I tell him about my dad and his apology, the hug, and the way it felt like something inside me finally exhaled.
"I'm proud of you," he says softly.
When we pull up to the restaurant, my breath catches.
Solstice is a new restaurant I've wanted to try, but I haven't had a chance to make reservations.
It's all glass and warm amber light. The exterior is covered in greenery that climbs toward the sky. Inside, flickers of candlelight, polished wood, and sweeping arches make the space feel intimate and grand all at once.
I breathe, "This is stunning! I've wanted to come here forever."
"I know," he says.
We're greeted at the door and escorted past the main dining area toward the back. The farther into the restaurant we go, the faster my pulse races, but I don't know why.
The host opens a set of double doors, and the world tilts.
Everyone I love is here. My parents and my siblings, whom I didn't even know were in town, all beam at me. All the Ivanovs gather in the room with drinks in their hands.
One long table, with soft lighting and flowers in deep reds and pale blues woven together, decorate the entire center.
I stop and turn toward Red. My voice catches. "What is happening right now?"
Nerves flutter across his expression, then he kneels.
The sound leaves the room all at once. My own heartbeat turns loud and erratic. My thoughts crash into each other too fast, bright, and full of hope, all tangled together.
"Blue," Red starts, his voice steady even though his eyes are shining. "You are the kindest, bravest person I know."
Tears blur my vision. My insides quiver with adrenaline.
"You feel deeply. You love fiercely. You survive things that would break other people, and you do it with honesty and fire and heart." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the ring. "Until you entered my life, I didn't know what was missing. Now I do." He opens the box.
A ring steals my breath. Deep red garnet glows under the light, rich and alive, surrounded by a delicate halo of blue sapphires. Everyone around us disappears. There's only Red, me, and the ring that screams our names.
My brain does that thing it always does when something wonderful happens. It spins into pure, unfiltered optimism, every fear temporarily drowned out by possibility. Weightless, electric, glee hits me, and dizziness sets in. I reach for his shoulders to steady myself.
Red continues, "I love you. I choose you. Every version of you. Will you marry me?"
I'm crying and don't realize it. Laughing too, while shaking my head like my body doesn't know how to hold this much joy.
"Will you?" he prods.
"Yes!" I manage to breathe out. Then babble, "Yes. A thousand times, yes. Yes! Yes! Yes!"
He grins and slips the ring onto my finger. It fits perfectly. Then he stands, pulls me into his arms, and every dream I've ever had with him flashes before me.
The world fades back in slowly as applause, laughter, and tears fill the air. I stay wrapped around Red—my future husband—my forever. I press my forehead to his chest, heart full in a way that feels terrifying and miraculous.
An ecstatic high hits me. I realize this is me at my most Blue.
Hopeful. Open. Alive.
Then a new, wonderful realization hits.
I don't feel like I'm waiting for my happiness to be taken away.
I know true love and joy is finally mine.
