Hey readers! I can't believe I'm on letter 18...time sure does fly. This also means that there will be only two letters remaining after this one :(. But don't worry, I'll try hard to make those letters the best they can possibly be! Also, after the last two letters, there's going to be a super awesome epilogue ;). It's not over just yet, so please stick around for the end of the ride!
I like how this chapter turned out; I think it's sweet :). But who gives a darn what I think? I give a darn what YOU think, readers, so please continue reviewing and being wonderful :D. Enjoy the chapter!
Dear Molly,
I had a pretty weird dream last night. You and I were running through Fugue forest together. We were happily cutting down trees with our axes, when all of a sudden a HUGE robot monkey with red eyes and big teeth (that looked kind of like Yolanda…) came crashing into the forest! You looked at me, determined. "Here, Luke," you said. "Take my ice cream cone. It'll save you." You then tossed me a double scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream. I was just preparing to use it to clobber the robot monkey/Yolanda when I woke up.
The whole thing was pretty believable, except, y'know, for the big robot monkey and the ice cream battle. I wasn't entirely surprised though; I always have weird dreams the night before New Year's Eve.
The fireworks are tonight, and I can't think of anyone I'd rather be with while watching them. It's funny to think that, the last time I asked you to watch fireworks with me, you barely gave me the time of day! This time, however, you simply said, "I'll see you there at eight." And then you smiled at me.
Was it just me, or was there something mischievous about that smile? Like you had some big trick up your sleeve?
Anyway, true to my usual punctuality, I was there at precisely eight o'clock. At first, it was hard to find you amongst the crowd of people at the beach. But I soon spotted you sitting on the dock, looking out at the sky.
I sat by you, and we talked. We talked about all sorts of things; the ocean, stars, herbal tea, how the carpentry was going for me, how the farming was going for you. Then the conversation took an interesting and more unusual turn towards the topic of New Year's resolutions.
"What's your resolution, Luke?" you asked, brown eyes looking into my amber ones curiously.
I had to think for a moment before answering. "Well, I wanna make Pops prouder of my carpentry work, I wanna get better at my axe tricks, I wanna climb to the top of the Garmon mines, and I—" I stopped.
"...What? What else? C'mon, you know you can tell me." You prodded, knowing that I'd give in eventually. You were right about that; I broke down pretty fast. What can I say? You're just too cute when you're being stubborn.
"I…wanna get better at loving you. I mean, I wanna be the bestest to you that I can be." I mumbled, embarrassed.
You looked at me with your sparkling eyes and laughed with your tinkling bell laugh. "Luke, you're too sweet."
"It's true! You mean the world to me, Molly."
"You mean the world to me, too." you smiled adoringly, causing my heart to flutter. Even though we've been together for some time, my heart still hasn't stopped fluttering whenever I'm around you.
A 'bang!' sounded, alerting us to the starting of the fireworks. The explosions were spectacular, but all that I could really think of as I watched them was how perfectly your head seemed to fit onto my shoulder as you lay it there. It was as if your head was the missing puzzle piece that my shoulder was looking for, and had finally found.
"Luke?" you whispered softly as a giant burst of red exploded in the sky. I was somewhat surprised to hear your voice; the fireworks had been going on for awhile, and you'd gotten so quiet that I thought you might have fallen asleep.
"Mmhmm?" I mumbled tiredly in response. Okay, so I might've been closer to falling asleep than you were...
"I never told you my New Year's resolution." you said.
"No, you didn't." I realized. "Go on, then. What does the ever esteemed Molly wish for in the New Year?"
But, instead of answering my question, you asked a different one. "…What would you think about us living together?"
This took me by surprise. "What? I thought that you were going to tell me your resolution?" I said, confused.
"I'm getting there." you assured me. "I've been doing a lot of thinking. A lot. And I know that we've only known each other for a year, and that we've only been 'together' since about mid-autumn…"
If my heart had been fluttering before, it was threatening to pound out of my chest as your head left my shoulder and your hands began to rummage through your rucksack.
