I got down off of the stool that was put in place just so I could reach the microphone. Thank goodness it was hidden by the podium. I heard some sobs and some claps, but I didn't want any of that right then; I wanted to just sit in my seat and think. No; I wanted to be in that big, black box with him. With Chris.
After the ceremony was over, people came up to congratulate me on "what a good job" I did and "how lucky he was to have such a girlfriend" like me. I smiled and nodded, but I kept subtly eyeing a woman across the room who had come in right after I gave my speech. She was all in black, just like the rest of us, but there was something special about her. Finally, I broke away from the pesterers (though I was sure they meant well) and went over to get a glass of water; I wanted to admire her beauty from afar.
Her skin was pale and dotted with auburn freckles. She was thin and tall and striking. Her eyes were an almost turquoise shade of blue and were surrounded by long, dark eyelashes. He brows were small and neat and dark brown, and her nose was small and a bit upturned. Her mouth looked soft and was petal-shaped. She wore two sets of earrings, one pink rose and one silvery pearl on each ear. Her hair was long and black-brown and wavy. She stunned me.
When I had finished my water, I walked up to her and asked in my softest, most innocent voice, "Excuse me, miss, but do you have the time?"
