broken home - j.f✔️

fortyeight.

It was Christmas evening; the trio were sat around the tree, stuffed from their large dinner, and now opening gifts. Elizabeth's dad has bought her a few pricey items of jewellery, and a phone. And he handed Justin his gift. Justin smiled and took the small gift into his hands. He was almost too scared to open it, with watchful eyes on him.

As he unwrapped the paper to see two keys. A car key, and a house key. He couldn't believe his eyes. "You got me a fucking car?!" He spoke loudly in disbelief. "Excuse my language." Elizabeth had jumped to her feet and pulled him up, eagerly racing to the garage to see it. Her dad following closely behind.

"I know that when both Elizabeth and I are out, you have to walk everywhere." Her dad started, tapping to hood of the car. "And now you don't." Justin embraced her dad, a small whimper coming from his lips. Elizabeth almost cried at the sight. It was a beautiful moment. The two most important people in her life.

"Nobody has ever been so kind," he spoke to her father, after departing from the hug. "Apart from your daughter. Thank you both, really." Justin unlocked the car and sat in it, starting it and hearing the engine roar.

"You two can take it for a spin, if you'd like." Her dad suggested. The pair nodded and left the garage, both running to their room. Elizabeth sat on the bed, unable to get the smile off of her face. She watched as Justin had scrambled to put his sneakers on, chucking his hoodie over to her.

"I still have a few gifts for you," she spoke up, slipping her shoes on. "When do you want them?" Justin held his hand out, requesting that she place her own above it. And she did.

"We'll do it in the car." She quickly grabbed her bag of gifts for him and followed him to the garage, waving at her dad as they left. She giggled as Justin admired the clean, luxurious interior of the car and start it. He began the smooth ride, taking her somewhere she didn't even know. She felt his hand touch hers, asking for it once again, which she happily accepted. He placed her hand on the gearstick and his hand above it, moving it every so often.

And they finally stopped, near a cliff. She would be lying if she said she didn't get murder-y vibes from this place. But trees surrounded them and the whole collection of city lights were adoring. She sat beside him on the traffic barrier that lined the road, her bag of gifts in hand. Rummaging through to find one, she handed it to him.

He tore the wrapping to see a ring box. He opened it slowly to see a ring. A thin, silver band. He looked over to her, seeing her already looking at him with hopeful eyes. "You got me a ring?"

"I have rings on my fingers, all from my dad, and each one means something different." She spoke, holding her fingers out. He admired her hands, her perfectly manicured nails, small fingers, and incredibly soft. "This one," she pointed to her middle finger, a small silver band with a heart in the middle. "He gave it to me to always remember to be kind and have love, even for those who don't need it."

"That's really sweet." Justin spoke admiring the ring in the box. "And what does this ring mean?" She pursed her lips, as if to think, before turning to face him.

"It's to remind you that everything could be going wrong, not a thing in the world going right, but to still have hope. To know that there's always sunshine after a storm. And to strive to be better than you are, no matter how well your life is doing. And every time you notice that ring on your finger, I want you to think of me." She explained. She had taken it out of the box, slipping it onto his middle finger. It fit like a treat. "I'm so good at guessing sizes."

He laughed, smoothing over the silver with his thumb. "That was really beautiful, it means a lot to me, El." She smiled. He grabbed her hand and led her back to the car, sitting in the drivers seat as she had strapped herself into the passenger side. "Please do not kill me if I mispronounce anything."

"Eres el amor de mi vida. Te quiero con todo mi corazón. ¿Quieres ser mi novia?" He spoke, hoping he had pronounced every word correctly. Her dad had helped him learn a few phrases essential for this evening. Justin had told her that she is the love of his life, he loves her with all of his heart, and asked her to finally be his girlfriend.

"Te amo, mi amor." She replied, holding the sides of his face and bringing him into a kiss.