The man of my dreams, the man I dreamt about night after night, the man I daydreamed about day after day, the man I thought I would never, I could never have. He was here; stood in front of me...mine, all mine.
Let's rewind to get you up to speed. I was being put through hell sat in a therapist office with mum, and she was talking about Gary. I told him that I was so over him, even though I wasn't, and she knew it. All of a sudden he came bursting through the door and stood in front of me. His face was panic stricken and I was worried. I could never bear to think of him worried, frightened, upset or hurt (nor with another girl, but that's all forgotten now). I stood, our eyes meeting. It was nice that he was taller than me, not many people are, which made me feel, normal I guess, for once. Everything about Gary Preston made me feel normal. He watched me make fruit friends and just smile contentedly at me, not judging or thinking I was silly. He realised that I was never going to go for his fancy foods and always baked me the nicest cakes, because my size never mattered to him. He joined in games and competitions with my best friend Stevie. He helped keep mum off my back, as much as is humanly possible. Clothes, music, films, food, leisure, dates and relationships, beauty, health, it didn't matter to Gary, as long as I was happy, so was he. That is rare, especially in a species of the opposite sex. But he accepted me. Now here he stood, rescuing me from this torture, saying those three little words that I have longed to leave his lips for more than half of my life. 'I love you, Miranda' he spoke with conviction, taking my hands in his. I opened my mouth to be confronted with no sound. He just knew what I wanted to say and before I could force the words out, his lips met mine. I closed my eyes, knowing that when I opened them I would have been at home, in bed, or still stood in the office, with only mum and the therapist there. I opened them slowly, preparing to look like a fool again, but there he was, still stood in front me, as large as life, and twice and handsome. It was real, it was really happening and I could have done a little weep of joy!
'Miranda, are you okay?' he asked, concerned. I nodded with a smile, slightly in shock and not able to speak. 'Look, I'm going to be honest with you' he began. 'He's found someone else, he's engaged, married, kids even, oh no why do I always think things are working out the way I want them to, and then it all goes wrong' I thought to myself, not actually giving him time to finish before assuming the worst. 'I came here because I needed to ask you something' He bent down to the ground.
'Oh don't you just hate it when shoelaces come undone' I spoke, a little too loudly, because Gary just looked at me puzzled and then back at his slip on shoes. No laces. Confused face!
He stayed there, on one knee...did this mean...? "Miranda, will you marry me?" I felt my jaw drop and my mouth open as if I were catching flies. No, he didn't just...propose, did he?!
"I'm sorry" I asked, needing to hear it again.
"Will you marry me?"
I shook my head in puzzlement. He thought I meant no. His face looked like a child's who had their favourite toy taken away. "Gary, yes, yes, yes, YES I WILL MARRY YOU!" I took hold of his hands as he came back to standing. His right hand kept hold of my left and he carefully slipped a ring onto my wedding ring finger. It was beautiful, white gold with little diamonds held by entwined gold. "It's beautiful" I stammered eventually.
"Just like you" Our hands remained joined as our mouths met tenderly.
"Oh and about time as well" mum laughed from the couch behind me. I had forgotten she was there. "Such fun" I had forgotten the therapist was there as well. For the past five minutes had been on another planet, in Miranda-land. It was perfect, but so was reality right now.
"Excuse me, but time's up and I need the money before you leave" he piped up from his chair, startling me, making me jump, which in turn made Gary jump. 'Sorry' I mouthed.
"200 pounds" me and mum said together, again, in astonishment. Daylight robbery.
"200 pounds" we said again, this time with Gary, just as shocked as we were.
"Pay it mum, I don't care anymore, I couldn't be happier. I've got the man of my dreams, my knight in shining RAF uniform"
"Now this is what I call, a miracle!" mum laughed.
"Yes mum, it is just what you call a miracle"
We left hand in hand, me and Gary I mean, not mum, it would be a bit weird if I were holding hands with my mother, it would be even weirder if she were holding hands with Gary. Anyway, today, anyone can hold anyone's hand, because I am the happiest woman alive. We continue to walk, beaming to each other. We approach the doors, which look like automatic doors, so I stand there and wait. Gary let go of my hand and walked towards the wall and mum was slightly behind. It still won't open. I'm waiting! I decided to open them manually. With my back to one, I push the other away from me. But no luck. A man in a security uniform begins to approach me as I start kicking the doors. They still won't open. At that moment, Gary pushes a button on the wall by the door, and whilst I'm pushing and kicking, they open. I fall straight though them and onto the lap of a man being pushed in a wheelchair. I felt mortified. I stand up gracefully and apologise. "I'm so sorry"
Gary looks more horrified than me. Mum stands back appalled. "Shall we run?" Gary asks. We reach for each other's hands, but ten steps from the building I'm exhausted. Well today wasn't a complete disaster, I'm finally going to be 'Miranda Preston'! Nothing will go wrong on my wedding day...
