Sheri Allen and Roy Croy Jr.
When I happened upon Prince Charming, I wasn't dressed for the occasion. It had been a terrible day, and I decided to distract myself by going out. I threw on jeans and a hoodie, splashed some cold water on my face and swept my hair into a ponytail.
Of all nights, that was the night Ronnie and I were formally introduced. Though we'd seen each other in passing, we'd never before spoken. His first words to me were, "Sheri, what happened?"
I realized he'd never seen me un-done. "I know." I said, "I look terrible."
"No actually," He replied, "I like this." It was the best thing he could have said.
When we met, my marriage was newly ended and he was grieving the passing of his wife. The timing was all wrong for a relationship, so we cultivated a friendship instead. He was kind and chivalrous and had a robust, infectious laugh that lit his eyes entirely. It was fun to be with him-and effortless. Over a long, slow time we grew to know each other so well we couldn't help but fall in love.
Ronnie has restored my faith in "happily ever after." He is loyal, dedicated and selfless; sweet, romantic and funny. He loves my children as though they were his own. He makes me laugh and is sentimental enough to bring on the "good" tears. When I'm broken, he knows just how to fix me. There is nothing he wouldn't do to make me happy, and I feel the same for him.
In the beginning, I never thought we would find ourselves in this place, but he says he always knew. The engagement ring he had made for me is delicately engraved with maeli leaves. They mean "always and forever;" and because of him, I'm not afraid to believe it.