My story almost sounds as if it were ‘made-up’ for some ‘made-for-tv’ movie.  I was just about to give up on love and even considered moving out of my hometown when I met Nick.  It was December 29th, 2006 and we had some mutual friends; it wasn’t sheer chance that we were introduced to each other either.  By the end of the night we met, we were inseparable and we remained that way for the rest of his life.  By the end of the second month of dating, he was practically moved in and by the end of the third month, I was completely sure that he was the man I wanted to marry.  I would love to say that we were absolutely perfect, even though everyone tells me that I can’t refer to it that way.  But we were as close as it could come.  We had the same interests and attitude towards just about everything.  What sealed the deal for me, however, was how sweet he was with my six-year-old daughter.  Once I saw the 6-foot 5-inch man be so incredibly gentle, I was in love.  He was absolutely everything I could have asked for in absolutely everyway.  By the time we were approaching our one year anniversary of dating, we were talking about all the major stuff: house, kids, marriage.  But it was real with Nick; it wasn’t just ‘talk’.  We were on the same level and at the same point in our life with common goals and dreams.

So you can imagine my elation when, on December 20th, 2007, right before midnight, he proposed to me in our bedroom.  It was only the beginning.  I remember being so excited that I couldn’t sleep and all I wanted to do was wake people up to tell them the wonderful news.  So we decided to go out on the town the next night to celebrate and show off the beautiful ring that he had picked out himself!  On the following morning, December 22nd, 2007, Nick did not wake up.  Something had happened in his sleep, and his life was taken from him approximately 34 hours after he had proposed to me.

Here I am, several months later, still in disbelief.  I just can not fathom how someone can be stripped of their life during their absolute prime.  I can not fathom how such a beautiful person who was loved and admired by so many, could be taken when he could have served such a purpose here.  He loved life and it just radiated out of his eyes and his smile.  He is still my everything and I refuse to let go of that because the only thing keeping me going, other than my daughter, is hoping that I will one day see him again.

kelly@fineyoungwidows.com