Of Reality and Not

Cloud I- To Grandmother's House We Go

"Isn't she beautiful?" I said holding my phone up to my grandma- on the screen was a picture of the love of my life.

"Oh just gorgeous, dear! This is the girl you've been going on and on about all these years?"

I see this part of my family about four times a year and I don't talk a lot when we do gather- so 'on and on' might be a bit of an exaggeration- but true none the less. When I do talk she is all I talk about. With her in my life what else could be so important that I should waste my time thinking and talking about it instead of her?

"Yes, grandma this is her."

"Well how come you've never brought her with you? More importantly how come I've never seen pictures of this cutie?"

"Well.." I started with no specific answer ready on my mind but was interrupted.

"You bring her next time! Oh my... Just Look at her! How did you get so lucky?" She asked winking at me barely joking. She had a right to ask this. A question I wasn't able to answer- one I don't think will ever be able to be answered. I was definitely not worthy for this girl- smart, talented, stunningly beautiful. I am blessed.

"I'm not so sure how I got so lucky. Luckily she hasn't thought about it too much over the past 4 years." I said chuckling.

"When are you finally going to man up and marry her?" She said still barely joking.

"Oh, grandma" I said dismissively and laughing. Not that I wasn't thinking about that but that I was keeping my plans a surprise for now. I reached into my pocket and stroked the suede on a little black box. "I guess we'll jury have to wait and see."

My grandma smiled and turned back to cutting the turkey for our family winter dinner.

I took my usual seat at the end of what used to be the "grandkids table" which in the old days held 9 of us. However over the years several have gone off to college or gotten married and left- leaving me with the three girls whose conversations I could not relate to.

I glanced over at the "grown up table" and looked it over watching my laughing aunts and uncles deep in their conversations about nothing and my eyes met the end of the table where I found two empty seats. These were the seats which normally held my parents but a little over 2 years ago these chairs were abandoned by a plane crash that took my parents.

I turned my attention back to my table and to the seat across from where my sister usually sat but only to be reminded that this chair was also abandoned by the same plane crash.

All these family gatherings did was bring back memories. I closed my eyes in attempt to wash them away but the darkness only reminded me of them.

I took a deep breath, opened my eyes and slipped my phone out of my pocket. I swiped past my lock screen of her smiling face which immediately brought warmth to my heart and opened our conversation.

"Hey, beautiful. You still up?"

"Haha maybe.. Aren't you with your family? Are you okay?"

I reached into my pocket and again grasped the black box and grinned.

"Fantastic." I wasn't being sarcastic. I was ecstatic. "We still on for tomorrow?" I asked stroking the suede.

"You know it. Be here 6 sharp,you.