Once In a Lifetime

I open the bedroom door and start to walk into the living room. Harry is standing there waiting for me. He looks impeccable. He’s wearing a modern fitting black suit with a black shirt. He even has a plum colored tie on. The black boots he’s wearing complete the outfit perfectly.
When he sees me across the room, he swallows hard. A large smile comes across his face, there’s a softness in his eyes. We walk towards each other, meeting in the middle.
“You look beyond beautiful, Dee. Absolutely perfect.” Harry tells me. Then he laughs and adds. “Want to hear something funny? Helen showed me the dresses earlier and that one was my favorite.” The sparkle in his eyes is intoxicating. “That must have been why I had such a strong feeling to choose this one.” I say. “Thank you for all this pampering. You’ve made me feel like a princess.”
“You are so very welcome.” Harry grins. Then I add. “You look so handsome, Harry. You take my breath away.”
We thank each other for all the sincere compliments, then Harry leans in to kiss me and puts his hand on the small of my back to lead me to the diningroom.
I had no idea he had a professional chef here fixing us dinner. He serves us, wishes us a good evening and leaves us in the apartment by ourselves.
Harry holds my hand throughout dinner. The meal is lovely but neither of us eat very much. Harry seems rather nervous. He takes a deep breath and suggests we go out to the balcony.
He is walking beside me, holding my hand as we head towards the balcony. Occasionally his grip tightens. I wonder what is making him so very nervous. As we step out on the balcony I freeze, speechless. I’m looking around at the dozens of candles and red roses all over the balcony. Harry is watching me. I look down, there are even red rose petals on the ground. I look up at Harry. “H. Did you do this?” I ask. “Yes.” He replies.
“It is absolutely perfect. I’ve never seen anything like it.” I say quietly before moving towards him. I put my hand in his hair and kiss him many times. Soft yet passionate kisses.
Harry smiles nervously and takes my hand and leads me to the middle of the balcony. The city lights only add to the romantic setting. “Dee.” Harry starts. “These last few days together have been amazing. I’ve been wanting to tell you something but I was afraid if I said it too soon I’d scare you off.”
I look him deeply in his beautiful green eyes and tell him. “Harry you can tell me anything, I’m not going anywhere.”
H stares into my eyes for a moment. I smile, trying to put him at ease. He grabs my hands, holding them in front of us.
“Dee, I’ve never felt this way about anyone else.” He pauses, takes a deep breath, looks in my eyes. He squeezes my hands before adding. “I am in love with you, Dee. I think I have been since that first day I met you.”
My breath catches in my throat. A tear spills out of my full eyes. Harry moves one of his hands to my face and wipes away the tear with his thumb.
“Oh H, I love you too! More than I ever thought was possible.”
He smiles, relieved. He bends down to kiss me. Somehow this kiss feels different. There are no words to describe this perfect moment.
Harry pulls back. “Dee, I know we may not be each other’s firsts, but I want us to be each other’s lasts.”
Both of our eyes sparkle with emotions as I reply. “I want that too, H.”
He then turns and pushes a button and I hear Thinking Out Loud start to play. We wrap our arms around each other and dance, not taking our eyes off each other once.

Notes