When You Were Here

The Question

Today I got a call from Derek saying that he would be home soon. I nearly cried when I heard this. On the phone he sounded different, not bad just different. I can't explain this but he didn't sound like my Derek.

I've been waiting by the door all day for him to come. There is a knock on the door and I race to open it. Derek is standing there but he's changed. "Hi," he says standing there. I jump into his waiting arms. "Hey baby I've missed you," I say. "I missed you too," he says. "Where were you?" I ask. "Lets not worry about that now, I'm here aren't I,"he says. I nod but I wonder why he avoided the topic. For the rest of the day we watch movies and just hang out.

When he leaves I think about everything, I hope that he is not cheating but he would never ever cheat on me. So what else could he be doing? I put those thoughts away and think about how happy I am that he's back and I can hold him again. I worry about him so much, we've been together since ninth grade. He texts me asking if I would like to go to dinner with him so of course I accept. I dress in a knee length red three-quarter sleeved dress and shiny black pumps and wait outside for him to come.

He pulls up and gets out of the car to hug me and open the car door for me. He looks absolutely handsome in his suit. "Love you babe," he says once he starts driving. "I love you too," I reply and give him a quick peck on the cheek. We pull in to one of my favorite restaurants ever, a Chinese buffet. We get seated and wait for a few minuets before getting plates filled with food. Once I am full and have stopped eating he comes over to me and kneel down on one knee. "I love you so much Allison Marie West, I want to be with you forever, will you marry me?" he asks holding a ring. Tears stream down my face and I can't speak so I nod. He slides the ring on my finger and it fits perfectly. "I love you too," I say grinning like an idiot.

As soon as I get home I yell for my parents to come. My mom runs in with my dad right behind her. "Whats wrong?" my mom asks. I show them my finger and say, "He proposed." "Congrats," my parents say at the same time. I laugh and hug my parents. I fall asleep with the biggest smile on my face.