Another Sad Story

7.

After our little discussion at the park, we decided to go back home where I was going to take the day off from working at home to fully spend more time with Stella.

We ended up going through some photo albums making fun of the way we used to look and we played a few board games. Around five in the afternoon, I decided to I wanted to take Stella out for dinner. It had been a while since we had gone out on a date and I thought tonight would be a special night considering what we'd been through in the past month.

While I waited for Stella to get out of the shower I picked out a formal outfit before walking downstairs into my office area in the house unlocking a drawer revealing a light blue plush antique ring box, opening it to see my mother's wedding ring. She had given it to me to give to Stella months ago, she kept pushing me to ask for her hand in marriage but I was afraid she'd think we were too young and she'd decline and leave me. But after the incident and our conversation earlier I realized I had nothing to be scared of. I had already asked her parents for permission to marry their daughter and they gladly approved.

I placed the box in the pocket of my coat before Stella could see it. After grabbing my clothes I took a shower in the downstairs bathroom, where I trimmed my hair and brushed in a style very new to me. I laughed as I did so, thinking of how foolish it was of me being so worried about looking perfect for her. Once I was ready I headed upstairs to check on Stella. Stepping into our bedroom I saw her standing in front of a mirror tracing her body as she wore a tight black dress.

"You look gorgeous," I stood by the door frame watching her in awe. My heart was beating fast and butterflies began to fly, I couldn't believe I was going to spend the rest of my life with her. How could I have gotten so lucky to love someone like her and for her to love me back?

"I don't know, I think this dress makes my stomach look a bit big." She covered her body in shame as she turned around to face me her jaw-dropping. "But you look hot as hell." She grinned causing me to blush. I felt like a young schoolboy who was finally noticed by their crush.

"No, no, you're the hot one. Your body looks fine so don't pout." She turned to see her reflection once more, I walked behind her wrapping my arms around her waist.

"You don't have to lie." She frowned.

"Are you kidding me? Look at you!" I stepped back and admired her. "What is there to lie about? You're fucking beautiful!" I smiled at her. She giggled before turning to kiss me.

"I love you." She smiled against my lips.

"I love you more." She quickly turned grabbing her arm in discomfort. "What's wrong?"

"I just got super itchy," She had worn a long sleeve dress to cover her bandages.

"Do you want me to put the cream on it?" She nodded her head yes. I took her hand gently before walking to the bathroom. I opened the drawer taking out the white tube with red lettering, I gestured to lift her sleeves. The cuts had stopped bleeding but now and then depending on the pressure put on her arm it would bleed out a bit. She unwrapped the bandage revealing the long deep stitched cut. I sharply inhaled before brushing the ointment gently over the skin.

She winced. "I'm sorry, am I hurting you?"

"No, it's just cold." She chuckled.

"Oh okay." I proceeded to repeat the same thing on the other arm before wrapping it up with a new bandage. Once finished Stella went to fix up some last-minute things. She changed her hair and applied some light makeup.

As she did I packed a small bag with her ointment and more bandages just in case, I also placed her medication in with the intent being we might not come back home tonight. I placed the bag in the car before going back inside to see if she was ready.

Once she was done I escorted her out to the car, opening the door for her before walking over to the driver's side.

Within our arrival to the restaurant in which I had made the reservation for earlier, we ordered our food along with a glass of wine. Stella wasn't supposed to be drinking but I thought this night could be an exception. After all, it's not like she was going to do something stupid.

Throughout our diner, we made each other laugh and gave each other butterflies. It felt so surreal sitting across from someone so beautiful as she.

The sky was clear of all clouds allowing the stars to shine bright on this wonderful night, I thought tonight couldn't be going so perfect as it is right now. I grew nervous as we got in the car as I started to drive us back to the place she had first told me she couldn't live without me, three years ago.

She cracked down a window allowing a warm breeze to fill the car. Her hair blew softly with the wind and she closed her eyes enjoying the beautiful melody of Stevie Nicks's voice sing through the stereo.

It was only a twenty-minute ride before we arrived, as I parked the car she smiled over at me. I got out of the car rushing over to grab the bag from the back before going to open the door for her.

As we began walking towards the beach she took off her heels, she didn't know where we were walking towards until she saw the candles shaped like a heart surrounding a table and two chairs.

"Chris," She let out in a breath.

"Do you like it?"

"How did you even?-" She wore the biggest smile I'd seen in a long time.

"Landon helped me."

"Is that why you were on your phone earlier?"

"Yea."

"Awe, you're so fucking cute!" She kissed me passionately before turning to look out to the waves as they crashed into each other unaware of what was about to happen. "Do you remember the first time I brought you here? It was the night-"

She turned back around to see me down on one knee. "The night you told me you couldn't live without me. The night we became one." She looked at me with admiration, her eyes began to water. "Stella, as I said earlier, I cannot imagine my world without you. You make me a better person and I love you so so much. We've been through a lot, let alone in the past month but it always makes our relationship stronger. We've known each other for the longest time, yet I know we still have a lot more to explore and learn together. So, will you, Stella Porter make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?"

She was now in tears. "Yes!" She smiled as I placed the ring on her finger before lifting her off the ground into my embrace, kissing her passionately.

As I put her down she looked at the ring, "Isn't this your mom's engagement ring? I thought she lost it?"

"Yea, it was my gran's. When my father asked for my mother's hand she gave him this ring, my mom gave me this ring to give to you months ago. When you noticed she wasn't wearing it she told you she misplaced it but I had it this whole time."

"It's so beautiful." She stared at it in awe.

"I love you." I let out in a breath as I stared at her, she was so breathtaking and it killed me she couldn't see what I do.

"Awe Chris I love you a million times more." Our eyes locked before I leaned in for a kiss. Her arms wrapped around my neck and I wrapped mine around her waist holding her tight.

"Do you want to stay here at the beach house or do you wanna go home?"

"I think we should stay here, get a break from that house of ours. "She continued to wear that big beautiful smile and it couldn't have had made me any happier than to see her like this. My goal was to always see her this way, I never want to see her in that hospital bed ever again.

I grabbed her heels from the floor and the bag before walking along her side towards the old house we used to spend various nights in.

We sat in the living room listening to music, dancing, laughing, having the best times of our lives. Everything seemed fine, we had forgotten about our problems and for the first time in a long time, lived in the moment. Not worrying about yesterday or of there'd be a tomorrow, just being there with each other.