Cold Water

THIRTY ONE

                   ♡BRANDON♡

  As the weekend approached, my mind was filled with one thought: I wanted to ask Athalia to be my girlfriend.

  I had never felt this way about anyone before, and the more time we spent together, the more certain I became.

  She had this way of bringing light into my life, a kind of brightness I didn't even know I needed.

  I planned everything out carefully. I was going to take her back to the picnic spot I had shown her before.

  It felt like the right place–a place with so much meaning for me and where everything changed between us.

  And it seemed fitting to make it the start of something even more special between us.

  On the day of, I was a nervous wreck. I had picked up a bouquet of white and pink tulips for her, hoping they would brighten her smile even more.

  When I arrived at her house to pick her up, my heart was pounding in my chest. She opened the door, wearing that same beautiful sundress she had worn the last time.

  I personally asked her to wear it. I love how she looks in it.

  Her eyes lit up when she saw the flowers.

  "Are those for me?" she asked, her voice soft but teasing.

  I chuckled, holding the flowers out to her.

  "Who else would they be for?" She took them gently, her fingers brushing against mine, and she looked up at me with that same warmth that always seemed to fill the air around us. "They're beautiful, Brandon. Thank you."

  I smiled shyly, watching her as she admired them. "I thought they'd suit you."

  She giggled and leaned in for a hug, and I breathed in the comforting scent of her.

  She quickly put them inside her house before we left

  We drove to the spot in comfortable silence, the tension of what I was about to do settling into my chest.

  I kept glancing over at her, watching the way her face lit up as she snapped pictures with her camera, her eyes sparkling like the sun.

  When we reached the picnic spot, everything felt perfect. The sun was low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the field.

  We spread out the blanket, sitting side by side, talking and laughing as we ate the snacks I had packed.

  But my mind was racing, and my heart was pounding in anticipation of what I was about to say.

  As the conversation quieted, I took a deep breath. I turned to her, my heart racing. "Athalia, there's something I need to tell you."

  She looked at me, her expression softening as she set down her camera and gave me her full attention. "What is it?"

  I hesitated for a moment, gathering my thoughts. "Before I met you... my world was so dark," I started, my voice barely above a whisper.

  "After my mom... after the accident, I didn't think I'd ever feel happy again. I felt so lost, like I was drowning in everything."

  Her eyes softened, and she reached out, placing her hand on mine, squeezing gently.

  "But then you came into my life, and everything changed," I continued, my voice growing steadier.

  "You've become my lifeline, Athalia. You make everything better, brighter. When I'm with you, I feel like I can breathe again. You've made me feel like I'm worth something, like I can be happy."