The Perfect Night

“Oh, let's get some popcorn for the movie,”

I say as I hold on to his arm. A warm feeling goes through me.

“Hmm, I wonder if I should get caramel or buttered popcorn.”

“Definitely caramel, it tastes so much better.”

The movie plays an old rom-com, the one we fell in love watching. It was a long day, I was tired and decided to watch a movie, and there we met. My friends call it love at first sight, and I couldn't agree more.

“Here comes the climax,” I whispered to him, and he grins.

He's always been the romantic one: bringing me flowers, making me dinner, and never making me feel like I'm alone. He's the sweetest person I've ever met. He always puts me first, even before his own well-being.

After leaving the theater, a cold breeze passes.

“The blizzards are coming in soon. It's going to be snowing, baby. You know I love the snow,” he laughs.

“It's really gonna be snowing soon.”

I wrapped my arm around his. It's going to be our first Christmas together. I would say I feel it's daunting to me—his family—but I know he loves me. So much that it wouldn't matter.

He suddenly pulls me back.

“Oh, God, there's a giant pothole.”

That would have been really bad.

I go closer to him and give him a peck on the cheek: “My hero.”

He grins as he walks.

I watched the empty trees; all their leaves have dropped apart from one—the one who stays true to it. The streets would have frosted-up windows where you can barely see your own reflection, the concrete which will soon be covered in snow.

Well, you know, it's funny how soon snow covers up all our footsteps. No one's gonna know who stepped here and who didn't. That's the fun part about life: only we know what we did.

He nods as we walk along.

I hear a crunch and look down at a tiny snail that has lost its shell, a poor, pitiful thing. Soon winter will come and freeze it to death. I do believe death looks better for it than what would be if it lives.

The evening view of the city, glistening in the light of life, the warmth of each other is the only thing that matters. This life I'm so very grateful for: the man of my life, the roads I get to travel, the time we stand to face.

“Babe, why are you checking the time? Enjoy the view.”

He looks up as we continue our walk. We've been walking the long way home, which is quite confusing. But he's always this romantic; he always notices when I love the weather, and we take the long way home.

I ran forward, taunting him to catch me, and he ran after me.

“You'll never catch me!”

“Here I come!”

This is the man I love. He doesn't care that we're in public; he doesn't care if it's embarrassing. He would do anything as long as it's me, and so would I. Through the darkest of nights and the brightness of days, I wish to always be with him. No matter how far we are apart, we will always be together in the heart.

My mother told me that I would be here for a long time. And maybe one day I would find love, and I know that today we met in that theater. That was the day my mom prayed for.

He catches me in a bear hug.

“There we go, much better.”

I giggle as I slow down to match his pace. It always amazes me that he can always catch up to me. No matter what we do.

“Babe, I was wondering if we could get pizza tonight.”

He continues walking, which must mean that he already decided something. Maybe we're going to a pretty restaurant he was talking about earlier. What was it called again? All right, Le Miser-Grante, the prettiest, most expensive restaurant in the city.

“Come on, come on, come on, we're gonna be late.”

“All right, let's go.”

He pulls me, leading me to our house. Our apartment. I moved in quite early on because we knew we were gonna be together forever. So why not? Let's just live together. He decided that being apart for even a minute in a day was too hard, and I agreed. Although he does have to go to work, after work we hang out and everything feels great.

I always thought:

At the break of dawn, the sun would be awake and happy, but it seems like the sun and the moon have disagreements. It's just like a relationship. Sometimes you face each other, sometimes you don't, but you're tidally locked. So you can't do much about it, except stare into each other's gaze and be grateful for the man you got the pleasure to be with.

“You know, I'm wondering if you want to go to the museum later. I really wanted to see how the Greek gods were,” I say as he starts talking about Persephone.

The goddess of love living downstairs with Hades.

Hades, though, as much hate as he gets, he's a lovely, wonderful person. Well, he's not a person, but a god. I do feel like he gets thrown under the bus a lot.

“Home sweet home at last”

He opens the door and we get in. The lights are on, which is typical of him. I clearly remember him turning them off. I guess I haven't been sleeping well.

“Babe, when did you leave the lights on?”

He's in his room; he probably can't hear me. I walk over closer to his room. He immediately puts something in his pocket.

“What's that?” I whisper as I'm almost near his room, when I hear:

“I'm finally gonna give it to her tonight.”

I feel warm all over, joy running through my veins. He's gonna do it. He's really gonna propose today. I knew he was the best boyfriend in the entire world. I knew he loved me more than anything else. I knew that this day would come. I ran back to the couch. Sitting on it as if I knew nothing, I was already ready.

“All right, let's go to the restaurant.”

I hide my excitement as he grabs the keys. Tonight's the night; I'm finally gonna be his fiancée. No more rolling around in the dirt. I look around in our living room. My final time as his girlfriend sitting on this couch. I see the wallpaper, yellowing. The ceiling light shining bright, that you're sure dripping a bit of water. This is the life we live. And it doesn't matter, as long as we're together, and now we're gonna be together forever.

The entire ride to the restaurant, I stared out the window. Looking at every tree we passed, every human with their little dogs walking in the streets. Well world, this is the final time you're seeing me as his girlfriend. Next time I come across this road, I will be at a further level in our relationship.

“You're the best thing that's ever happened in my life, and I'm so grateful for you.”

I hear his mumbling, and I can't help but smile. I put my hand on top of his, and I feel him shudder. The nerves make me feel ecstatic.

At the restaurant, he finds our table using his name. He sits down before me, showing me our table. He's the most romantic person in the world. He knows this restaurant is my favorite. He knows I love to sit on my own accord as I don't like to be treated as a doll. 

Although if he did, I would love it, because I love him.

I see his legs bouncing. As he orders are appetizers.

I watch in awe as he talks to the waiter, a knowing glee in my eyes that everyone knows what's going on.

“Babe, thank you so much for bringing me to this restaurant. We're gonna have such a great time tonight.”

He looks right at me and smiles. I've never felt like this before. It's more happiness than I ever thought I could have, and it's all because of him.

“You're here.”

“Of course I'm here, babe. What are you talking about—”

“Hey, sorry I'm so late.”

I felt a crack in my heart. Dread starts looming over me.

“Babe, who the hell is she?”

“Honey, I'm so sorry. The shift was so long, and there was traffic. I'm so, so sorry.”

“No, no, it's okay, babe, it's fine.”

“Ba...babe no, this can't be happening. What are you doing? I'm right here, babe, what are you doing? Why is she calling you babe? Who is she to you? Why? Why aren't you looking at me?”

I feel icy cold as I see him get up and go towards her. He pulls her into a hug. Why would he do that? He pulls her chair and she sits. Why is he choosing her over me? What did I do? We've been together so long. We've been so happy together. Who is she? Where does she come from?

Tears forming in my eyes, my skin already damp.

“Babe, what are you doing?”

barely comes out of me before she takes a seat and feels a shiver through her.

“Wow, it's really cold here.”

I jumped up. This can't be real. It must be a prank. Tell me it's a prank.

He completely ignores me.

I feel a hand on my shoulder.

“It's finally time you let him go.”

“No, I can't let him go. He's my boyfriend. He loves me, he does. This is just a sick prank. He needs to tell her that.”

“You have to let him go.”

I start flailing, flinging my arms around as I am pulled away. “This can't be true. This can't be true,” I chant.

I break free as I go over to him and try to touch his face once more.

“Wow, the wind is really strong in the restaurant. Maybe they should close the door.”