"Stop it! Stop it! What are you doing!?” As the cop got him to stand up, they told Rena, “Miss, is this man harassing you?”

    “What? No!” She yelled out.


“Are you positive? We got an anonymous call from someone claiming a Latino man was chasing you and harassing you.” The officer claimed. “No, he’s my friend; we were just running the old track, and we got scared when we saw you chasing us.” She told the police; the police then called it a false alarm and apologized for any miscommunication. As the cop left, Rena helped Rey up, and she decided it'd be safe for her to walk him home, but Rey decided against it. They went down a couple blocks by an old burger joint before he made Rena sit on a bench. “Lo siento, mi amor.” She looked at him as if she knew he was being genuine. She held onto his hand and kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t be sorry; I’m not alone, and I’m actually happy with you.” She admitted to him. “and I'm happy with you.” He claimed. He looked near the trash bin and found a ring; he got up, went over to the smelly trash, bent over, cleaned the ring, and nervously walked over to Rena.

    

“Rena, I know it’s not much, but I love you, and, regardless of only knowing each other a few hours, I can see myself with you the rest of my life. Rena, will you marry me?” gracefully requests Rey with tears in his eyes. As Rena was about to answer, a cop car once again pulled up, and cops swarmed them.


“Rey James, you are under arrest for verbal harassment,” the cop claimed.

     Rena, hearing this, explained, and proceeded to go on a warpath for a man who truly loved her. She then demanded to know who called; this time, the caller made a fatal mistake; he gave his name.

“A man by the name of Steve Coleman. We’ve recognized the voice from two other calls tonight…”

Rena, who was typically a calm and slightly reserved gal, at this point had enough and flipped.

    

“I know him! He stalked me,” she claimed with her voice trembling. “He was obsessed with me during my days as a track star. Let him go, please!” she cried, almost begging the officer.

    The officer looked at her, giving a brief smile and uncuffing Rey. Rey went over to Rena, and the cop paid for a meal for the two of them at the burger joint.

“Dispatch, trace that number on the last call. We got a job to do.”


As Rey and Rena walked to the burger joint, Rey looked at Rena.

    

“Well?” He asked, “Rey, of course I’ll marry you.” Replied the overjoyed girl, who Rey would soon make his wife. They left the burger joint and ran down the sidewalk holding each other’s hand so tight.

    They had a small courthouse wedding that night; it was 11:59 when they had confirmed their marriage. At Rey’s apartment a couple of nights after they were married, they had made a discovery on the news: the stalker Steve had been arrested and was sentenced to 82 years in prison without parole. Not only that for good news, but Rey also found a wonderful side job as a street artist, designing buildings and signs for local businesses and such.

    Rey made at least $500 in his first week; Rena had saved enough money from her days as a runner, which was a net worth of roughly $50k. They had enough to move across the country and to start a wonderful family. Ten months later that dream came true; Rey and Rena welcomed their first baby, naming her Terry.

“Daddy?” said little Paul while petting his sheepdog Nakano, “Where do I come into the story?”

    

“Well, mi hijo , not too long after your sister Terry, you were born.” Replied Rey.

“Who wants some cookies?” said Rena as she gracefully entered the room in her baby blue shirtdress holding a tray with the delightful homey smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies. Terry and Paul were so excited; the joy on their little faces said it all. As they grabbed them each a warm cookie, Terry snuggled on the couch, asking, “Mommy, how many times did Papa get arrested?” Rey almost spit out his drink at the funny yet surprising question from his daughter.


“Actually, only once,” said Rena with a slight giggle.


“Si my little ones, only once,” said Rey with a wholesome chuckle, “But my beautiful children, that’s how I and your mother met.”

As they were all snuggled together on the couch, Rena leaned over and whispered to Rey, “You were right, you are my soulmate.” They looked at each other and smiled before she laid her head back on his broad shoulder.