Canyon Moon | H.S.

Moments of Gold - Part Two (78)

Oh.

He's down on one knee. His mic in one hand. A small box in the other.

My body doesn't know how to react, flushing hot and cold at the same time as my chest tries to sob and laugh simultaneously.

No wonder the crowd is so loud.

He just stays there with a lopsided grin on his face and shaky hands as the noise echoes around us.

I'm frozen to my spot. I don't think I could move even if I wanted to. I don't want to, or do I?

He raises the mic to his lips slowly, his eyes fixed on mine.

"Natalie." He says, and if it wasn't for my earpieces I wouldn't be able to hear him, but as it happens I can, and it's like he's whispering directly into my ears.

My lips are twitching into some form of a smile, but my heart is pounding so hard against my chest I'm worried it might throw me backwards off the stage.

"Natalie." He says again, and the noise around us lessens slightly.

My eyes dart around frantically as my brain reminds me to take in everything about this moment.

I spot Mitch over Harry's shoulder with a huge grin on his face, and one look up at Sarah shows the whole band is the same. They must have known in advance, as must the crew.

I look back at Harry, and I think my knees turn to jelly as I take in the sight before me a second time.

He's really there, down on one knee, in front of twenty thousand people.

He looks angelic. The yellowy lighting making his skin absolutely glow, and the pink of his suit matching the tops of his cheeks. His hair is falling gently over his forehead and his eyes look so green I feel as though I must have taken something, everything around me is so vivid.

"I've never done this before, funnily enough, and I uh... I've forgotten everything I had planned to say."

His low voice rings out in my ears, and I give him a weak chuckle, my eyes already prickling.

"Natalie.... you are the most amazing person I have ever met." His eyes are locked on mine, shining with sincerity. "I... I genuinely believe you must be an angel sent down from heaven because you're too good to be true."

I can't help but chuckle at his sappy words, but I'm definitely crying by this point so it comes out as more of a sob.

I think my hands are shaking, but I'm so focussed on him right now I couldn't say for definite.

"You changed my life without even trying," he continues, his voice wavering slightly, "you just... you walked right in and just looked at me and made me want to be a better person and you still do, every single day. I wake up every single day with a purpose... making you happy and showing you how much I love you."

He gives me a smile and chuckles slightly, shaking his head as he gets overwhelmed.

The crowd screams as he glances away, swiping at his eyes with the hand holding the mic, and it takes everything in me not to run over to him.

"I've lived without you, Natalie, I've lived without you having known you and I've... I've never experienced anything worse. My life could never go back to how it was before I knew you, I don't want it to, ever. Being away from you was the hardest thing I've done." His eyes are watering, and I feel my fingers twitch with the urge to comfort him. "I don't ever want to do that again."

I think I've stopped breathing, but it doesn't matter. My whole chest feels lighter than air, and if I take a step forward I might start floating upwards.