HEART BEAT

CHAPTER ELEVEN

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**Chapter 11**

As they lay there, Kira felt a sense of certainty settle over her, a quiet confidence that this was only the beginning of something truly beautiful. The worries and doubts that had once plagued her seemed to fade away, replaced by a profound sense of trust in the bond she shared with Alex.

They stayed in the clearing for what felt like hours, basking in the warmth of the sun and the comfort of each other's presence. Time seemed to stand still, the world outside their little sanctuary forgotten as they shared stories, laughed, and dreamed about the future.

Eventually, the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. The air cooled, but neither of them made a move to leave. They were content to stay wrapped up in their bubble of happiness, the world beyond their little haven feeling distant and irrelevant.

Alex shifted beside her, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at her. The fading light cast a golden glow on his face, making his eyes appear even more intense. Kira could see the love and admiration in his gaze, and it made her heart flutter.

"Kira," he began softly, his voice full of emotion, "I need to tell you something. It's something I've been thinking about for a while, and after everything we've shared today, I feel like it's the right time."

Kira's breath caught in her throat at the seriousness in his tone. She had never seen him like this before-so open, so vulnerable. It made her realize just how deeply he felt for her, how much he had been holding inside.

"What is it, Alex?" she asked gently, reaching out to brush a lock of hair away from his forehead.

Alex took her hand, holding it against his chest as he spoke. "You know how much you mean to me. You're my best friend, my partner, and the person I want to share my life with. I've always known that I loved you, but today... today made me realize that I don't want to wait any longer."

Kira's heart began to race, her mind spinning with possibilities. "What do you mean?"

Alex took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. "I mean that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Kira. I want to wake up next to you every morning, share every laugh, every tear, every moment with you. I want to build a life together-a home, a family, everything."

Kira felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, her chest tightening with overwhelming emotion. She had dreamed of this moment, but hearing it from Alex, the man she loved more than anything, made it feel all the more real.

"I want that too, Alex," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "More than anything."

A smile spread across Alex's face, and he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, velvet box. Kira's breath hitched in her throat as she realized what he was about to do.

"Kira Nurez," Alex said, his voice steady and full of love, "will you marry me?"

Time seemed to stop as Kira looked at the ring nestled inside the box-a simple, elegant band with a single, sparkling diamond that caught the light. It was perfect, just like everything else about this moment.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked up at Alex, her heart so full she thought it might burst. "Yes," she whispered, then louder, "Yes, Alex, I'll marry you!"

A look of pure joy crossed Alex's face, and he slipped the ring onto her finger, his hands trembling slightly with emotion. As soon as the ring was in place, he pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss, the world around them fading into nothingness.

When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting together as they tried to process what had just happened. Kira couldn't stop smiling, her heart soaring with happiness.

"We're really doing this," she murmured, her voice full of wonder. "We're getting married."

"We are," Alex replied, his eyes shining with love. "And I couldn't be happier."

They stayed there for a while longer, wrapped up in each other, before finally deciding to head back to Kira's apartment. The walk back felt surreal, as if they were floating on air, their steps light with the excitement of what lay ahead.

When they arrived at the apartment, the reality of what had just happened began to sink in. Kira looked down at the ring on her finger, the weight of it a constant reminder that this was real-that she was going to marry the love of her life.

Alex seemed to sense her emotions, and he wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Kira nodded, leaning back into his embrace. "I'm more than okay, Alex. I'm... I'm just so happy. I never thought I could feel this way."

"Me neither," Alex admitted, pressing a kiss to her temple. "But I'm glad we found each other. I can't wait to start this next chapter with you."

Kira turned in his arms, looking up at him with a smile that lit up her entire face. "Me too. But first, we need to call our families. They're going to want to know."

Alex chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Right. Let's make some calls."

They spent the next hour on the phone, sharing the news with their loved ones. Kira's parents were overjoyed, her mother practically squealing with excitement while her father congratulated them both with a warmth that made Kira's heart swell. Alex's parents were equally thrilled, and his mother insisted that they come over for dinner as soon as possible to celebrate.

By the time they had finished making all the calls, it was late, and the excitement of the day had begun to catch up with them. Kira could feel the exhaustion settling in, but it was a good kind of tired-the kind that came from a day filled with love and happiness.

As they climbed into bed that night, Kira felt a sense of peace unlike anything she had ever experienced. She snuggled up against Alex, his arms wrapping around her protectively, and closed her eyes with a contented sigh.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice soft in the darkness.

"I love you too," Alex replied, his voice full of warmth. "Forever."

Kira smiled, feeling the weight of his words settle over her like a blanket. She knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together. They had made a promise to each other, and Kira was determined to keep it.

As she drifted off to sleep, her last thought was of the future-the life they would build together, the love they would share, and the happiness that awaited them. She knew that whatever came next, it would be perfect, because she would be facing it with the man she loved.

And that was all she needed.

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