The summer vacation we took.
Apple-picking and hayrides with Bread, Kendrick, Reese, Shins, and his fiancée—who’s still hard of hearing.
Marcela and I with community after the City Council voted for the Buffalo Grows Coalition to receive 20 vacant lots.
“Keep going,” Antonio says over D’Angelo’s serenade to provide everything I desire.
I walk through a canopy of our memories. Printed-out text messages, our words of encouragement during our biggest life transitions when we lived apart. There are photos of me at his games—when the Steel dominated during playoffs, and when they won their first championship.
“H-how did you do all of this?” I gulp hard, tears slipping down my cheeks.
Antonio wipes them away. “Ella did the balloons and photos at her house. Your sister handled the rest while we were at dinner.”
“Marcela is here?”
“She’s out with her friends, but yeah. She leaves Friday.”
My sister said she was taking time for herself after her reelection. A few city councilmembers lost their seats, but she ran uncontested. With eyes on the mayor and whispers of moreuncovered corruption, she’s been working around the clock, and she deserves the break. We spent Christmas together, but I never expected this.
“Keep going, Doe.” Antonio takes off my coat and kisses my neck.
Fresh tears gather, and my voice catches at the images Antonio took during his visits to the community center. Me with my kids in the STEM hub, and me in my home office dedicated to designing and prototyping my patent concept. I’m in the final stages before I begin the application process.
Every memory of us together is here.
I arrive at the corner window that overlooks DC. A white neon “Will You Marry Me?” LED sign hangs in the middle of a heart-shaped backdrop covered in white roses. At the base are candles in vases, bouquets of flowers in soft pinks and creams, and a faux fur blanket covered in rose petals, with my high school yearbook on top. It’s open to the page with my photo from sophomore year. A heart is over the image. Next to it is the word “love” scribbled in the margin.
Julian’s yearbook.
“Doe.”
Antonio is on one knee with a black box in his hand. His coat is off. So is the beanie covering his waves. His smooth caramel skin anchored by a boxed beard glows under soft lights.
Jinkies.
“From the moment I saw you in the hallway, my world was never the same. I’ve loved you from afar, hoping to taste the edge of your laugh and catch the eclipse of your smile. I never believed I would have a soulmate until I met you. Every day we’ve spent together and all those years apart drew me to you. You’ve been my best friend, my person, and my greatest joy.
“Every milestone, every memory we’ve shared together is a reminder of our love. You are my home, Miriam, in every universe across every lifetime.”
“Antonio,” I sob. Damn me for wearing these condom-like contacts.
His smile wobbles. “I love you so much.” He brushes away a tear and opens the velvet box to reveal a classic solitaire stone on a simple band. It’s perfect. “Will you do me the honor of being my emergency contact for the rest of my life?”
We erupt in laughter.
I drop to my knees and kiss away his tears. “Yes, I will,” I whisper over his lips.
His mouth trembles over mine as he cups my face for a kiss.
“I love you,” he repeats with each brush of his lips.
“I love you too,” I say back.
He lifts me into his arms, peppering my face with kisses on the way to his bedroom.
“Antonio?”
“Yeah?”
“Maybe lose the watch, just in case.”
A smile toys at his lips. “Good idea.”
THE END
