Of Reality and Not

Cloud IV pt. I- Practice Didn't Make It Perfect

Dinner was amazing. The snow was beautiful falling outside our window. She was beaming and everything was falling into place.

We finished our dessert- both leaving our cherries behind on our plates.

I slid my hand into my pocket and stroked the box. I felt like this was the moment. My heart pounded- I was nervous. But why should I be nervous?She'll say yes. Right?

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Hey I need to ask you something..." I said standing up.

She knew was was happening her smile widened and began to hold out her hands even before I called for them. I took her hands and knelt down just as I had practiced so many times the night before.

I looked into her eyes and took her hands. I opened my mouth trying to start my question. The biggest question I could ask. But before I could say anything there was a bang that came from somewhere off in the restaurant. I looked over her shoulder to see if I could see anything but it was in a different room- I assumed it was a fallen dish and turned back to her.

Again I started to ask my question but several more "dishes drop" and they were getting closer. I became unnerved and started wondering if those noises were really dishes as I heard screams.

I began to stand up as the screams grew. From around the corner in the direction of the noises ran a man firing off random rounds from the pistol in his hand. Now I know what all the noise was about.

Windows and chandeliers were being shot out around us and a waiter fell screaming grabbing his gut right in front of us and dropping his platter. The man locked eyes with me as he ran around a table. He raised his arm and aimed the gun right at her.

"No!" I yelled.