Chapter Seventeen
Mike and I have been dating for a year now. Things have been really great beyond the first two months of our relationship, but those moments taught us both about life and love. Tonight, Mike is taking me to our favorite place on earth, the rooftop of our building. He completely moved into my apartment about two months ago. We were spending every evening, night, and weekend together, so it just made sense to live together.
I look over at him now getting dressed for our date. I don't know how I got so lucky with him. I really don't know why he loves me, but I thank God every day that he does.
"Ready to hit the roof?" he asks with a grin.
"Of course," I reply and let him take me by the hand.
When we get the roof, I cannot believe what I see. The entire surface is covered in candles and rose petals all around. "Oh my god," I whisper. Mike just guides me to the quilt that lays in the middle of the candles. My record player is in the center of it. He lets go of my hand to put on a record. I can tell from the first note it's Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You."
Mike turns to me and begins, "I know this song is about a breakup, I promise that isn't what's happening here." We both laugh. "But that night when I came to you broken and you held me until I was okay, this song was playing, and I know how much you love Dolly Parton." He gets on one knee now and gets a ring out of his pocket. It's absolutely breathtaking, all of it.
"Katrina Amanda Bennett, you are the most important person in my life. You make me happier, stronger, and better than I ever thought I could be. We started our relationship with something almost tragic, but you never gave up on me. And I don't know what I did to deserve that. But what I do know is that I will always love you, and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you please let me love you for the rest of my life? Katrina, will you marry me?"
"Yes! Mike yes!" is all I can get out. I'm overwhelmed with happiness. I hold out my hand for him to put the ring on. His hand shakes as he slides it on. Once it's on, I grab each side of his face and kiss him as hard as I can. He kisses me back until neither of us can breathe.
When we part, Mike runs to the edge of the roof and yells, "She said yes!" He looks back at me, "I just wanted to literally shout it from the rooftops," he says and laughs giddily.
"In that case," I say and walk to the edge where he is, "I said yes!" I yell as loud as I can. We catch each other's grasp and look out at the city. This is the beginning of forever. And it feels so good.