Short Proposal Scene

The Box

The Box. The stupid, red-velvet covered Box. Its sleek golden ribbon caught the light, shimmering as though the sun itself was captured within, and its velvety outside glowed with red radiance. It was the result of four hours of my sweat, blood and tears, (mainly sweat) and scouring the entire city's jewelry shops to find the perfect one. Never had nervousness gripped me like this; not when I had stood on the edge of a 10,000 ft. drop (albeit with a parachute), not when I had asked Tina McLeay out in middle school, not the night before the senior prom, not the first time Nora smiled at me, not when I had first met her parents... The goddamn box.

I snapped out of my reverie as she walked in and rose to meet her.

"Hey." I whispered against her hair.

"Hi" she smiled and said, moving her head back to look at me. The butterflies doubled. The box felt even hotter, like a beacon, shouting my intentions to the world.

"You left the key in your car; I got it for you." she said, dangling a silver key on a miniature poker chip.

"Thanks, I forgot it today after work. Do you want to go take a walk?" I asked, wrapping my hand around hers, ignoring the sparks that shot up my hand. I had never gotten used to that.

Her eyebrows shot straight up; I usually do not forget things.

Not pausing for a reply, I grabbed her waist and walked towards the stairway that led to the roof. She said nothing, only smiled and tucked her head on my shoulder. My hands were shaking, so I shoved them in my pockets, fingering the small, velvet box.

"Close your eyes" I said softly.

"Okay, but why?" she laughed as she pressed her eyes shut. My fingers gently wrapped around her head; thankfully, they were steady.

"Sshhh, just do it."

I opened the door and a gust of the November wind swooped in, making Nora shiver. I led her forward, stepping slowly over the threshold.

"Open them" I whispered next to her ear.

A gasp made a small smile appear on my face, exactly what I had thought her reaction would be.

"It's beautiful." She said in hushed tones.

It was beautiful. You could see for miles; soft lights were scattered across the city, stars patterned across night's canvas. Moonlight washed over us, flushing her face and made her eyes shine.

"I have wanted to do this since that night. I realized that I have only one thing I really ever wanted in my life. You." I said, falling onto one knee. I whipped out the dreaded Box and my trembling hands opened it. Nestled in an embrace of silk, was a simple gold ring, a white drop of pure light shining from the middle. I stared into her eyes and they swallowed me whole. A rushed intake of breath and a sudden gleam appeared in her eyes. I barely noticed that. The words rushed out " Eleanor Margaret Smithson Park, will you let me protecting you, cherishing you, loving you from this day to my last day? Will you marry me?"

"Y- Yes." She choked out.

That word undid me. I melted under the immense love and desire I felt for her and was reforged. Reforged into something stronger. I was melded to her, joined for life. All thoughts vanished as she pressed her lips to mine.

And so we stood for hours, dancing to music only we could hear, on the top of the world.

I heard only her.

She heard only me.

And we danced.