It all started with an Amaryllis

Gisela Gonzales 

3/24/2021

It was a time like no other, the summer has just begun. Nevertheless, I had high hopes for this summer. I mean, after all, you’re not a teenager for long, I must enjoy it while I can. Next year life will change, college will begin. This is my last summer stress-free. High school graduation was great. Those four years had gone by flying. It should be noted that I barely had time to reminisce over all the great memories I had created. To think I made great friendships in four years, can’t believe I came in knowing nobody. It's been a week since then; however, I have only kept in contact with two people. Friends come and go. Friendships are like the leaves on the tree some fall and some stay. I learned that early in life which was for the best. The past week I had just been working double shifts to be able to save up to buy my dream car. In addition to that, I haven’t yet gotten the chance to go out and party. To be fair my friends had invited me, I had just been a bit busy. So that night my friends thought it would be a good idea if we went to a party to clear our minds, especially mine. I had been super stressed out. If everything turns out right the party tonight should be great. I was so excited to go. I got ready just did my hair and headed out with my friends by nine. However, what I was not expecting was to meet someone that would forever change my plans. 

We were at the party having the time of our lives. We were dancing, eating, just vibing in general having a great time catching up with friends I haven’t seen since graduation. One of my friends asked me to dance handing me these gorgeous flowers as well. I said “ of course, thanks for the flowers”, not thinking much about dance or the flowers. Little did I know that dance and that first gesture was the beginning of forever. We danced all night long together. Thankfully we got each other‘s rhythm and ended up going to eat later that night with each other. He began texting the morning after but it was different. It wasn’t how we would usually talk to each other in a friendly way. We began to talk on a different level, we would stay up until three-four in the morning talking to each other. The more we talked the more I wanted to know. I was so intrigued by him, he would get me the same flowers he gave me the first time every time we saw each other without expectation on the day. About two weeks after talking texting back-and-forth going on dates he met my family and I met his parents as well. Both our families embraced us with open arms, I was close with his mom as he did with my dad. Our families began to tease us saying things like “So when’s the wedding?” “Come on we want another family member!” Summer came to an end but I of course didn’t want it to end. Obviously, I did not want to lose something wonderful I had just gained. Thankfully we managed to work things out between his job, my school, and my job. We always found time for each other. Just once that I thought things to be perfect I got the surprise of a lifetime. A proposal! 

It was a proposal like I had always dreamed of, it was even better than I could’ve ever imagined. The day he proposed to me was off everyone was acting so weird, now I know why. At that time; although, I did not know why I was getting very frustrated. They had distracted me by sending in my two sisters, my mom, and my mother-in-law. We went to get our nails done. After we went to get our nails done we met up with my favorite cousin. I didn’t think much of it because I want to see her almost every weekend. We later went to go shopping. Where they all were encouraging me to buy this beautiful dress that was over-the-top fancy. I ended up buying the dress. That’s when I got a text message from my fiancé that said “ Get ready, we’re going to a super fancy restaurant.” I told all the girls about it and I ended up replying “ We’re all going too! So let’s go eat super fast so we can get ready!” I was a little skeptical as to why they were tagging along that didn’t matter. We got home and my sister insisted on doing my makeup and hair. I ended up saying yes because I couldn’t deal with her nagging anymore. It was time to head out for dinner, I had my dress, my over-the-top makeup look. When we were about three minutes away from the restaurant they said I had to close my eyes that it was a surprise. Me not thinking much about it did as I was told. We were walking into the venue or I thought we were walking into the venue when I started to hear a band playing super close to me. That’s when they took off my blindfold and I saw him, the band, and a big sign saying “MARRY ME.” He was on one knee with our flower which opened up with my ring!

I couldn’t have been more ecstatic about it. I of course said “YES!” I never in a million years would have thought that I would end up falling in love with my friend let alone marry him. Wedding planning had just begun so it was very hectic and exciting. I of course had to incorporate our flower the amaryllis. They would be the whole theme of the wedding because with that flower he gained my heart. We only plan to get married once so we were going over the top with this wedding. I had two dresses a ceremony dress and a party dress. We planned our wedding in less than six months. I had everything I dreamed of not materialistic wise but I was so genuinely happy to spend the rest of my life with my other half. The day of the wedding came super fast it was unbelievable. The wedding was great. Both of our parents were crying say how proud they were of us, that they are so blessed that we found each other. The party was spectacular something I had never dream of even in my wildest dreams. About two months after we got married we got our own house, and we got a blessing a little baby was on the way. We had the first girl on his side of the family. She was very spoiled from both sides of the family. We decided to name her after our flower the Amaryllis. She will forever represent our love. We only planned on two children so we’ll see when the other one comes, it’s been about seven years since and I couldn’t be happier I am so glad I followed my heart and had my own happily ever after!