends.
It ends abruptly.
Scene 4 instead was completed on May 28, 2019 at her funeral service.
I got down on my knee, facing the casket. The congregation in the church became silent. So, silent, you could hear the ceiling fans spinning.
“Hey, Samantha… Would you like to spend the rest of your life with me?”
“I do,” the congregation responded.
And her mother, Linsday Dixon, came over and pecked me on the cheek.
Overcome after placing the ring beside her picture on the casket, I fell to the ground.
Chapter 24
Nicholas
Three weeks later, Emily and I becomereallyofficial after we both agree to post a picture on our respective Instagram accounts, with me standing behind her, my arms wrapped around her waist. The picture the waitress took for us at the Italian restaurant. Because… Are you really a couple in 2024 if you haven’t posted a picture of you and your partner on Instagram?
To let my grandma know what’s up, I also post said picture on Facebook. But Grandma couldn’t remember her password or login credentials or her email password to retrieve password; so, for her, I make it my profile picture on WhatsApp.
On the gram, the caption read:I will always share my pasta with you.
Within a matter of seconds, my quiet Instagram account with only 394 followers — up 20 followers since meeting Emily as her friends wanted a peek into my life — blows up with notifications. In the chaos, I notice Lisa has liked the picture… and commented:
Beautiful couple! I love you both!
And then she sends me a DM:
Congrats, you are perfect for each other!
And then she follows up with a WhatsApp message (in theagreedcode we discussed at one of our coffee dates):
Are you free to meet online to discuss last month’s P&L for your division?[translation:Can you fly to NY on the weekend?]
Yes, I’m available to meet.
Do you prefer Zoom or Microsoft Teams?
[translation: Zoom is Saturday; Microsoft Teams is Sunday]
Zoom is good for me.
What day and time?
[translation:The day indicates one of the seven hotels identified. The time indicates what time she should meet me at the hotel]
Wednesday @ 3pm JA time. Thanks.
Chapter 25
Nicholas
