I switch off the light before I leave the room and head downstairs to our bedroom.
Quietly, I take my clothes off and climb into bed, trying to not disturb Wendy, but she's such a light sleeper. She blinks, still half-asleep, but her lips curve into a beautiful smile when she sees me.
"Everything okay?"
"Yes," I smile, nodding my head, relieved at how much I mean that. "Everything is great, baby."
"Okay..." Wendy trails off sleepily. I shift closer to her, careful of her hip, and carefully wrap myself around her.
My head is buried in her neck, breathing in her warm vanilla scent deeply.
She hums and lifts her arms to pull me in even tighter, never close enough unless we're melded together. I hum in return and kiss her neck, and she turns her head to press her lips to mine.
"I love you, Atlas," she sighs, nuzzling her nose against mine.
"I love you, Wendy," I rumble back, "Always have."
"Always will."
My wife, my Wendy, my love, my life, my everything...
My cornerstone.
EPILOGUE
Wendy
October
The thing about healing is that it's slow.
It needs to be. You can't force it, you can't cut corners, whether you've been hurt physically or emotionally.
I've been hurt both ways over this last year, but as I sit here, next to my husband at our bi-weekly couple's therapy appointment, I feel whole and healed and so damn happy.
I have zero regrets for forgiving my husband.
My hand is in Atlas', his big paw warm and soothing as his thumb strokes mine.
Catching his gaze, I give him a bright smile. He returns with a wink that promises me a good time later. Good times have definitely been had, especially since I was cleared for sex back in July.
Physical therapy is hard, and I'm still attending once a week, down from three, as I had to get used to walking again.
I've started doing Yoga with Taylor and Bonnie, which has really been helping with strengthening my legs and hips again. Atlas seems to like the firmness and flexibility I've acquired now.
My physical pain mirrors my emotional pain, as both flare up sometimes when I least expect them, but my husband and my children are always there to ease me through it.
When I think of last year, being alone, feeling insecure and guilty all the time, it hurts, but it's more like an echo that I suspect will fade completely one day.
That's also the thing about healing—it's day by day.
Some days I feel good, whole, and happy; other days, broken down and drained.
But that's life, and some of it is out of our control.
Life is really just one battle after the next.
The thing is, though, when you have the right people beside you, it doesn't feel as daunting. Especially since I always have Atlas in my corner. He understands me and the work I do for us clearly now, so our new normal has been wonderful.
