Chapter 22: A Proposal by the Lake
A year had passed since Marie and I had worked through our issues and rebuilt our relationship. It had been a journey of growth and healing, and I was grateful to have her by my side.
I had been planning a special surprise for her, and I knew just the place to take her. I drove us to the lake where we had our first date, the same lake where I had serenaded her with a song a year ago.
As we walked along the shore, the sun was setting behind us, casting a warm golden light over the water. I could feel Marie's hand in mine, and I knew that this was the perfect moment.
I pulled out my guitar and began to strum the chords to a new song I had written just for her. The melody was soft and romantic, and I could see the emotions welling up in Marie's eyes as she listened to the lyrics.
"You're the sunshine in my sky,
The stars that light up my night,
You're the one I want to spend my life with,
Forever and always, my love, my light."
As I finished the song, I got down on one knee and pulled out a small box. Marie's eyes widened in surprise as I opened it, revealing a beautiful diamond ring.
"Marie, from the moment I met you, I knew you were special," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "Will you marry me?"
Tears of joy streamed down Marie's face as she nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, a million times yes!" she exclaimed, as I slid the ring onto her finger.
I stood up and wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as we shared a kiss under the stars. The lake sparkled behind us, and I knew that this was just the beginning of our new chapter together.
As we hugged, I could feel the happiness radiating from both of us. It was a moment I had dreamed of for so long, and it felt surreal to finally have it happen.
Marie's eyes sparkled with tears as she gazed at the ring on her finger. "It's beautiful," she whispered.
I'm glad you like it," I replied, smiling. "I wanted it to be perfect for you."
We stood there for a moment, taking in the beauty of the lake and the serenity of the surroundings. Then, Marie's face lit up with a smile.
"Let's take a picture to remember this moment," she suggested.
I nodded, and we posed for a photo, with the lake and the sunset behind us. As we looked at the picture on Marie's phone, we both couldn't help but smile.
"This is going to be an amazing chapter in our lives," Marie said, her eyes shining with excitement.
I nodded in agreement. "I know it will be," I said. "I love you, Marie."
"I love you too," she replied, snuggling closer to me.
As the stars began to twinkle in the sky, we sat down on a nearby bench, holding hands and watching the world go by. It was a moment of perfect happiness, and I knew that this was just the beginning of our forever.
As we sat there, I couldn't help but think about the journey that had brought us to this moment. The ups and downs, the struggles and the triumphs. It had all been worth it, because now we were here, together, and engaged to be married.
Marie leaned her head on my shoulder, and I wrapped my arm around her, holding her close. We sat in comfortable silence, watching the stars twinkle to life in the night sky.
After a while, Marie spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so happy, I feel like I'm dreaming."
I smiled, feeling the same way. "It's not a dream," I said. "It's our reality, and I'm grateful for it."
We sat there for a long time, enjoying each other's company, and the peacefulness of the lake. Eventually, we reluctantly got up to leave, knowing that we had a lot to plan and prepare for our future together.
As we drove back home, Marie couldn't stop looking at the ring on her finger, a huge smile on her face. I couldn't help but smile too, feeling grateful for this new chapter in our lives.
When we got home, we spent the rest of the evening basking in the glow of our engagement, making plans for the future, and enjoying each other's company. It was a night I would never forget, a night that would stay with me forever.