Yuna took a deep breath as she stepped up to the podium, gazing out at the sea of graduation caps before her. Just months ago, she had doubted this moment would ever come. But here she was, ready to deliver the commencement speech to her graduating class.
Looking at the proud faces of Nick's parents in the audience, then at Nick himself watching her adoringly, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude washed over Yuna. Without their endless love and support, she wouldn't be standing here today.
Yuna's speech emphasized how the connections we forge with others have the power to change the trajectory of our lives. She spoke from her heart about the friends and family who had lifted her from despair and helped her heal after trauma.
As she returned to her seat amid thunderous applause, Nick hugged her tightly, his eyes shining with happy tears. "I'm so proud of you," he whispered. Yuna's heart swelled at how far they had both come to reach this moment together.
After the ceremony, Nick's parents hosted an intimate graduation dinner for them and some close friends. Laughing together around the candlelit table, Yuna was struck by how this found family had become her safe harbor from life's storms.
As the evening wound down, Nick asked Yuna to take a walk with him. Under the starry sky, they reminisced about the carefree childhood versions of themselves who had forged a lasting bond not even time could erode.
Stopping beneath an arching oak tree, Nick gently took Yuna's hands in his own. "We've been through so much together already at eighteen," he said, voice thick with emotion. "I want to face whatever lies ahead with you by my side."
Slowly, he dropped to one knee, gazing up at her reverently. "Yuna, will you make me the happiest man alive and agree to marry me?" Nick asked, holding out a dazzling diamond ring that sparkled in the moonlight.
Yuna clasped a hand to her mouth as joyful tears spilled down her cheeks. She had dreamed of this perfect moment for so long. "Yes!" she cried. "Of course I'll marry you!"
Nick swept her into an embrace, spinning her around before tenderly sliding the ring onto her finger, the promise of their future. Yuna threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, wishing she could freeze this blissful instant and live inside it forever.
Back inside, their friends and family cheered loudly at seeing the ring on Yuna's finger. Hugs, laughter and celebratory toasts flowed late into the night. Yuna and Nick were bursting with plans and dreams for the life they would build hand-in-hand.
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of wedding preparations and apartment hunting. In the fall, Nick would be attending the local university while Yuna started her first year at the elementary school as a teacher. Their independent career paths now beautifully intertwined.
Though busy, Yuna made sure to set aside quality time with Nick's parents. "I can't thank you enough for everything. You're the reason I'm here today," she told them emotionally one evening. They just hugged her tightly, replying "We love you like our own daughter."
The night before the wedding, Yuna stayed up late working on her vows by lamplight. She wanted the words to reflect the magnitude of her gratitude and love for Nick. Tomorrow, they would pledge themselves to one another for life, two hearts forever united as one.
Yuna dreamed that night of their childhood together - climbing trees, reading stories curled up on the couch, playing board games by flashlight. Those memories were woven into the very fabric of who she was. Nick had always been her home.
On the morning of their wedding day, Yuna twirled in front of the mirror in her shimmering gown, overcome with anticipation. Nick's unwavering devotion had been her foundation through life's challenges. Now she would vow to equally support him on this next phase of their journey.
As Yuna walked down the flower-strewn aisle on the arm of Nick's proud father, her eyes immediately found Nick waiting for her with an expression of naked adoration. No words could fully encapsulate this luminous joy.
Later, swaying together at the reception, Yuna laid her head contentedly against Nick's heart. Dark years lay behind them, but boundless light awaited them on the horizons ahead. Their unbreakable bond would guide them forward - into hope, into life, into love.