Page 9 of I Survived and will rise again

I lay my head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his words seep into me. After being kept apart for eight years, the stars aligned, bringing Donnie and me back together. However, now we must face another separation, but this time, it is our choice. I can handle his absence, and the thought that I might never see him again no longer haunts me.

Donnie tightens his hold on me as if he knows the impending separation will bring me unbearable pain.

“Come on.” His hands gently cup each of my cheeks, and he leans in to press his cold lips against my forehead, leaving a soft, lingering kiss.

I look up at him, asking, “I don’t want to move,” I whine. “Where are we going?” I have been feeling exhausted lately, and my pregnancy only adds to my exhaustion. The past few weeks have been leaving me feeling completely drained.

“Just get up, woman,” he chastises in a playful tone.

He gathers our empty bowls and throws them in the trash bin. He then secures Sophia in her stroller. He grabs my hand with his free hand, and we walk along the path through the trees. We finally stop at the spray fountain. Sophia immediately spots it and lets out a cry of excitement.

“Yeah, I know.” Donnie chuckles at her reaction.

My heart fills with warmth, and butterflies flutter in my stomach as I watch Donnie treat Sophia as if she is his.

We sit on a nearby bench and watch other children and their parents jumping through the fountain, their joyful screams and laughter filling the air.

Donnie scoops up my daughter from her stroller, and she excitedly wiggles out of his grasp, eager to join in. Donnie hoists her up and jumps into the fountain with her, splashing around and giggling like a kid himself. He looks at me with a wide grin and yells, “Are you going to join us or what?”

I hesitate, not wanting to get my curls wet. If I do, I'll walk out of here looking like a frizz ball. But the happiness spread across Sophia's and Donnie's faces is too hard to say no to. So I go over to them while Sophia continues to shout. Donnie pulls me in without warning, and I'm completely soaked within seconds.

“Donnie! You son of?—”

The sexy jerk just laughs.

But I can’t help but laugh too.

The sun beats down on us, and the fountain’s refreshing water cools us off. We take turns chasing each other, splashing around, and then sit on a nearby bench once we’re worn out.

Donnie reaches behind the stroller and pulls out two fluffy towels. He wraps one around Sophia and hands the other to me. The soft fabric feels warm against my skin, and a smile spreads across my face at Donnie's thoughtfulness.

“You planned this?” I ask, not surprised.

He says nothing, but his mischievous smirk tells me everything I need to know.

“What about you?” I ask, wrapping the towel around myself.

“Don't worry about me. The sun will dry me off,” Donnie says with a wink. He sets Sophia on his lap, and she leans back and soon falls asleep.

“You okay?” he asks, wrapping his arm around me and holding onto Sophia with the other.

“Yeah, I'm good,” I reply, resting my head on his chest near his heart. I feel its steady rhythm and sense his heartbeat start to slow down.

“And you?” I ask.

“I'm good,” he says. I can hear a smile in his voice. I look up at him, and we stare at each other until finally, he gives in and leans in to kiss me, his lips moving slowly and sensually, his tongue twirling around mine.

I am overcome with the sensation of being deeply loved by Donnie. It's like a warm, comforting hug that envelops me and fills me up from the inside out. I feel as though I am floating on a cloud, weightless and carefree. The white noise that once kept me tossing and turning at night has been replaced by a soothing hum, a constant reminder of the deep and abiding love that surrounds me.

The definition of Donnie's love can be defined as:

He accepts me for who I am and loves all my broken pieces because they're the most beautiful.

Every step of the way, he is the guiding star that illuminates the darkest corners of your life, leading you toward a brighter and more fulfilling existence.

He is like a protective mitt, catching all the blows and punches that life throws at you before they can knock you out.

Donnie is the definition of perfection. His love is my refuge, a safe haven to retreat to when the world becomes too much to handle.

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