Chapter 105: Whispers of Forever

Taylor realized that the silence that had set in after Alex said those words still had an impact on him. Living together—it was one of the decisions that changed the perspective of their relationship and made her feel a combination of joy and anxiety. She had wanted this, a life linked with Alex’s, but that feeling of the reality coming home was too strong. The rest of the day was spent going through the comfortable cycles of a day in which they would leave parts of their lives behind, which would later blend into one. Alex had advised that they begin by moving a few of her things, indicating that they will add more gradually as they settle for the new arrangement. It made sense, but Taylor understood that every object has meaning—every piece of her she left in his apartment. In the evening, when the orange glow illuminated the apartment, Taylor stood in front of the door of what would be their bedroom. The bed they had rolled off that morning was made, and it seemed to symbolize the changes that were taking place in their lives. Alex materialized by her side and grabbed her shoulders lightly. “What are you thinking?” he whispered gently as he breathed out, his mouth on her ears. Taylor let out a sigh and placed her head against him, her eyes shut as she enjoyed the feeling of his hand on her stomach. “I am considering the fact that everything evolves so quickly. Those changes are good though, but it is just a lot to process.” Alex then adjusted her to face him; his eyes were full of compassion. “Hey, Taylor, it’s okay; you know that we don’t have to rush things. There are no pressures; there is no deadline we are racing against.” This she did, and looking up at him with a feeling of love and tenderness in her heart. “I know, I know... It’s just that up until now, this is what I’ve always and now that it is here, the feeling scares me a bit. What if I’m not good at this? What if I get it wrong? ” Alex looked at her and smiled, putting his hands on her cheeks tenderly. “Taylor, you are more than enough. We will mess up, of course, so we will learn along the way. That is the beauty of all of this—creating something with another person and with all the flaws. ” She could not understand why he was saying all this, and the genuine tone in his voice stirred her up deep inside, and Taylor started to cry. She hugged him and squeezed him as if he was her buoy in this ocean of transition. ‘I have loved you so much, Alex’ she said with a lot of feeling. “I love you too, Taylor,” he whispered softly as his lips lightly touched the side of her head. They hugged for a long time before Alex and finally, as he got a hold of himself, he pulled her close. “You remember that thing I told you about?” “Yes,” I responded warily. ‘Well I have something I want to show you,” he said in a very mysterious tone. Taylor went after him to the living room; the man had laid down a small, beautifully wrapped box on the coffee table. He also raised the curiosity in her; she looked at him, especially when he was irritated. "What’s this?" “Go on, open it, and see,” Alex replied with a smile on his face as he moved backward to give her some space. Taking a deep breath, Taylor delicately removed the wrapping from the box and slowly lifted the lid. Lying there was a small and pretty silver key that reflected the bulb light in the room. She raised her eyes to Alex and quickly she felt a cocktail of confusion and anticipation churning in her stomach. “It is the essence of our home,” Alex said softly, his words laden with feelings. “I got it made for you, for us. It is the life we are going to build together.” Taylor’s breath caught in her throat, the significance of the gesture washing over her. It wasn’t just a key—it was a promise, a commitment to the life they were about to build together. She took the key in her hand, feeling its cool, smooth surface against her skin. "Alex, this is…" she trailed off, struggling to find the right words. "It’s perfect. I don’t know what to say." "You don’t have to say anything," Alex replied, his eyes soft as he watched her. "Just know that I’m all in, Taylor. This is our home now, and I want it to be filled with all the love and happiness we’ve shared." Tears welled up in Taylor’s eyes, and she blinked them back, overwhelmed by the depth of her feelings for him. She stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and pressed her lips to his in a tender, lingering kiss. It was a kiss that spoke of all the love she held in her heart and all the dreams she had for their future together. When they finally pulled away, Taylor held up the key, a smile spreading across her face. "To our home," she said, her voice filled with quiet joy. "To our home," Alex echoed, his smile matching hers. The moment was perfect, but as they stood there, basking in the warmth of their shared happiness, a thought suddenly occurred to Taylor. She bit her lip, her brow furrowing as she considered the implications of this new step. "Alex," she began hesitantly, "what about the future? I mean, I know we’re talking about living together, but... What comes after that? Have you thought about it?" Alex’s expression grew serious, and he took her hand, leading her to the couch. They sat down, their fingers intertwined, as he contemplated her question. "I have thought about it," he admitted. "A lot, actually. I know we’ve been through so much together, and it hasn’t always been easy. But every time I think about the future, I see you in it. I see us together, building a life, a family." Taylor’s heart skipped a beat at his words, a mix of excitement and nervousness swirling in her chest. "A family?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. Alex nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Yes, family. I know it’s a big step, and I don’t want to rush anything. But I want you to know that I see that with you, Taylor. You’re the one I want to build a life with, in every sense." The sincerity in his voice took Taylor’s breath away, and she felt a surge of love for him that was almost overwhelming. She had never been more sure of anything in her life than she was in that moment. "Alex," she began, her voice trembling with emotion. "I want that too. I want all of it—with you." Alex’s face lit up with a radiant smile, and he pulled her into a tight embrace. They sat there, wrapped in each other, the promise of their future hanging in the air like a beautiful, unspoken vow. In that moment, Taylor knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, hand in hand, their love stronger than ever before.