The room was cloaked in a soft, ambient glow from the nightlight. James sat with his back slightly hunched, the tension visible even in the dim light. His eyes, normally so steady, flickered with a nervous energy. I could see the weight of his unspoken words tugging at his heart, as if revealing them would change our carefully constructed world.
“Sarah,” he began, his voice steady but laced with vulnerability, “I need you to understand why I asked you to marry me.” I held my breath, my fingers clutching the blanket like a lifeline. The truth, whatever it was, hovered between us, waiting to unfold.
“I know this isn’t…the usual fairytale,” he continued, his hand rubbing the back of his neck in a gesture of discomfort. “But I’ve cared for you from afar for so long. When I saw the chance to be with you, even in this unconventional way, I had to take it.”
