My Story: The Engagement
How to describe an engaement that happened so long ago.
Because of course that is what happened after he came back from Greece and she went to see him.
More than ten years later, she can remember where they ate dinner: the exact table where they sat. She never sat at that table again, though she's been back to that restaurant many times.
She remembers how nervous he was the whole time. His leg constantly bouncing up and down. The way he kept staring at her.
The movie they saw after dinner, one she's seen countless times since and never once without remembering that day.
The way he kept shifting in his chair and squeezing her hand.
The abrupt way that he said goodbye to their friends afterward, insisting that they needed to go.
The way that she worried that something was wrong since it was still early and he was so desperate to leave.
Figuring he was just tired and wanted to go back to their hotel, she was confused when he insisted on stopping at store and looking around, all the time checking his watch. A store that now sits abandoned, weeds growing in the parking lot.
The way that he suddenly announced that they needed to go back to their room right then. In a hotel that has since changed names and been remodeled to the point of being unrecognizable except for its location.
The way that he insisted she go up the steps first and enter the room first when he was the one who usually led the way.
How he opened the door for her and she saw a room lit by countless candles and a floor strewn with rose petals.
The way she didn't know what to say, but he nodded at her to enter.
A path of rose petals followed to a huge bouquet of roses on the window seat.
Turning around to find that he was down on one knee with a ring in his hand. "Marry me."
The tears that she shed almost instantly, the way that she screamed "Yes!"
The kiss. The first kiss as an engaged couple.
How to explain it all, more than ten years after it happened.
How to capture the moment. How to explain that engagement when she doesn't wear that ring on her finger now.
Ten years later, how to explain it.
This is the best that she can do.
If you missed any of the story of my past, where yes, I talk about myself in the third person, you can check out these links to get caught up:
10 Days After the Hurricane
Was It a Big Mistake?
A Romance Grows
And Then He Left Her
She Moves for Him
The Waiting Game
Because of course that is what happened after he came back from Greece and she went to see him.
More than ten years later, she can remember where they ate dinner: the exact table where they sat. She never sat at that table again, though she's been back to that restaurant many times.
She remembers how nervous he was the whole time. His leg constantly bouncing up and down. The way he kept staring at her.
The movie they saw after dinner, one she's seen countless times since and never once without remembering that day.
The way he kept shifting in his chair and squeezing her hand.
The abrupt way that he said goodbye to their friends afterward, insisting that they needed to go.
The way that she worried that something was wrong since it was still early and he was so desperate to leave.
Figuring he was just tired and wanted to go back to their hotel, she was confused when he insisted on stopping at store and looking around, all the time checking his watch. A store that now sits abandoned, weeds growing in the parking lot.
The way that he suddenly announced that they needed to go back to their room right then. In a hotel that has since changed names and been remodeled to the point of being unrecognizable except for its location.
The way that he insisted she go up the steps first and enter the room first when he was the one who usually led the way.
How he opened the door for her and she saw a room lit by countless candles and a floor strewn with rose petals.
The way she didn't know what to say, but he nodded at her to enter.
A path of rose petals followed to a huge bouquet of roses on the window seat.
Turning around to find that he was down on one knee with a ring in his hand. "Marry me."
The tears that she shed almost instantly, the way that she screamed "Yes!"
The kiss. The first kiss as an engaged couple.
How to explain it all, more than ten years after it happened.
How to capture the moment. How to explain that engagement when she doesn't wear that ring on her finger now.
Ten years later, how to explain it.
This is the best that she can do.
If you missed any of the story of my past, where yes, I talk about myself in the third person, you can check out these links to get caught up:
10 Days After the Hurricane
Was It a Big Mistake?
A Romance Grows
And Then He Left Her
She Moves for Him
The Waiting Game
Labels: my story
posted by Shell at
7:00 AM
61 Comments:
Now I have to spend all morning reading the other posts while yelling at The Dudes to get away. Blast you and your engaging half stories!
And, where is the ring?
OK so please excuse the slight green tint I have developed. I don't wear green well .. Girl this has been an awesome story and I love his.. How romantic..
OH MY GOSH. *dies*
I don't know if you managed to read this at the old blog, but it MUST be a Marine thing: http://www.thewifeyblogs.com/2010/10/when-he-made-me-his-sweetest.html
Your engagement story and mine? Crazy similar. Haha.
I didn't expect you to give so much away today. I love the then and now descriptions of the environment.
I love his plan! What a romantic!
Well, you did a pretty good job! I had chills... it's heartbreaking, knowing it didn't work out...
Oh my! How wonderfully romantic, what a beautiful way to ask you to marry him. How could you not say yes? :-)
You explained it perfectly. I love reading these posts. Keep 'em coming!
Oh this was the perfect way to start my day. So sweet and romantic!
How romantic! I love these!
I, too, want to know where the ring is?
And I'm the super organizer who is also thinking, "who did he arrange to come light the candles?" HA!
Oh my goodness...to live that moment. To have someone care so deeply about you that they go out of their way to present you with this romantic moment...you are a lucky girl.
I'm with Liz.. Who set up the candles? Surely, he didn't leave them lit while he was at the restaurant.
And WHERE IS THE RING?