"Luke, I hope this isn't too sudden, but…my New Year's Resolution is to marry you." You said, pulling out something thin and blue. A feather.
One run of the finger over it told me that it was a real feather. Not store bought, not any kind of imitation, but a real feather from a real blue bird. I was absolutely speechless at both your words and the feather you held in your hand. If the fireworks were still going off, I didn't notice; I was entirely wrapped up in what you had just told me.
You were blushing furiously, carefully avoiding my eyes. "I-if it was too sudden, then I understand. I g-guess I just couldn't wait, and I wanted to see what you'd say…" you trailed off.
No! That wasn't what I wanted! My mouth twitched a bit as I tried to form a coherent sentence, but I had no success. I was simply too shocked for words. So I did the only appropriate thing to do at a time like that.
I quickly pressed my lips to yours as sparks literally flew in the background. The kiss held everything I wanted to tell you then; how I'd been in love with you since day one, how I love the way you look and smell and talk, how I think you're the most beautiful girl in the world. All of that in just one kiss. No words required.
After we'd been kissing for a few moments, you broke for air. "Luke? D-does that mean yes?" you asked.
"Mmhmm…" I murmured against your lips as I began to kiss you eagerly again.
Finally, we both pulled away. I found the blue feather still clutched in my hand. I looked from you, to the feather, to you again.
"Was this what you were planning on giving me in the basket on Christmas?" I asked, smirking a bit.
You nodded. "Yeah, I couldn't find it in time though. I've been going up to the top of the Garmon Mines every day looking for the feather."
"…And are we really getting married?" I wondered, breathlessly. I had to ask, if only to make sure that I wasn't dreaming.
"We really are." you said, beaming at me. "This is amazing!"
"I can't think of anyone else I'd rather spend the rest of my life with." I told you.
"Me neither." You whispered, pulling me into a loving embrace.
We stayed like that a long time, just hugging, as we let all that had happened sink in.
Once the fireworks were finally finished, we let go of one another and stood up.
"Molly, thank you…thank you for everything!" I told you, grinning like a maniac.
"When should the wedding be? I want to let Hamilton know as soon as possible." you said. Huh, I hadn't even thought about that. I was too consumed by thoughts of us rolling through fields of flowers in marital bliss that I'd forgotten that we actually had to have a wedding.
I guess it's a good thing that the girl I'm marrying compensates for me in the responsibility department.
"How about a week from now?" I posed.
"A week? But that's so soon!"
"Yeah! We can have the wedding right here, on the island! It won't be complicated; just a few preparations here and there. We'll totally be ready in a week!" I exclaimed, officially set on the idea.
You giggled at my enthusiasm, and shrugged. "Well, if you say so, Luke, then a week it is!"
Just as we had set the date for a week later, Pops and Bo came over. Bo was eating a corn dog, while Pops was busy looking agitated at me for not getting ready to leave.
"Luke! C'mon, the festival's over and it's getting late." He told me. I ignored what he said, however, as much more important things had just happened.
"Pops! Guess what, guess what?" I shouted. "Molly and I are gonna get married!"
Bo practically choked on his corn dog at this announcement. Pops' eyeballs bulged.
"Well I'll be…" was all he said as you and I smiled at him. He probably couldn't believe that I'd just gotten engaged to such a wonderful girl. I can still hardly believe it myself.
When we arrived back at the house (Bo having stared at me in awe the entire walk home), the first thing I did was write our wedding date down on the calendar. After that I jumped into bed, slid under the covers, and let thoughts of you and I dance happily through my mind.
I can't help but wonder why you chose me in the end. Was it because of my amazing axe skills, or my dazzling good looks? Was it because of my enthusiasm, or the way I joke about things?
Was it because I love you so much?
I don't think I'll ever know for sure. Regardless, I'm happy that you feel the way you do, for whatever reason it might be. I'm happy that you proposed. I'm especially happy that you proposed to me.
...I still can't believe it!
Yours (the luckiest man alive),
Luke
