A Beautiful Struggle (27 page)

“What’s this?” I asked him immediately,
forgetting to start with ‘hi, it’s been ages. How have you been?’

He looked down and laughed, “I’m a personal
trainer now.”

I did a double take, “What? What about
becoming a barrister?”

He continued to smile and shook his head.
“That was my father’s dream for me. After you left, I did a lot of
soul-searching and decided to make my own path.”

“Wow, that’s amazing Elliot. I'm really
happy for you.”

“Looks like congratulations is owed to you
as well,” he said nodding towards the engagement ring on my left hand. “Is that
from David?” I nodded briefly. David had proposed the night we graduated, and I
had gladly accepted.

“Oh thank you, the wedding is a while off,
but everything else is great.” He smiled forlornly and met my eyes, “How about
you? How are things with you?”

A sadness seemed to linger just behind his
eyes as he searched my face in the moments before he answered. “Well, I don’t
really speak to my dad anymore – which really is a good thing; and I’m seeing
someone now. It took a while – and she’s not you... but things are ok. I’m
certainly not ready for a commitment like that yet,” he laughed uneasily,
nodding at my ring again.

I could see the man Elliot was training
standing away from us with his hands on his hips puffing and looking over.
“Well, I had better let you get back to it. It was nice to see you again Evan.”

He laughed, it had been a long time since I
had called him that, but there was little humour in the sound. “You too
Katrina. I'll see you around, if not – have a great life!” He gave me a
despondent half smile and ran off, returning to his client. I watched him
gracefully run away from me, feeling friendly affection and a slight sadness
for him before I continued on my way.

Seeing me again was obviously still hard on
Elliot, I was so glad that he finally stood up to his father. He did it too
late to make any difference to his and my relationship but at least when the
next time he found love, it wouldn’t matter what her address was.

I looked at the ring that David had given
me and remembered how he had proposed. The jewellery box was underneath his
graduation cap and when I came over to him with my degree in hand, he had
started complaining that his hat was hurting and asked me to check it for him.
When he removed his hat and handed it to me; I noticed the box and looked at
his face, wondering if it was what I thought it was.

With quivering hands, I opened it, gasping
as he got down to his knee and asked me to marry him. I burst into happy tears
and said yes, holding my still shaking hand out for him to slide the ring onto
my finger. Our families were around us to witness the moment along with a few
others from the ceremony, applauding when we kissed each other. It was corny
and beautiful and so very David.

As I continued to run along the path, I
thought about all the events that had led me to where I was now, my
relationship with Christopher, spending time with Elliot and discovering my
love for David; it was a difficult and very emotional time, but it got me where
I was, so I wouldn’t change a thing, not for all the money in the world.

The end

A Note from the Author:

Thank you for reading
A Beautiful
Struggle

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Lilliana Anderson