Second Chance (Anthony Rizzo)

(50) If I Ain't Got You

Anthony

As our time here in Paris wraps up I start to see how unrealistic living here would be for the two of us. Half the time we don't even want to leave the bed, we just stay there until we're hungry then go out and grab a bite to eat before crawling right back into bed. We're already so comfortable here that we're being unproductive, even though that was kind of the point of an vacation. But at the same time this is a exploring vacation and to be so far away from the domestic life we knew has been nice. We can't just sit in bed all day in Chicago because even in the off-season I'm working and now Jess is working. Here we're not thinking about strokes or saving kids' lives. We're just together and if you ask me that's my favorite place to be.

Today we were forcing ourselves to get out and sight see. Go and find things that we simply cannot find anywhere else. So Jess slips into some clothes she has bought from her time here and adds her cute little French hat to her curly crown hair. She looked like she belonged in a place like this, so simply beautiful and elegant. She knew a little French too, but not enough to stay here.

We hook my headphones up to my phone and we each take a side as we walk through some of the cultural sights of the city like Notre Dame Cathedral and over to the Arc De Triumph. We end up in the palace of Versailles for a while walking around just for the hell of it. There was a lot to do here and many great tours but we wanted to go off on our own for a while. This garden we find ourselves in reminded me of some of the gardens back home. It was definitely more elegant and one of a kind but it gave me a sense of home too.

I take Jess's hand in mine and lift it up. I spin her around on my finger before pulling her right into my chest. She smiles up to me just excited to be here and I let the music take over the rest.

"Some people live for the fortune
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power, yeah
Some people live just to play the game

Some people think
That the physical things
Define what's within
And I've been there before
That life's a bore
So full of the superficial

Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby

Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, yeah."

She softly kisses my lips as I smile to myself. I think Paris is another name for heaven.

"What song do you think we should use for our fist dance" she wonders.

"I actually have something in the works for that. Something special. But I don't want to ruin the surprise. Just know we have a song, a perfect song and we will have our first dance to it" I say.

"Alright mystery man, you haven't let me down yet. Especially when it comes to music. I trust it's a lot like this song" she says.

"It's beautiful, one of a kind and filled with so much love" I promise.

"Good" she giggles.

We continue to sway back and fourth as the people around us just walk by. No one here seemed to mind any, when the song and the moment is right there's no reason not to dance. It's a form of expression as is holding hands or kissing. It is a great way to show what you feel even if only you and your partner understand.

Jess and I, we always had a connection I never really understood. It's strong and it over powers a lot of things. It blinds you sometimes, sometimes that connection is exactly what breaks you down. Trust me, I know, I've seen it. When Jess got hurt that connection we had, it was only on one sided and even though the connection was still there, it's a lot to bare for just one person. Holding onto a connection that strong.

But I couldn't let her go, because of moments like this exact one I couldn't let her go. Because I knew times like this were still possible. That the love for me she feels is that connection from 2012. I promise you, I wouldn't know what to do without this woman. I know with my whole heart we were meant to be together, in any way. And I plan to do everything in my power to make sure it happens.

"Some people search for a fountain
Promises forever young
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love them

Hand me the world on a silver platter
And what good would it be
With no one to share, with no one who truly cares for me

Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, you, you

Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, yeah
If I ain't got you with me, baby, oh, ooh
Said nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing
If I ain't got you with me, baby."

I playfully dip her backwards as she hangs onto her hat. I pull her back up as she smiles big. She could have been a piece of art that that people admire around here. They would come from far and wide just to be around her. I know I would go anywhere in this world just to see that smile.

"I love you so much Anthony" she says softly as she placed her hand on my cheek. I get a warm feeling inside as her skin meets mine. The smile on my face grows as the seconds pass us by.

"And I love you, Jessica. With every fiber of my being I love you" I promise her. She quickly pressed her lips to mine and I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. After all this time I still feel so excited to kiss her.