“When I came back from the UK,I happened to see a video of your high school speech on a local education forum. You looked so familiar to me.”
He smiled softly.“Later on,I realized that you were the girl who helped me escape from the
mountains back then.”
“After that,I started gathering bits and pieces about you…not in a creepy way,” he added.“I jus wanted to make sure you were doing okay.”
He paused for a moment,then said quietly,“I couldn’t hold onto your hand back then.However,this time,I don’t want to let you slip away again.”
I stood silently in front of the photo,unable to say a word.
On the other wall of the exhibition hall were photos of my achievements from college to this day. My diplomas,magazine interviews and project awards. They were listed one by one according to their timeline.It was like a bright path of what I had gone through.
And there he was,standing quietly beside that path.Watching me.Remembering me.Guarding
- me.
I suddenly found myself at a loss for words because no one had ever cherished each step of my growth this way.It was done with much more thoughtfulness than I did.
He stood behind me and spoke gently,“Emily,you always look so strong. But I know you’ve carriec a lot on your own. And if you don’t say anything,no one knows how tired or hurt you really feel.”
He stood behind me and spoke gently,“Emily,you always look so strong,but often you are actually the only one who carries a lot of things.If you don’t say anything,no one knows how tired or hurt you really feel.”
His words made me tremble slightly and my eyes began to burn.
“I’m not going to pressure you into anything,” he said.“I just want you to know that you don’t have to go through everything alone anymore.”
The exhibition hall was quiet and all I could hear was the pounding of my heartbeat,steadily,like it was trying to break free from my chest.
At that moment,I suddenly thought…maybe I really am worthy.of being treated this gently.
Maybe…I could try this new relationship slowly.
The lights in the gallery were soft. Charles looked at me for a long time,then took a deep breath,as if summoning his courage.
Before I could even react,he slowly got down on one knee.
“Charles…“I called his name instinctively,my voice laced with panic.
However, he looked up at me,eyes full of tenderness.
“Yes,right now our relationship is technically a political marriage,” he said, voice calm but with a hint of nervousness.“However,I want to give you a real proposal–not for anyone else,but for me.”
As he spoke,he slowly pulled out a midnight–blue velvet box from his pocket and opened it.Inside was a simple yet elegant diamond ring.It was simple and clean.
He looked up at me and asked,” So…will you marry me?”
Chapter 15
Time frose in that moment.
I stood in front of him while staring blankly at him,kneeling on one knee.
Once upon a time had fantasized about being proposed to countless times.
I had imagined Ken doing it maybe under the stars,or after dinner together in the evening.E thought helt pull out a ring and say “Let’s get married.”
However had waited for seven years.
Seven years. It was long enough for a naive girl in her early twenties to become a woman used to silence. I endured endless quiet,compromise and indifference but never once did I hear him say those simple words “Many me”
And now, someone had prepared a proposal just for me,knelt down just for me just to ask one thing. “Will you?”
Tears suddenly welled in my eyes.
Not because the gesture itself was so surprising,but because of the sincerity behind it. All those years of wounds grievances, love and waiting that no one ever held with care were finally being cradled gently by someone who looked at me as if to say:
“You are worth it”
I lifted my hand and gently wiped away the tears at the comers of my eyes.My voice choked in my chest. “You’re such an idiot…”
Charles stayed kneeling and smiled, “You once said we were an engaged couple. So I figured should at least give you a proper proposal.”
In that moment, the last remnants of my attachment to Ken were finally washed away gently with my tears.
I nodded,my voice steadier than it had ever been: “Yes.I will.”
4:34 am
DDD
