I walked down the street, head hung low with my hands deep in my pockets. The rain hit my hat and overcoat, allowing a few stray raindrops to fall onto my neck and face. I still had a few more blocks to go and I wasn't about to be late because of a rain storm.
After evading a stray umbrella, I opened the door to a small bakery. The bell chimed over the door as I walked inside. There was no one at the register, but the smell of fresh baked bread and pastries reached my nose. I took in a deep breath, taking in all the wonderful smells. A young woman came from behind the back wall and the breath caught in my throat. Her hair and apron were speckled with flour. Her hair was up in a bun, but many of the ebony strands had come loose from the up-do. When I met her gaze, my lungs squeezed even tighter. Because this woman didn't have an ordinary eye color, like brown or green. Her eyes were the deepest blue, the color the sky turns when evening is turning into night after the sun has disappeared below the horizon. Sometimes, when her eyes caught the light just right, someone could even catch small specks of stars caught in the deep blue space of this woman's eyes. Finally I was able to get my breath out and I cleared my throat. The woman smiled.
"How may I help you?" She asked sweetly.
"I would like the usual," I replied.
"A blueberry muffin with a whole wheat loaf?"
"As always."
"Would you like it for here or to go?"
"To go," I replied. The woman got my order together before ringing it up on the cash register. I paid and she handed my bag, then waited.
"Is there something else, sir?" The woman said with a knowing smile.
"Estelle, don't tell me you forgot," I exclaimed in mock scolding. Estelle laughed.
"Don't worry. I haven't forgotten, Leo. I'm just teasing you," She answered. Estelle came around the counter and walked over to the door. She flipped over the open sign, so through the window, people passing would see that the bakery was closed for the night. I opened the door, letting Estelle go out first, before joining her on the street. She had looped her arm underneath mine, letting me guide her.
The rain had stopped and the sky had cleared of clouds. The summer air had been cooled by the rain, making it one of the more pleasant nights to be out on a walk.
"Where are we going tonight?" She asked.
"Somewhere special," I answered. Estelle nodded. I often answered her with this when she asked where we were going, so it wouldn't raise any suspicion from her. We walked for a long time, in silence, admiring the city around us as it began to grow dark. We passed the Eiffel Tower, one of the places I had thought about bringing her tonight, but I had thought it would be too obvious, even though we had visited the Tower a number of times. I wanted to take Estelle somewhere special tonight.
I led her through the streets until we were on a bridge overlooking the canal. I stopped under one of the lamp posts. Estelle stopped beside me and we looked out over our city.
I looked over and saw Estelle's eyes were filled with stars, but when I looked back to the sky, no stars had blinked awake yet. Finally I took a deep breath.
"Estelle," I said. She turned to me, the deep blue of her eyes, void of stars that had been there moments before. When she was looking at me, I knelt down. She looked at my puzzled.
"Yes, Leo?" She acknowledged. I pulled out the small box hidden in my pocket. Estelle gasped.
"Ever since I saw you. This is the same spot where I first met your gaze. I knew that you were special. You weren't just another girl I passed on the street. You weren't just another entrepreneur trying to make your way in Paris. You are talented beyond yourself and I love everything about you. I love you. Will you marry me?" I expressed. As I spoke, I noticed the stars in Estelle's eyes began to glow, until they were glowing brighter than I had ever seen them glow. A single tear fell down her face as I opened the box. The ring inside held a light blue diamond with a rose gold vine coming around it on either side, all held on a silver band. I stood up. Estelle had not spoken, the silence grew. I looked down, unsure of what to do next. I thought about walking away, but that would seem rude, so I stayed, even though my heart felt like the world had been placed on my chest. I took a staggered breath and exhaled, waiting.
I felt a soft hand touch my cheek. I looked up and saw Estelle cradling my cheek with her hand. I looked into her eyes, the stars and deep blue greeted me with kind warmth coming out of their gaze.
Estelle began to cry, tears rolled down her cheeks, but they weren't sobs. As the tears fell, she began to nod her head. The harder her tears fell, the harder she nodded. I slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.
We stood there for a while longer, leaning on one another. Soon a wind kicked up over the water and Estelle needed to get home. I was in my overcoat, but she only had a small layer to keep out the small chill. I wrapped my coat around her and walked her back to her bakery. She had an apartment above it where she lived, so I walked her around back, to the entrance of the apartment.
"Goodnight, Estelle," I said, giving her a hug.
"Goodnight, Leo," She replied with a sigh, "Thank you," She whispered in my ear.
"Thank you," I whispered back, before walking off into the starry night.
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1 comment
So Romantic A loving story. The beginning was mysterious then getting romantic
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