ONE MONTH LATER
"There we go!" Emily says, beaming as she stands up, dusting her hands together, "That is the last box, so i am now officially moved in!" I move to her, she throws her arms around my neck and i lift her off the ground. Kissing her as i twirl us round. "I think that this calls for a celebration!" I say, lowering her to the ground and just wrapping my arms round her waist. "Yes! Oh we should go out tonight! Phil, me and you!" "Yeah, great idea. You can pick where we go." I say, closing my eyes and facing into her hair, breathing in her floral scent.
"Come on then lazy, no point in just standing here." She says, but doesn't move an inch. "Ok, i'll move." I say, not moving either. She laughs a little, turns to face me and we kiss. Slowly. Softly. Perfect. "Come on!" She says again, this time moving back and walking out of the room, pulling me behind her.
We collect Phil from his room, looking relieved to be having a break from editing his recent video of our trip to America. I had planned to help him edit it together, but since we had got back, i had spent all my time with Emily. Either helping her move in, cook with her, plan videos with her or just lying on the sofa with her, holding her in my arms and feeling entirely and completely content.
We step out into the darkness of the early evening, i watch as she shivers and clings to my arm to get warm. "Where are we going?" Phil asks, buttoning up his coat. "It's a surprise!" She says, grinning as we follow her through the dark streets, our breath visible in front of us.
"Here we go then." She announces, stopping outside of a restaurant, close to the river, with dozens of lights dotted along the wall running along the river. At first i don't make the connection of why she chose it, but then as she waits for me to realise, it snaps. I don't say anything, suddenly overcome with emotion, she walks to me, i hold her tight. "The restaurant where we saw each other again in." I whisper in her ear. She moves her head back to look at me, "Sometimes i wonder what would have happened if we hadn't bumped into each other. Whether i would have married him, or still have left him." "You know what?" I step back, so that Phil can hear, "That was the best thing that ever happened to me, seeing you again. You...you just make everything seem so right, so perfect."
Then i remember the conversation that i had with Phil on the flight back, how it didn't seem right to propose then, but now...now it did. Without another seconds thought, i found myself kneeling on the floor, watching as Emily's face turns to shock, her hands covering up her mouth. She steps back slightly, turning a ghostly white, but i carry on. No turning back once you get down on one knee, i think to myself.
"Emily." I start, already noticing tears running down her cheek, "Emily, i don't have planned for this. To be honest, it was a spur of the moment. I love you Emily, so much that sometimes i feel as though my heart will explode it's so full." More tears start rolling down her face, and she starts to shake her head, "I can't imagine my life without you and i don't want to. So, Emily, will you do me the honour of marrying me?"
But something's not right, she carries on shaking her head and i see the worry and panic in her eyes. "Dan...Dan. How? I mean, why? I mean...i don't know what i mean. I, I." She starts sobbing and then walks off, half jogging away. I stay on the floor, too shocked and scared to move. The sound of her heels on the floor fades away and Phil helps me up, "Dan, i'm so sorry." I can't reply, can't think.