If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it truly was meant to be.

Pulling up into the driveway of what looked like a group home, Samantha turned off her car, taking a moment to gather herself before she starts crying again. One deep breath later, she grabbed the picture (just in case he doesn't recognizes her, she has changed, and he probably has too said a little part of her), and walked to the door.

A knock caused shouting in the house. She blinked, startled from the door opening so fast. Heart beating loudly, she blinked again, missing how an older black lady ushered the little girl away from the door.

"What can I do for you, dear?" The lady asked, kindness lacing her voice and features.

"Oh, um, well," Samantha closed her eyes, taking a breath to clear her thoughts. "Is Derek Morrison here?" Samantha's blue eyes searching the woman's in front of her.

The woman in front of her looked cautious. "How do you know him?" She asked, glaring at the heads that peered around the corner.

Samantha smiled slightly, a little confused about the attention. "I knew him in high school." She answered, handing over the picture she had held so tightly.

The woman studied the picture, looking surprised and a little happy? She quickly looked back at Samantha, beckoning her inside. "Come in, child."

She didn't have time to protest before she was pulled into the house, door shutting behind her.

~

Derek was tired. After a long day of shopping with some of the girls of the house, he had a reason why. Once he pulled the van into the driveway, he rubbed his face tiredly as the girls (all seven of them from age seven to fifteen) jumped out of the van, grabbing the bags and running into the house through the front door.

Derek sighed, watching them go. His dark brown eyes caught sight of an older car he had never seen before. He didn't have time to think about it when he heard screaming shouts coming from inside the house.

Fearing that someone was hurt, he ran inside. He stopped in his tracks seeing all the kids crowded around-

"Sammy?"

Her blue eyes stared into his. "Derek."

~

"I pronounce you Husband and Wife." Without waiting for the next line, Derek grabbed Samantha and kissed her.

Whistling and clapping was background noise to the two newlyweds. They were in their own world, standing under the spring flowered-filled trees above them. They were in their spot. The one where they met, and it was perfect.

Breaking from the kiss, she slightly glared at him. "You were suppose to wait a little longer." She crossed her arms, smiling a little.

Derek smiled, kissing her forehead, replying to her comment with heart melting words.

"I promised you twelve years ago. I have waited since the moment I saw you. And I waited two years since you came back into my life. To me, I have waited twenty-two years for this one moment, Sammy."

~MsPenguingirl1234.

Published: July 22, 2017.