Don't Worry, Be Happy.
May 22nd, 2013.
High school was over. I just graduated. Mixed emotions flooded through me. I was estatic that I was
the day I was wishing for since the first day of freshman year was here, yet on the other hand, I
was a mess. Tears rolled down my bright pink cheeks. I dried my tears and smiled for pictures with
my friends, whom were also crying. My parents found me in the sea of hundreds of parents and recent
graduates. My mom and stepdad were both crying. My siblings were following behind. My sister, Emalee,
gave me the biggest hug. Her baby step-sister just graduated high school. My parents handed me a
boquet of pink carnations. My mother motioned for my siblings and I to take a group picture. I just
couldn't believe it. I was no longer a student at my high school. My three best friends found me and
we just bawled. We were best friends since freshman year. We have been through everything. Baking
parties, heartbreaks, millions of sleepovers, and I one of my biggest fears is that things are
going to change. We are all going to different schools. Nothing would be the same anymore. No more
crazy choir classes or Disney World trips. I just couldn't believe this was happening.
September 3rd, 2013.
First day of college. I was a freshman at Southern Illinois University. My parents made me stay in-
state, so this was the farthest I could go and stay in Illinois. I found my first class perfectly.
The previous days before, I walked my schedules for each day over and over again. I know I looked
somewhat like a loser, but at least I knew where I was going. I wasn't paying attention of where
I was going and the next thing I knew is that I was laying on the ground. "Oh shit. I am so sorry!"
A guys voice said. I opened my eyes and looked up. I saw the most handsome guy I have ever seen,
holding out his hand to help me up. I took his hand and he pulled me to my feet. "Are you okay?"
He asked.
"Yeah, I am fine." I said while brushing grass off of me.
"Okay, good. I am Dimitri." He said.
"I'm Kelsey. Nice to meet you, even if it was in an inconvient way." I said and then laughed.
"Very true. Nice to meet you too, Kelsey." Dimitri said. "Are you a freshman here?"
I nodded. "Is it that obvious?"
"Nah. You seem like you know where you are going and what you are doing. So I just guessed." He
smiled. I think I died at the site of his smile. He had perfect, straight, and gleaming white teeth
that stood out from his true Italian tan.
I smiled back. "Ah, okay. Are you a freshman here?"
"Yeah I am. What are you majoring in?" Dimitri asked.
"Criminology. What about you?" I replied.
"I am majoring in criminology too. Weird." He laughed. I laughed too. "So what high school did you
go to?" He asked.
I told him what high school I went to and he told me his. Turned out, we didn't live that far from
eachother. We talked and then departed for our classes, but right before that, I wrote down my cell
phone number on his hand.
April 16th, 2019.
I couldn't belive it was my wedding day. I was actually getting married. I have dreamed of this day
so many times. I was pacing back and forth in my three inch heels. My bridesmaids were gushing on
how gorgeous I looked and that they would never forget this moment. My stepdad knocked on the door.
"You ready Kels?" He asked as he came in. I nodded and smiled. My bridesmaids filed out before me.
I followed them with my stepdad behind me. Then I heard the Wedding March start. My bridesmaids
made their way down the aisle. Before I knew it, my stepdad and I linked arms and made our entrance.
Everyone stared at me either with a smile on their face or tears streaming down their cheeks. I
looked at my fiance, whom was standing there, speechless. As we made it to the alter, I saw my mom
and my three grandmas crying. I tear escaped but I quickly wiped it away. I smiled at them. My
stepdad released me to my fiance.
I looked up at Dimitri, remembering the first day I met him back in freshman year of college. Ever
since that day, we talked, hung out, and eventually started dating. We dated all throughout
college and after that. He proposed to me at my college graduation party, in front of mine and his
whole family. I obviously said yes. We decided to get married on April 16th, which was today. We
chose this date because it was the day my mom and biological father got married. We had a
traditional Catholic wedding with some Italian flair, since we were both Catholic and Italian. An
hour later, the ceremony was over. It went by so fast. Then we took pictures. Tons and tons of
pictures. My face hurt so badly from smiling so much. My mother, stepfather, and grandmas all had
to fight back their tears of me finally married. I knew my father was watching over me from Heaven,
and I knew that he was happy for me. My sisters and even my brother were crying. I couldn't help
but cry too.
October 16th, 2020.
