Page 71 of Undefeated

“What?” I asked, now standing still a few steps into the living room.

“Just back up one or two steps into the light,” he said as he walked toward the kitchen.

Slowly, I stepped backward two steps.

“Right there, don’t move,’ he said from the edge of the kitchen.

He grabbed his phone and started walking my direction. He stood a few feet in front of me and held his phone in front of him, looking at the screen. As I stood there smiling, he took a few pictures of me with his phone. He looked at the phone, scrolled through the pictures, and knelt down closer to the floor.

He took another picture and looked at the phone, “Perfect.”

“Kace, you’re simply as beautiful of a human being as could ever exist. Looking at you is proof that there is a God, he pays attention to his work, and he appreciates it. I wonder what I have ever done to deserve having the ability to just come home to you every day,” he said as he stood and started at the screen of the phone.

“Look at this,” he said as he held his phone in front of my face and stepped beside me..

I looked at the screen. The girl looking back at me was beautiful. Her hair was blonde and healthy looking. Wearing a new black dress and heels, she looked elegant. Her skin held on to the late summer tan, and was free of blemishes.

I looked at the picture and realized that Shane had changed me. He had made me confident. He gave me reason to believe I was beautiful. He asked me daily, several times, who’s the most beautiful girl in the world? He knew what he was doing.

Looking at the screen of the phone, I realized he was right.

I was beautiful.

And Shane knew it. Long before I realized it, he knew it. He brought it to my attention. He told me over and over, in his own way. And now, he stood beside me showing me. He truly believed I was beautiful for all of this time, and now he was making sure I knew it.

I tried to remember the last time I looked at a picture of myself. I couldn’t even recall the last time. I had no reason to have pictures. Josh’s rules really didn’t let me take, send, or have a reason to have pictures.

“I could just look at you for a lifetime,” Shane said as he turned from looking at the phone to looking at me.

“Do it,” I responded, “Do it.”

“I intend to,” he chuckled as he tossed the phone onto the floor.

“Want me to try on the other dress now?” I asked, standing there a little more confident than before.

“Take that one off, Kace,” he said.

“Want to see the other one?” I asked again, excited to put on the other dress.

“Take it off, Kace. Now, take it off. I can’t take it any longer. Looking at you makes me realize that you’re real. When I’m gone, I tell myself that what I believe may not be totally accurate. That you might not be all of the things that I remember you being before I left. It’s almost like trying to convince myself that I witnessed a miracle. As soon as I return, and see you, I realize that you are real,” he looked at me and shook his head in disbelief

“And here’s the thing, Kace. Every time I come home, every time I meet you for lunch, every time I wake up and look over at you,” he paused and placed his hands on either side of my face.

He held my face and looked into my eyes, “You’re more beautiful than I ever remember you being.”

I melted into a puddle.

“Kace, every time I go somewhere with you, I hold my head high. Proud that you are stepping down to my level – that someone like you will be with someone like me. That someone of your caliber will be with me. I stand beside you proudly, hopeful that I can make you a fraction as happy as you make me. I love you, Kace,” and with that he kissed me softly.

As he pulled away from my lips, he focused on my face, “Off, Kace. Now.”

“Okay, I’ll go grab the other one,” I sighed, still full of emotion from his little speech.

“No,” he said as he grabbed my shoulders and turned me around, facing away from him.

I felt him unzip the zipper of the dress. The dress fell to the floor. He knelt down at my feet, removed my shoes one at a time, and tossed the dress to the side. Dressed in my panties and bra, he led me by my hand into the bedroom.

A certain satisfaction fills me as we walk into the room. I’m satisfied that Shane cares for me enough to buy me gifts, to remind me daily that I am beautiful, and that he desires to take pictures of me to prove that I am as beautiful as he expresses. I’m further satisfied that he loves me – and that he accepts my love in return.