I can't wait for more! Did you give the ring back??
I am now beginning to understand how hard this story must be for you to tell. All along I have been reading it like fiction, like it didn't really happen, but it did happen. Thank you for sharing who you are and who you have become through all of your posts, especially those in this story line.
What a sweet engagement.
WOMAN! You are such a TEASE and I'm loving every word!!!
How sweet! I must admit I'm jealous of all the romance.
Ten years sometimes doesn't seem that long, other times it's like a completely different world.
WOW! Goosebumps!!!
Ahh!! I want more. I can't wait until next week. ;-)
OH MY GOD SOOOOOOOO ROMANTIC!!!!!!!!!!!
That reminds me of how my hubby did it! We weren't in Greece but there were lots of rose petals! :D
Now I'm super curious as to why she doesn't wear that ring!
Reading through the comments makes me wonder if some have read the whole story.
Hugs to you! Isn't it funny how life's path can change?
How romantic!
I bet you knew, once you seen all the candles and rose petals that he was gonna pop the question! :)
Can't wait for the next part!
I LOVE this story, and just can't get enough. It's torture to have to wait for more details!
Its still a beautiful story!
LOVE IT!
Um. This installment was shorter than the others. I want more. Hurry it up.
lol
Yes, I also want to know why the ring is no more. But clearly you know how to keep the reader hooked! Well done as always, Shell. How incredibly romantic (swoon!).
What?! Okay, I know this has to be your husband so where's that ring? You lost it? You got another ring later on and that one is in the jewelry box?
I NEED to know!
How sweet!!! And to remember it in such detail!
Ok... I gotta ask! Why don't you wear the ring?
Okay, I just went back and re-read the post before this one and now I am starting to think this story is not about your husband. I hope you finish this soon because I am dying to know the rest of the story now!
I love you in the third person.
ok so I need to know what happens! You left us hanging! :)
Yeah, I think she mentioned once before that she was engaged to someone she was crazy in love with. But they didn't end up getting married. I think this is THAT tale. What an incredible sacrifice to your writing, Shell, that you can walk back through all the romance that led up to the pain (if it's the story I think you're telling) just to get the words down that have to be written. Sometimes we have to give so much of ourselves, at our own expense and even at the expense of others, just to get the story told, just to express it appropriately full of passion and commitment the the word.
I'm so thrilled that you're doing this. You are driving me crazy by dragging it out though. :)
Plus, I don't think you could write so romantically about your husband. I love your foreshadowing and comparisons in the italic statements. For example, you emphasized that the store is now abandoned and overgrown with weeds ... I believe to illustrate how that is what's happened to the love that once was. The same thing with noting that the hotel is unrecognizable, that everything has changed but the location...as if to foreshadow that all that is now left of your love is the story. The words. And the haunting of what once was.
I love you, girl. Thank you for sharing your story, your words.
Oh how fun that you're sharing your story this way. This is something that I've been wanting to do on my blog. I have so many stories to share, but want to make it interesting like a novel. Thanks for the inspiration, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this :) You're a great writer.
Ooo!! Exciting!
I keep thinking how sweet and so romantic and then I think I know how this ends...well not exactly but you know. I will say this was too short!!!!!! Lol. Love how you write!
This is a beautifully written story, and now I must go back and get caught up.
As always, enjoying each "chapter" of this enthralling story. Tell me more!
I love each piece of this story. Of course I'm anxiously awaiting how in 10 years you got from there to here.
Swoon!! You know I'm madly in love with your story and I'm very impatient to read each part :)
I love the way you told your story! Now where is that ring?
Ok, doll. Where's the ring?
I have a similar story. I was A LOT younger, and he was in the Air Force. And it ended up in disaster...chaos...just really not good stuff. But the way you tell your story, it's just so eloquent. I'm hooked, lady!!
Such suspense and such a good storyteller. Can't wait to read more!
shell, have i mentioned i was engaged before i met my husband? like years before. it was so romantic and perfect for us. At the moment. I'll never forget the details.
Boy, your fans are sure worried about that ring!!! :)
Oh yes you told it good! Can't wait for the next part.
Wow! This is probably more of a cliff hanger than the others.
Beautiful.
Awwww...it's so great that you actually have an engagement story, and such a lovely one. Do you know how lucky you are? Many women (and I won't name any names) were handed a flyer, and future fiance said, "Let's go look at rings. They're on sale right now." I like your story very much :)
Do you ever had the double life feeling? I'm sometimes sad that it seems like I'm watching a movie about someone else when I think about my past.
Okay, so the restaurant and movie are still vivid, but look at how much everything else has changed, right???
I so ache for you..
This is just lovely.
Too much suspense. Need more.
Suspense suspense suspense.....
I was engaged before, too. This story is nothing the same....yet it is all the same now that I read this post. It brought back every memory of that night he proposed. Ironically this week I watched Unanswered Prayers. I haven't finished your story yet (duh) but it fits in mine.
Is this the last part of the story you've written? I've scrolled through and haven't found any more recent pieces. Get on with it, already!!! :)
Shell, Shell, Shell...OMG you write so well, with so much emotion that I literally can't catch my breath sometimes...
I do want to know where that ring is now.
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