I placed my hands on my extremely large, pregnant belly. It was two in the morning and I couldn't
fall asleep. Then I thought I peed myself. "Honey," I said urgently to the sleeping Dimitri. He
stirred and then finally realized I was tapping him repeatedly on the arm.
"What?" He murmured.
"My water just broke." I said.
He jumped out of bed and grabbed his cellphone and called the hospital. My wife just went into
labor. We will be over shortly." He barked into his phone.
I smiled at him. "Babe, breathe. I am very calm and I feel good." I got out of bed slowly and stood
up. I was still leaking. "Ew gross." I said under my breath. Dimitri grabbed my bag for the hospital,
my cell phone, and threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt over his naked chest and boxers. I
decided to just leave on my sweats and sports bra, not caring on how I look to give birth. I only
put on a jacket because the Boston weather in October was getting chilly. Dimitri took my hand and
lead me out of our two story house in a Boston suburb. We moved out to Boston shortly after our
wedding since we both wanted to live there. Our parents, siblings, and grandparents were all staying
in a neary by hotel since I didn't want our families all living in our house at the same time.
Dimitri helped my into his SUV and we rushed off to the hospital. On the way there, I called my
mom, telling her I was in labor. She flipped a shit and said she would be there with the family
right away. Then I called Dimitri's mom, telling her the same thing and she also flipped out and
would rush over with everyone right away.
We arrived to the hospital and there was nurse with a wheelchair waiting for us outside. The nurse,
Rhonda, and Dimitri helped me into the wheelchair and whisked me away to my room. I changed into
a hospital gown and made myself comfortable in the hospital bed. I was very calm and relaxed.
Demitri periodically video taped and took pictures of me. "Mrs. Grimaldi, you have some vistitors."
Rhonda announced.
"Send them in." I said. Then the troops came in. My parents, my two sister, my brother, and my
three grandmans, followed by Dimitri's parents, his two younger sisters, his older brother, and
all his grandparents. Let's just say it was a full house in that tiny room. Everyone was so excited.
Then I felt the pain kick in. The nurse told me it was time to push. My eyes widened. I held out
my hand for Dimitri to grab. "Darryl, film this with Dimitri's video camera." I said to my younger
sister whom was now 22. She pressed record and started filming. I got to admit, it was somewhat
awkward having everybody in the room, but I would feel bad if I kicked them out. So I just let them
all stay. My doctor came in and got situated. She told me to push. I pushed several times and then
then there was crying filling the room.
"It is a girl!" My doctor announced to the room. Everyone started whooping and hollering. My jaw
dropped open. I had a child now. I am a mother. Dimitri and I are parents. Everything seemed so
unrealistic. "Would you like to hold her?" My doctor asked me after cleaning her up. I nodded and
my doctor placed my baby girl in my arms.
"What are you going to name her?" My mother asked.
"Genevieve Christine Grimaldi." I said to the whole room. They awed and smiled. "Dimitri, do you
want to hold her?" I asked my husband, whom was still in shock. He nodded and smiled. He gently
picked up Genevieve and held her. Emalee took several pictures of him and Genevieve like she did
with Genevieve and I. I tear slid down my cheek.
Later that night, Genevieve and I were released from the hospital. When we arrived home, little
Evie was asleep. Dimitri and I entered our bedroom and I placed Evie in her crib. I kissed her
lightly on the forehead. She looked like an perfect blend of Dimitri and I. She had by blonde hair,
Dimitri's tan skin, both of our blue eyes, my nose, and Dimitri's lips. I settled in my bed after a
very long day and instantly fell asleep.
December 25th, 2023.
I looked out the huge bay window in the living room. Evie was growing up so fast. She was already
three. It felt like it was yesterday that I had her. Evie was playing with her new toys she got
from Santa Claus, Dimitri was making some hot chocolate for us, and I just looked out the window.
Everything was white. The trees, bushes, grass, everything was covered with snow. It looked so
peaceful. I saw my neighbors kids making a snowman in their front yard. I smiled and walked back
to the couch. Actually, more like waddled. I was pregnant, again. I was due in February. Dimitri
enterd the livingroom with our hot chocolates. He gave Evie her sippy cup of chocolate milk and
he handed me my mug. For Christmas, Dimitri got me my favorite Frango mint chocolates from Macy's
and the prettiest diamond encrusted bracelet. I got him an old-school Snuggie that was popular
when we were in highschool ten years ago and a new watch. We snuggled up on our leather couch and
watched Evie play with her new toys. I was the happiest and luckiest person in the world, no doubt
about it.
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