Life after that was so much more bearable. I started eating properly, and didn't have nightmares anymore. Of course, Mark had to break his promise. He had to go away on tour, and I had to keep going with my schoolwork. I started talking to my Internet friends again.

They were all ecstatic to see me back again, on the computer, and with Mark. They'd met the guys before, and met them regularly while Mark and I had been apart. They saw first hand what our separation was doing to him. They tried to tell me, but I stayed in my room, I never went on the computer, so I didn't they were trying to tell me he was as miserable as I was.

"Rainey, girl we are all so happy to see you and Mark back together, you're both so much more happy. See Ally, Clare, Jenni - what did I tell you, they were made for each other! I am so good at this!" Was some of the contents of Lisa's first email after my return onto the Westlife mailing lists.

I was back to my normal self again. I liked that. Even the fans were coming round to me. A few weeks later I was listening to the radio, and a girl came on saying that she was one of the girls who hated me for going out with Mark, but she was happy for us now, because she met the guys while we were apart, and she too saw he was unhappy without me, and that she wished us the best of luck...and added that if I ever treated him wrong she'd come after me. She was just joking about that though.

A few months passed, and my relationship with Mark went from strength to strength. Nothing and no one could take either of us away from the other. We were soul mates, and that was the way it was going to stay. I loved the school holidays. It meant that I could travel to wherever Mark was and spend time with him. I'd go to the radio stations and television studios with him...and not get harassed by the fans...I liked that.

The most memorable time that I went with him to a television studio was when the guys were co-presenting SMTV again, while Ant and Dec went off to some exotic holiday destination, leaving Cat in the lurch. Lisa, Clare, Ally and Jenni were there in the audience, and we had a laugh doing the Postbag dance behind the camera.

"And now it's time for you-know-what!!! Play that music maestro!" Bryan shouted as the music for the Postbag dance started. We all joined in, and then the guys sat back down on the sofa, Kian at the end, Shane, Bryan, Nicky and Mark at the other end.

"And the last letter we've got...is for Mark...it says; 'When can we expect wedding bells for you and Lorraine?' And that's from Lisa in Walmer, Kent. So Mark...can we expect wedding bells?" Nicky nudged his friend in the side while Mark blushed. I shot a look at Lisa. "You didn't...??!!" A sly Cilla Black 'Surprise surprise' smile crept onto her face. "I did. I know you're made for each other, I keep telling people, now you've got to get it together and get hitched!" "Hey, Lorraine, come up here!" "Great Lisa, now you've got Bryan in on it!" I whispered as I walked to the sofa.

A slight edginess came over me as I walked up, the memories of the last time I was on television came back. I pushed them out of my mind, I wasn't going to let them get the better of me again. I got to the sofa and sat on the end next to Mark, and he put his arm around my waist.

"Ah well, you know...uhh...well, we've never really, y'know...talked about it...but now you come to mention it..." Mark stood up and turned towards me. "Oh my..." I whispered to myself. "Lorraine..." He started, helping me stand up, then kneeling down on one knee. "I know we've been through a lot, and we lost a precious few weeks, but I want to make up for that time, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I would be honoured if you would be my wife" I started to quietly cry, from happiness this time.

"Yes" Mark picked me up and twirled me round while Lisa, Ally, Clare and Jenni started whooping and cheering and clapping. Mark slipped the ring on my finger. "Oh my god, it's so beautiful. Aquamarine...my birthstone"

"I knew you'd like it" "I love it! I love you" "I love you too"

The other lads also started cheering and clapping, with the occasional wolf-whistle from Kian and Bryan. Even the audience was enthusiastic, not as enthusiastic as the guys and Lisa, Clare, Ally and Jenni, but still giving it some.

Mark told me after the show that I'd made him the happiest man alive by saying yes. But really it was him that had made me the happiest girl in the world. I'd always believed that when people are born, they only have half a soul, then when they meet their soul mate, then their souls are complete. That's what I got when I found Mark.