As he held my hand, all I could think was Ask me! But, because Lucas was so hard-headed, he never did that night. He walked me home, giving me hope that he’d still ask.
“Bianca…”he muttered shyly. He was always the quiet one. I looked up, he kissed me goodbye, and then he left without another word. I called about 15 minutes later, knowing he’d be home soon.
“I miss you,” I managed to stutter before he hung up, “ and I love you.” The ending was only heard by the dial tone.
I looked at the stuffed bunny on my bed, a gift from Lucas when we started dating five years ago. Georgette, though beaten and worn down, was my favorite object to hold when Lucas wasn’t around.
“I love him.” Directed towards the ball of fluff, but of course, she never answered. Never in my life did I ever want to be as far as humanly possible from the toy as than in that instant because the silence held the questions that haunted my mind. If I loved him, why couldn’t I tell him?
I hurled the book that Georgette was laying on. It hit my dresser with a gut wrenching thud. The book, a gift from that night, landed on my dresser. I barely noticed a slip of paper floating down, a stark contrast to the oak backdrop. I walked over and picked it up.
Marry me Bianca?
The red words were so clear. I rushed to my phone, also strewn across the floor from an outburst after the hang up. I called Lucas, but wasn’t greeted by his sweet voice. Instead, I had a conversation with his voicemail. I told him yes, I’d marry him and that I loved him. Then, I went to bed. Or, at least, I attempted to.
“Mrs. Bianca Ross…” I giggled. I always dreamed of that, but never though the dream would come to fruition. At last, I fell asleep with a smile plastered across my face.
The next morning, a knock upon my door jarred me from my sleep. Thinking it was Lucas, I sprang out of bed, hitting my knee on my nightstand, and ran to the door.
“Lucas!” I yanked the door open, “I thou-“ It wasn’t Lucas. Instead, it was an officer. My heart sank.
“Bianca Oliver?”
I nodded as my heart took up residence in the balls of my feet.
“Mr. Lucas Ross was found dead in his car last night. He collided with an oncoming car and wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. We found a letter and package in the glove compartment with your name and address.” He handed me the objects in question and left, no remorse or sorrow apparent.
I closed the door and put my back against it. I wanted to cry, to let tears flow that would out Niagara to shame, but nothing would surface. I sunk to the ground.
I then realized I had dropped Lucas’s last gifts to me. I opened the letter.
Dearest Bianca,
I love you. I always have but was too afraid to say so. The only thing I want in this world, my only wish, is to be yours forever. I love you.
~Lucas
I opened the box’s wrapping. Inside was a square velvet case, the kind only high-end jewelers would have. I opened it, the metal hinge groaning slightly like someone just waking up from a long slumber. As soon as I saw what the contents were, the tears finally came.
It was white gold but had an almost platinum shine. The main gem, an onyx, was surrounded by sapphires and yellow topaz, our birthstones. I saw this ring in a dream and had only told Lucas about it once. Yet, he remembered. I slipped the ring onto its rightful place and looked up.
“I love you Lucas. Now you finally heard me say it.” I looked down at the ring. “I love you.”
