The Degradation (translation)

Epilogue

Louis' pov

3 377.

Three thousand three hundred and seventy-seven. We set up a slate near the house, on which we keep count. 3 377. That was three thousand, three hundred and seventy-seven days ago. A little over 10 years ago, this evening, I saved him on this bridge. We have been together for more than 10 years. It will soon be 8 years since we got married. We kept counting down because it is something very important. Thanks to it, we can see how much time we spend together, every day we continue to move forward.

I still remember his marriage proposal. Sometimes it feels like it happened forever ago, and sometimes it feels like it was yesterday. I'm so proud when I look back on all the way we've come. I never thought it was possible, but we're even closer than we were at the time. All these trials and the years passed have only strengthened our relationship, we have become an inseparable part of each other, even more than before.

Harry changed my life in every possible way. Before meeting him, I didn't know what I would do in the future, I just went my own way without asking any questions. From the day I was born, my fate was determined. My parents had already planned everything for me at that time. I had to become a lawyer, marry a girl from a good family, who would give birth to children for me, who in the future would have to become lawyers instead of me. I don't even know if it would have been what I would have wanted, but all I know is that it's exactly what everyone expected of me. But he changed everything.

Thanks to him, I realized that this is my life, that I have to choose what I want.

I really became a lawyer. Turns out I was on the right track from the start. When I finally realized that I had a choice, I decided that my parents should not impose their preferences on me. I was looking for something I really liked, something I really wanted to do, and each time the result was the same: legislation. I realized that this was my way, my own way, not because my father wanted it that way, but because I liked it myself. I've always wanted to help others by becoming a lawyer. It was my own decision.

After graduation, I started working at Tomlinson & Payne. I love my job and my blossoming professional life. I continued to study law, and Harry stopped studying psychology. He took the path that had always been in his favor. He became a veterinarian. He continued to work for several years until he achieved his dream. A dream that eventually became mine.

We opened a shelter.

Five years ago, we bought an old house a few kilometers from the clinic. It has been completely renovated so that we can make repairs to your taste. We wanted everyone to feel good in this house, so that everyone would want to live there. But most of all in this house we were interested in a large plot of land and a lake. Repairs, shelter planning, household chores... All this took about a year. It took a lot of effort, money and time, but now we are very proud of the result. I've never seen Harry so happy as he is now.

To say that the animals did not invade our home would be a lie. They're everywhere, but I like it. I spend part of my life in a suit, tie, and briefcase, and the other part in jeans and mud on my feet. It is not always easy to lead such a lifestyle, sometimes it is even tedious and difficult, because we are very often faced with human cruelty to animals, but in such situations we feel so useful that there are not enough words to describe it. We don't just have cats and dogs here, no. Over time, we have expanded the territory and now we have horses, ponies, donkeys and various animals living here. All of them were saved from the slaughterhouse and cruel treatment.

But we didn't stop there. Harry's dream got bigger. A little less than a year ago, we joined an organization to help sick children, people with autism, teenagers who have problems in school or in their personal lives, people who have mental disorders, who suffer from depression, poor health and much more. No, indeed, there are no clear criteria. We welcome all people who find peace in animals.