The cab pulled up, i stepped my slim strap heels onto the ground, careful not to let my dress hit the water. I looked up to see an extremely tall and dark building, then it hit me... this wasn't just 'some building', this is my apartment building. I laughed in confusion, "What are we doing here?" I faced the cab driver. He just smiled, then handed me a piece of paper. I uncrinkled it and read:
Enter through the door my love, go into the elevator and press level 12.
So I did.
The hallways were much darker than usual and the elevator wasn't much brighter, although Celine Dion echoing in the confined moving walls, made me feel less frightened. Level 12 dinged. I walked out the elevator doors, only to find an empty floor... no apartments, no anything.
"Hello?" I heard my voice echo through the deserted hallways. Suddenly, i heard a crunch beneath my feet. I bent over and uncrinkled another note, that read:
I'm sure you are very confused right now, you're mind racing... it'll all make sense soon. Follow down the hallway (don't be scared. trust me.) and go through the red door. See you soon❤
The clinks of my heels overpowered my nervous breathing. I finally approached the red door. Stopped. I took a huge gasp of air as my fingers grazed across the door handle. Taking a moment to clear my head, be in the moment, and i pushed it open... to discover i was on the rooftop. Lights hanging beautifully around, the stars twinkling, and quiet music playing.
"You look..." he gasped in amazement, "beautiful."
I looked in front of me to realize Peter had popped out of no where. "Peter? You did all of this?" i whispered in even more amazement.
"With some help." he said modestly, looking around.
"But why? i mean, it's stunning. I can't believe you did all this for me." I started slowly walking towards him. He backed up to a table, pulled out a chair and gestured to me to sit. "Thank you." He sat at the other end of the small table, just staring and smiled at me. "What?" I asked with my head down, but my eyes still on him as i tucked a piece of hair beyond my ear.
"Nothing, nothing, just... well just, i can't get over how beautiful you look."
"Oh, Peter, stop!"
"No truly, i've never met a woman so beautiful." he paused for a moment, "Inside and out." He pulled out a bottle of Masciarelli wine and poured a little for each of us. "Hungry?" he asked.
"Starved!" i made a goofy face and giggled.
"Great!" He uncovered two dishes of seared Alaskan Halibut with tomato-basil relish.
I dove-in right away, "This is incredible! Did you make it?" I asked, with food tucked in the side of my mouth.
"Yeah, i love cooking! Not such a good baker though."
"A man who likes to cook... Peter, are you trying to turn me on?" I joked, knowing what i was saying was true.
He laughed, "Depends, is it working?" I loved when he laughed.
I heard Israel Kamakawiwo's Hawaiian version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow lightly playing in the background. "Oh my god, i love this song! This is one of my favorites!"
Peter got up to walk to the stereo and turned up the volume. "May i have this dance?" he smiled and put his hand out.
I stood up and placed my hand on his, "You may." I smirked at him. He quickly spun me around and gracefully started to sway me back and fourth. "Not bad." i giggled.
He shrugged his shoulders, "I have my moments."
I gently laid my head on his chest and i felt him put his head lightly on mine. The words,
Some day I'll wish upon a star and wake-up where the clouds are far behind me...
Played to the rhythm of our feet and the rocking motion of our bodies. "I have to ask you something." he whispered next to my ear.
"Anthing." I whispered back.
"I know we have only been dating for a little while. Well, specifically 7 months and 5 days, but who's counting!?" I giggled at how adorable it was he knew exactly how long we've been dating, nobody's ever done that before. Well, nobody's ever done really anything that Peter has done for me.
"You forgot the minutes and seconds." I sassed him with a devilish little smirk.
He laughed, "Well i know those too." Getting back on track he began what he was trying to say, "I know that may not seem long, but they have been the happiest months, days, hours, seconds of my life." I held him tighter to me. "And we practically live together, there's not a night that we are separate and when we are, all i think about is you." We continued swaying back and fourth, as he whispered the most beautiful things to me. "You are who i want to be with everyday and always. You make me happy, and i want to make you happy. I've never met a woman so genuine and beautiful in my life." I felt a tear of happiness stream down my face as my head is tucked into his chest. "You are all i've ever wanted and needed in life. I know god has blessed me with you and I'll be damned if i wasn't grateful. I know this is crazy, i know." He gently pulled me off of him, separating us by a few inches, "But i don't want to live if you're not in my life."
"What are you-" I gasped with all the air leaving my body as Peter kneeled down in front of me. I held my mouth tight, trying not to cry.
"Mariska Magdolna Hargitay, would you do me the absolute honor," getting all choked up he paused, as a tear came down his cheek. "Will you marry me?" He openned a little black Tiffany's box, revealing the most beautiful piece of jewelry i ever saw.
Trying to catch my breath and push the words out, i softly muttered "Yes, of course I'll marry you!" At that point, i couldn't hold back my tears anymore.
He smiled bigger than anyone i had ever seen, and was crying of joy too. "May I?" I nodded my head as he placed the diamond on my left hand.
I stared at it through my watery eyes, "It's so pretty!" I said through my choked up voice and giggled at how happy i was.
"I love you so much." He stood up and grabbed my face to steal the most passionate kiss I'd ever had.
"I love you too baby." I whispered through our glued lips. I placed my forehead onto his and giggled. I rubbed my fingers across the ring as we both stared at it. "You do make me happy." I whispered as i admired his baby blue eyes.
He gently tucked a piece of hair behind my ear as he admired my big brown eyes, "God, i do love you." He kissed me again, dipping me in his arms as Somewhere Over The Rainbow sang in the background.
I do... I do.
