Where The Lotus Blooms.

Greed

     E and I had been living together for six months now. Things were going great. I started a new job and advanced in my career. I had decided to work from home, I kissed her on her way out and made my second cup of coffee. Who could be mad when working in pajamas and drinking coffee while jamming out? I finished everything I had on my work to do list as quick as possible. I was going to surprise E with dinner and wine. The small little things seemed to put the biggest smile on her face, and I was all about seeing her smile. 

     I made my way out for dinner and stopped by the jewelry store before getting the groceries. I was looking at engagement rings for her, and had found a couple I thought she would like. They new me on a first name basis now and asked if I had built up the courage to pick up a ring yet. I had narrowed it down to three different rings. Each time I stopped by I narrowed my decision by two rings. This visit would be the time I bought the one. They laid out the three rings I had my eyes on. They were all so beautiful and would suit her perfectly. The one that I had been teetering on, was encrusted with tourmaline, opal on an onyx band. My mind was set and I bought the ring. I went back to the apartment and hid the ring. Left for food and made my way back home.

     After dinner we relaxed in bed giggling about the drama and nonsense she dealt with at work. Perfect moments that would never fade away. I wanted nothing more than to create more and more of these memories. We fell asleep in each others arms. My heart raced in circles. The weekend was upon us the following day and I planned to propose to her. I left the thoughts in the back of my head as I faded into sleep. 

     E woke me up, she was running errands and said she would be back later. I got up and got dressed and made my way to the coffee shop. I had grabbed my hoodie which had the ring in it. I rolled it in my hand in my pocket. I was terrified. I got my coffee and walked a little slower on the way home. I was two blocks from home when someone walked up behind me and told me not to move. I froze as I felt their gun centered in my back. 

     "Walk into the ally on the left, don't say a word or I'll shoot."

     I listened and walked into the ally way.

     "Give me your cards and cash and I'll be on my way man, don't do anything stupid."

     I reached for my wallet and gave him everything I had on me. 

     " What's that bulge in your pocket man? I want that too."

     I could have cared less about the cash, it was only sixty two bucks, I could freeze my cards and get new ones, but this was E's ring. There was no way I was letting someone else take this from me.

     "Look, I'm proposing to my girl, its nothing special it was like twenty bucks on amazon." I lied and tried to get his attention off it.

     "Nah, I want it, so give it to me. Now!" He shakingly raised the gun. 

     In a split second I grabbed the gun and pointed it down away from my head. He fired twice and ran. I smirked as he ran, I didn't feel anything and assumed he missed. That was, until I looked down. My shirt was quickly staining with blood. I called 9-1-1 and made my way from the ally. I had never been in so much pain. People surrounded me and tried to help me. I felt weak. I called E and told her to meet me at the hospital. I passed out as they put me on the stretcher. 

     I came through at the hospital, E was on the phone. I checked my pockets to see if the ring was still there. Thankfully it still was. E rushed in tears rolling down her face. She was happy to see me awake.

     "You're awake baby! Are you alright??"

     "I'm fine love, everything hurts but I'm okay."

      "What happened? Why did they shoot you? Did you see their face?"

     "Someone robbed me, took the cards, tried to take something else and I wasn't having them take that. I didn't see their face everything happened so quick."

     "What do you mean tried to take something else? What did they want? Why didn't you give it to them?"

     I sighed, I didn't want to show or tell her what it was, it wouldn't be right. 

     " Tell me. What did they want?" she was not happy at all. 

     "I had bought something very important to me. To us. I wasn't giving it up at all costs."

     " Well what was so important that you got shot over huh?"

     "Promise me it won't skew or impair your judgement E."

     " Fine I promise just tell me!"

     I reached into my pocket and pulled the box out. It too was stained with some blood. My heart dropped. I held it out to her as she gasped and covered her face. She started to tear up. She slowly took it from my hand and opened it. Time was still. All I could hear was the monitor beeping with my heart. She was in awe, her face was lit up like a Christmas tree. I could do nothing but smile.

     "E, you have inspired me and pushed me to make my dreams come true. Without you I don't know where I would be. Because you taught me to never give up on my dreams, I chased them. I chased you and I will never stop chasing you. This is the biggest dream I have had yet, will you help me make it come true?" the words just came out like hot butter. I didn't mean to do it here but I knew her, even in these circumstances if she wanted it to be so she'd say yes, if she didn't want it to be so, she'd say no.

     "Y-y-yes, I want to spend my forever with you baby!" she exclaimed, she hugged me and kissed me. The ring fit perfectly as she looked it over in awe. I slowly started to fall asleep with her face imprinted in my mind. She said yes, was all that ran through my mind. 

     The machines beeped irradically waking me from my sleep. I was dizzy and lightheaded. I looked down and my bed was soaked with fresh blood. I went to yell for a nurse but couldn't make out the words. The doctors rushed in and checked my bandages. 

     "We must've missed a spot, he's pouring blood."

The last words I heard as I laid down. My face started to go cold. My vision was blurry as I reached for the doctor. I felt my body starting to tingle and go numb starting with my feet and making its way up my legs and body. 

     "Tell my fiance that I love her please, I don't want to go doc, but I feel it." that was all I could make out. 

     I heard the machine beep in one tone as my eyes grew heavy. The sounds slowly faded as the past memories I had flooded my brain. The things I did, didn't do. My brain swelled with emotion as I relived the memories I kept. Ellie. Her smile, her touch, her laugh. The way she loved, and spoke of her dreams. The way the sunlight hit her eyes and hair. My soulmate, my life. Everything I had dreamed of. I know I had promised forever, it seems like that was the one thing I couldn't keep. As my eyes closed the last thing I saw was her face with the biggest smile on it. Pure joy and happiness. Darkness surrounded me as I drifted away.