One Year Before Eve and Mike's Wedding – Selena's Perspective
Holding Felix's hand, we stepped out of the psychiatric clinic together, ignoring the curious stares from the people passing by.
I didn't care what anyone thought. Not about him. Not about us.
Let them whisper. Let them judge.
I was with him—not because I felt sorry for him, not out of obligation—but because I loved him. And I was going to stay by his side, no matter how long it took, no matter how hard it got. I would be his anchor, his light, his calm in the storm.
I attended every session with him, never letting him walk into that building alone. I wanted him to feel seen, to feel supported, and to know, without question, that he didn't have to fight this battle by himself.
Felix had been through hell—more than most people could even imagine. And now he was climbing out of it, one trembling step at a time. He needed love, care, patience. And I would give him all of it.
My parents didn't see it that way.
When I finally told them the truth—why I had really left—they were furious. They didn't understand how I could "throw my life away" for someone like him. Mentally ill, they said, like it was a curse. A stain. But they didn't know him. Not the way I did. They didn't understand that he was my happiness, that he wasn't ruining my life—he was the reason I wanted to live it more fully.
I was an adult now. I saw things differently. I saw him differently.
I loved him, and I wanted to walk with him—into the light, into the shadows, wherever the road led.
Since starting the proper treatment and medication, Felix had changed. He was calmer, more centered. Still fragile sometimes, still haunted—but he was himself again. And I couldn't imagine a life without him.
Every day I dreamed of a future together—starting a family, leaving the darkness behind. Healing. Fully. Together.
I squeezed his hand a little tighter.
"I think you should go home," he murmured suddenly, avoiding my eyes. "Spend some time with your parents. I already feel guilty that they hate me."
I stopped walking and stared at him.
"No," I said sharply. "I'm an adult. I make my own decisions, and I know what's best for me. I love my parents, yes, but I also love you—and I won't let anyone insult you or blame you for something that isn't your fault. When they're ready to respect my choices and apologize for the things they've said, then maybe I'll consider going back."
He sighed, his voice heavy with guilt. "They love you, Selena. Of course they're worried. They're good people… maybe you just can't see it right now."
"Felix…"
"I don't want to be the reason your relationship with them falls apart. Please, just talk to them. For me. Maybe if you see them face to face, it'll change things."
I hesitated, then muttered, "I'll think about it."
Ahead of us, Sebastian stood beside his car, arguing with a woman who looked moments away from tears. A scratch on his bumper was apparently the cause—and judging by his tone, it may as well have been the end of the world.
"How can you drive like that? Did you win your license in a bag of chips?!" he snapped, raking a hand through his hair like he was ready to pull it out.
"I-I'm so sorry, sir… I didn't mean—maybe we can come to an understanding?" she stammered.
"Understanding? Lady, I saw you fixing your hair in the mirror instead of looking where you were going! This is dangerous! What if a child had run behind you?! What if—"
I glanced at Felix, who was watching the scene with narrowed eyes.
"I swear," he muttered, "he's trying to become my brother. Why can't he just let her go? It's a scratch. She looks like she's about to faint."
I smirked. "He's just really attached to that car. He treats it like a girlfriend, you know."
Felix rolled his eyes but said nothing.
That evening, the warmth lingered in the air as we strolled along the shoreline, hand in hand, the sun dipping low behind the waves. Everything looked peaceful—perfect, even—but Felix had been quiet the entire walk. I'd tried several times to spark conversation, but he only gave half-hearted replies, distant and distracted.
Finally, he stopped walking. His hand tugged gently at mine, turning me to face him.
"Can we be serious for a moment? Really serious and honest?" His voice trembled just enough to make my stomach tighten.
"I'm always honest with you," I said softly.
He looked into my eyes, and I saw something raw behind his.
"How do you really imagine a life with me, Selena?" he asked. "I know the prognosis is good. The doctors say that with the right treatment, I can have a stable life. But it's genetic. What if one day you want children? I think about that all the time. I'm terrified of passing it on. I'm terrified of becoming like my mother. And the thought of our child suffering…"
He looked away, swallowing thickly before continuing.
"I want all of it. A future with you. A family. I want to grow old and die in your arms. But I don't want to be selfish. You deserve more than uncertainty. More than a maybe. You understand… don't you?"
My heart cracked just hearing the fear in his voice. I reached up, gently cupping his face.
"Felix," I whispered. "I don't want perfection. I want you. I know the risks. I know it won't always be easy. But I'd rather walk through fire with you than live a quiet life with anyone else. We'll figure out the rest—together. I promise."
His eyes closed, and I felt him exhale against my palm. Maybe it wasn't the answer he expected. But it was the truth. My truth.
Because loving him had never been a burden.
It was the most courageous, beautiful thing I had ever done.
Tears welled in my eyes—not from his words exactly, but from the sorrow beneath them. The way he looked at himself. The fear rooted so deeply inside him.
"Felix," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion, "I made that decision a long time ago. I want to be by your side until the end of my days. I only see you in my future. And yes—I am ready to start a family with you someday."
I stepped closer, placing my hand on his chest, where his heart beat fast beneath my fingers.
"Never compare yourself to your mother again. You're not her. You're a different person—a beautiful person—who was hurt by her. But that pain doesn't define you. It never has. I believe in you. And if we do have children one day, I know you'll be an incredible father."
He looked at me as if I'd just shattered the chains holding him back.
"I love you with all my heart," I went on, "and I accept everything about you—including the parts you try to hide. That beautiful, chaotic mind of yours? I wouldn't change a single thing."
His mouth parted like he wanted to respond, but he hesitated.
"I would let you go," he said eventually, voice trembling. "If I truly thought that you'd be happier without me… I would. Even if it broke me into a million pieces. No one else could put those pieces back together again. But I wouldn't hold on to you out of fear. Not like I did when I was younger. I still feel ashamed of that. For the way I hurt you. I can't forgive myself."
"You have to forgive yourself, Felix," I said softly. "Because I forgave you a long time ago."
I took his hands in mine, feeling the way they trembled slightly.
"And I'll say this one last time—you are a wonderful person. I love you more than life itself. And no matter what anyone says or what we face, I only ever see my future with you."
A soft, radiant smile spread across his face, and for a moment he looked like a boy again—hopeful, vulnerable, glowing with love. He leaned down and kissed my forehead, his hands gently cradling my face.
"I'm glad a good angel watches over me," he whispered, "and let me find my way back to you."
The sea behind us shimmered with gold and rose tones, and everything felt suspended—perfect, for once.
Then, to my complete shock, he pulled something from the pocket of his jeans. A small box.
My breath caught.
He opened it slowly, revealing a delicate ring that sparkled in the fading light.
"So," he said, eyes locked on mine, "are you willing to give me a chance to start our life together?"
For a second, I couldn't speak. My heart swelled so full I thought it might burst. All I could do was nod, tears spilling freely as he slipped the ring onto my finger.
I threw my arms around him, burying my face in his neck. He wrapped himself around me, his lips pressing into my hair.
"We don't have to rush," he whispered, voice thick with emotion. "But I need you to know—you're the biggest part of my future."
I held him tighter, my heart pounding with love, with relief, with everything I had dreamed of finally blooming in real time.
"I love you too, Felix," I whispered. "More than anything."