Matty's POV
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So the guy got the girl in the end. I think to myself as I roll up my drawing for the last time. It is complete. Before this whole experience I would have probably been smug, not now though. I'm relieved to have gotten through it and to still be with her at the end.
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This picture has been the hardest yet. It's personal to draw somebody you love. It’s so hard to get it right, I think about the time I spent on my porch ring in my pocket drawing her. The last couple of times that I've worked on it I've just stared at it attempting to add strokes here and there, just to improve its likeness to her. Sometimes over the past couple of weeks I have found myself staring at her, she's easy to watch. Just to work out the line of her mouth when she smiles and how her hair sways. All important details that I needed to capture before I show her it.
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Taylor still has no idea what my drawing is, and I intend on keeping it that way until she sees it. When I quickly moved it out of her eye line the other day she laughed calling me sly and mysterious and then climbed onto my lap telling me she loves me and never to change. I held her hand with my ring on her finger and smiled up at her, we’ve been off grid from everybody else. No parties, no hangouts and no silly drinking games that lead to disaster.
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As I store the picture away I reflect on how I have changed. Moments like this never happened to me before Taylor. I find myself just staring at her long wavy hair, noticing how her skin glows in the morning and how she smiles huddling up to me by the fire in the evening.
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For the first time, I have a constant. I have somebody who is on the same page as me. Somebody to share my life with. A woman that said yes to me. A lady that I will never forsake again.
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On enrolment day for university she wore a blue denim dress as I drove us into campus, we’ve decided to stay at mine together. Since meeting Taylor I have decided that art would be a good course for me to take. Taylor has settled on taking dance and psychology. I glanced at her from over the room as she questioned the university professor about the course.
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Jay made sure to approach her at the desk of course, informing her that they would be in the same psychology class next year. Eyeing the rock on her hand he grinned, I’m sure he just saw it as the ultimate opportunity to take her away. The ultimate game to play.
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Ross threw his arms around her and held onto her for just a fraction too long. He's still staying true to studying English and psychology. Looks like they're both going to share a class with her. Fantastic I think, but then I remind myself that I'm not a possessive prick. Anymore.
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He invited us back to his that night but we politely declined. He's completely in love with her still. I can see it in the way he looks at her, how he likes to be close to her. But I'm no longer angry with him. I can't be, he's been a good friend. He looked out for me and more importantly he looked out for her. He was there for her when I was the bad guy, and he didn't pull any moves on her. He's a better guy than me, no doubt. I know he will not do anything to hurt her ever. He's started riding a motorbike to get to and from uni, and we teased him telling him that he's becoming Jay. He smiled and told me to fuck off. I clapped him on the back, glad that we can still share our same banter that we always used too.
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So we will all be at the same university next term. All of us. Taylor is living with me again, and has decided to look for a car. She has been going on about the logistics of us having different lecture times. I chuckled, telling her I would happily drive her around all the time. She still doesn't realise just how in love with her I am. Even with a ring on her fingers. The strange thing now is that instead of feeling out of depth with my feelings. I feel in control of them.
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Love used to have no place in my life. I felt completely unable to have feelings for anybody. Yet now her love has become integral to me. Her love is something I protect at all costs.
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I finish hiding the canvas of my beautiful fiancée, until I decide on the right moment to show her. The aim is that she will see herself through my eyes. I’ve added the last thing to the picture in order to complete it, her engagement ring. I only hope I've captured her perfectly. Turning to face her as she walks into the living room, I gaze at her and realise not only is she the love of my life. She’s my muse.