He loved her since they were small children. He'd watch over her as she tried outrageous things, always making sure she did not hurt herself in the process. They grew up together, their houses in very close proximity, their families being friends since time immemorial, them sharing one garden. They shared secrets to noone but each other.
He realized he loved her when she was eighteen. During her coming-out party. He could not keep his eyes off her, she sparkled like a diamond. And when she smiled at him, he knew he wanted that smile to be bestowed only upon him. No one else. And yet, he was afraid. These feelings, though natural, were also somewhat unwelcome. It could mean the destruction of their friendship. And so he kept his silence that night.
Keeping away from her was quite hard. But he did just that, so as not to blurt his feelings so suddenly. He wanted to give her the world, but he also knew she had to experience a bit about it by herself. She was a grown woman now, he'd remind himself. Capable of making her own decisions. So he told himself that he'd wait for the right time. But he learned to quickly, and unfortunately, too late, that there was no right time...
Deciding to ask her to be his wife, he drove to town one day to buy her a ring. An eternity ring. On the way, he passed by an overturned carriage, with people on the street looking over it, shaking their heads. Preoccupied with the urgency to buy the ring, he did not stop to inquire about the said carriage. He went directly to the garden when he got home, knowing perfectly that he'd find her there, in her usual spot, reading a novel or just simply dozing on the bench. When he got there, she was no where to be found.
He was about to bound straight to the backdoor of her house when he saw a movement to his right. He turned. And there she was, although he knew that something was not quite right... She somehow had a glow about her. He went to her and embraced her. She smiled at him. He professed his love and told her of his plans for both of them. Then he presented the ring. She continued to smile, but now there were tears flowing from her eyes. She said that she loved him since they were young but he showed no inclination to take it further than friendship. That she had been waiting for this the whole time. And now, her every dream had been fulfilled.
The sorrow on her face tore his heart apart. He apologized for waiting far too long to tell her these things. He slid the ring on her finger and wiped the tears from her face. Then she smiled once again, saying she had already forgiven him for everything and wanted the both of them to only look forward. He said he was going to talk to her parents at that very moment. Her face became troubled, but she did not argue with him. Instead, she kissed him long and sweet and bid him to come back immediately to her about any news. He smiled and promised to be back, saying he would be able to pursuade her parents to give her to him.
He went directly to her family's main hall where, he was told by a maid, her parents were waiting. Oblivious to the red eyes of the maids he passed, he greeted her parents jovially. Then came the shocking news. The overturned carriage he passed earlier was carrying his beloved. she died though, because she did not get immediate medical attention. Her parents were informed way too late and the people around waited far too long to call an ambulance. Her body was brought to the door of their house a few minutes earlier.
He staggered to a chair, the blood draining from his face. He asked if he could see her. Her parents agreed, though not before exchanging worried glances. He went to her room and took a deep breath before entering. Her chamber, he noted, was very somber. He beheld her body, now cleansed of blood, on top of her bed. The flickering light from the slowly dying sun shone on her hand, momentarily blinding him. He looked closer. On her face, a smile of an angel. On her hand, his eternity ring.
He realized he loved her when she was eighteen. During her coming-out party. He could not keep his eyes off her, she sparkled like a diamond. And when she smiled at him, he knew he wanted that smile to be bestowed only upon him. No one else. And yet, he was afraid. These feelings, though natural, were also somewhat unwelcome. It could mean the destruction of their friendship. And so he kept his silence that night.
Keeping away from her was quite hard. But he did just that, so as not to blurt his feelings so suddenly. He wanted to give her the world, but he also knew she had to experience a bit about it by herself. She was a grown woman now, he'd remind himself. Capable of making her own decisions. So he told himself that he'd wait for the right time. But he learned to quickly, and unfortunately, too late, that there was no right time...
Deciding to ask her to be his wife, he drove to town one day to buy her a ring. An eternity ring. On the way, he passed by an overturned carriage, with people on the street looking over it, shaking their heads. Preoccupied with the urgency to buy the ring, he did not stop to inquire about the said carriage. He went directly to the garden when he got home, knowing perfectly that he'd find her there, in her usual spot, reading a novel or just simply dozing on the bench. When he got there, she was no where to be found.
He was about to bound straight to the backdoor of her house when he saw a movement to his right. He turned. And there she was, although he knew that something was not quite right... She somehow had a glow about her. He went to her and embraced her. She smiled at him. He professed his love and told her of his plans for both of them. Then he presented the ring. She continued to smile, but now there were tears flowing from her eyes. She said that she loved him since they were young but he showed no inclination to take it further than friendship. That she had been waiting for this the whole time. And now, her every dream had been fulfilled.
The sorrow on her face tore his heart apart. He apologized for waiting far too long to tell her these things. He slid the ring on her finger and wiped the tears from her face. Then she smiled once again, saying she had already forgiven him for everything and wanted the both of them to only look forward. He said he was going to talk to her parents at that very moment. Her face became troubled, but she did not argue with him. Instead, she kissed him long and sweet and bid him to come back immediately to her about any news. He smiled and promised to be back, saying he would be able to pursuade her parents to give her to him.
He went directly to her family's main hall where, he was told by a maid, her parents were waiting. Oblivious to the red eyes of the maids he passed, he greeted her parents jovially. Then came the shocking news. The overturned carriage he passed earlier was carrying his beloved. she died though, because she did not get immediate medical attention. Her parents were informed way too late and the people around waited far too long to call an ambulance. Her body was brought to the door of their house a few minutes earlier.
He staggered to a chair, the blood draining from his face. He asked if he could see her. Her parents agreed, though not before exchanging worried glances. He went to her room and took a deep breath before entering. Her chamber, he noted, was very somber. He beheld her body, now cleansed of blood, on top of her bed. The flickering light from the slowly dying sun shone on her hand, momentarily blinding him. He looked closer. On her face, a smile of an angel. On her hand, his eternity ring.
