Rose
I pull another tissue from the box and spoon out another bite of ice cream.
I’ve been trying to enjoy some ice cream since Cristiano moved in and now I finally have time. But this is definitely not the way I wanted to sit down and eat it and I sure can’t say I’m enjoying it.
It’s serving more as a self-prescribed medication to help heal my broken spirit.
I loved working at that hospital. I was making friends and had just gotten settled into the big city and then boom!
They dropped the hammer on me.
I hear a knock on the door and prepare myself for some information about the busted water pipe.
Great. Rent will probably be going up at the end of my lease now, not to mention how am I going to afford my cracker box with no money coming in. Two weeks severance doesn’t last long and I’m not sure if I’ve worked long enough to qualify for unemployment, not that I’m thinking about it.
I need to toughen up and start looking for a job…tomorrow. A day to feel in the dumps is kind of a waste, but it does help with the catharsis.
And gives me time to realize just how real this whole living in the big city thing is.
I don’t want to be dependent on Cristiano. Sure, I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes me the offer to move in, but doing so when I’ve fallen on tough times is more of a convenient escape. I want to do it from a position of power, as his equal.
Because that’s exactly what we are.
He may be older than me and have a couple more commas in his bank account, but we all start at nothing right?
With his experience and guidance he can help me navigate the pitfalls of life and employment as a medical professional.
It’s just one of the other benefits of his being an older man.
Not to mention how he’s so much calmer, cooler, and more collected than guys my age.
How he doesn’t get in a rush when it’s time to please me. And how he even thinks of my pleasure first and foremost.
How did I get so lucky?
I walk to the door and open it, ready to see the landlord but there he is.
“You’re not allowed to cry anymore,” he says.
“Who made that rule?”
“I did.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“I did.”
“When?”
“I told you you were mine.”
“That doesn’t have anything to do with crying,” I say as I sniffle a bit.
“It has everything to do with everything. You’re mine so we face everything together. And when we face everything together we never lose.”
“Well, I sure feel like a lo-”
His finger comes up and he places it gently on my lips silencing me.
“Don’t ever say that. You’ve made me feel what it’s like to be a true winner. A winner in the game of life, love and the happiness that that brings. And I’m absolutely and totally committed to making sure you feel the same way all the time. All day every day.”
“Thank you,” I say. I lean into him trying not to touch the cold ice cream carton to him. It is hot out and he might appreciate it though. I pull back slightly and look up at him. “I believe you and I trust you, but still…right now I’m unemployed and with that soon to be homeless unless I find something soon.”
“You’re not unemployed. I already found something for you.”
“Thank you, but um…don’t you think I should get a say in this?”
“You get the ultimate say. Of course.”
“Thank you,” I say realizing he was already hard at work trying his best to help me, but realizes I can and will stand on my own two feet at the end of the day. “Sorry I should invite you in…like a friendly neighbor,” I say. I wink at him at the neighbor reference.
“Yeah, about that whole neighbors thing,” he begins.
“You found me a place too?” I joke.
“I didn’t find you a place, exactly. I found us a place.”
“Us? What happened to me getting a say. The ultimate say I thought.” I squeeze his side but am quickly reminded there’s little there to squeeze due to all those sit-ups of his. Technically there’s nothing, but squeezing muscles does count. But as much as I really do want to stand on my own two feet and prove to myself I can make it in the big city I am interested to hear what he has to say.
“The way I see it we’ve got two options. One, you move in with me and I take a job at another hospital. I can easily bring you aboard as part of my team when I negotiate my new contract.”
“But you just signed with this hospital. You can’t back out now…can you?”
“One hundred and eighty day out clause. I can terminate any time within the first six months. So I don’t ever have to go back there if I don’t want to. I even get a severance and the final part of my moving allowance, even if I terminate.”
“I need to learn your negotiation secrets.”
“You will. I’m going to share everything I know with you, or at least everything that interests you.”
“Great,” I say wrapping him up in a hug. “Because I’m interested in everything when it comes to you.”
I put my head on his chest and realize everything is feeling way better now. I pull back, place my ice cream on the table, and hug him properly.
“Wait. What about option two?”
“Option two is we open our own family practice in Colorado.”
“Colorado?”
“Or Florida. Or California. It really doesn’t matter. Colorado just seems like a really nice place to live and raise a family…which would make a lot of sense if you’re running a family practice.”
“One little contradiction with that. We’re not a family.”
“Yeah, I know. And I don’t like contradictions either which is why we need to take care of that discrepancy right now.”
“How in the world are we going to…oh my god!”
“I don’t want another second of my life to pass without you by my side. Without the world knowing what we already know…that I’m yours and your mine. But let’s make it official and that way I’ll never have to see anyone make you feel like they made you feel today. We’ll take on this big bad world together and shine our light on it while we help people. While putting bandages on kids knees. While we rehab seniors who fall and crack their hips. While we show people how to eat healthier so they can live longer and enjoy more time with the ones we love, just like I want to do. Like I need to do. Spend the rest of my days on this beautiful earth with the one I love. The most beautiful woman in the world who makes my heart skip a beat. The woman who challenges me just as much as she challenges herself. And the woman who’s not scared to take risks head on all alone, but who I’m pretty sure would much rather do so with someone by her side who loves her and who has her back and who’s going to be right out in front leading the charge as we make the world a better place. But first do me the honor of making my world not only a better place, but the best place. I’ve seen a glimpse of heaven on earth and it’s with you. Be my angel. Be my everything. Be my wife. Will you marry me?”
I look down at the ring that sparkles beyond belief, but not nearly as much as the belief I see in his eyes. The belief that he has in us. A belief that is only matched by my belief.
I took a chance going to nursing school so young.
I took a chance moving to the big city when I knew no one there.
And most people would look at this opportunity now and say this is the biggest chance that’s ever been put in front of me.
But I don’t see it as a chance at all. I see it as a sure thing because I’m just as sure of my love for him as his love for me.
When you know you know.
And even in a short time I know we have similar interests, desires for life, and most importantly the want and need to have a family…but only with the other.
He is mine and I am his and now it’s time to make it official.
I nod my head. “Yes,” I say but not very loudly. It’s not that I want to, it’s just that I can barely speak.
He slides the ring on my finger. A perfect fit, just like us.
He stands and takes my face in his hands and looks at me one last time before he kisses me. We’re now officially engaged to be married.
Tears of sadness have quickly turned to tears of joy.
He kisses me again and then without me noticing he sticks his finger in the ice cream just beside us. He scoops up a bit on his finger and taps it on my nose before quickly kissing it off.
“Hey!” I say.
“I’ve been trying to have ice cream with you since I first saw you. It’s only right,” he says with a smile.
“You’re only right, as in the only one who’s absolutely right for me.”
“And you’re absolutely perfect for me,” he says.
I quickly scoop us some ice cream of my own but when I bring it to his face I dab it on his lips.
He’s the sweetest man on earth and now his kiss matches his heart.
The heart which he’s given to me.
And mine which he holds now and forever.