52 Stories from 52 Photos: ‘#33’
The apartment was full of relatives and the air buzzed with that indefinable energy of a group preparing to go out. The hosts had chosen that flat six months previous specifically with guests in mind. And now, all gathered there before his birthday party they saw it at its best. A top floor hideout; it had a beautiful balcony where a brother and an uncle were currently outside chatting over a drink. Inside, the kitchen was alive with mums and sisters pouring out more drinks and admiring each others’ dresses. They were all beautifully unaware of the events that would unfold that evening; of the shift that would go down in their shared histories. All but one. In the bedroom, he touched his partner’s soft shoulder blade as she finalised her make-up in the dressing table mirror,
“I’m nearly ready,” she smiled into the reflection. So was he.
“It’s ok, no rush,” he replied gently. “I was wondering though; do you think we could walk down together? I need ten minutes of just you and me before all the craziness begins.”
She turned and rested on the back of the chair “They’re driving though, they’ll beat you to your own party!” she laughed.
“They’ll be fine, I just need a quick stroll down to the sea. If we leave soon it’ll be fine…Please?”
All dressed up in black and white they danced down the stairs from the front door of their building and into the early evening summer air arm in arm. They reached the the sea after a short stroll and the world opened outwards as they stepped onto the promenade. He felt her warmth beside him and thought back at everything that had happened since they’d moved in together the day before Valentines. To him, their home had been an incubator. The longer they’d been within it together, the better and stronger he’d got; and it was all thanks to her. Even as the world around them approached breaking point, the unwavering warmth and nourishment in their private space had given him new life. Not just the day, but all the world went dark and quiet when she closed her eyes. He looked over at them now, sharp blue-grey and glistening in the low sunrays.
“What are you thinking?” she asked with a wink.
“Let’s go to our spot” he replied tugging her forward by the hand.
Their spot was a grand old bandstand that stood at the very edge of the beach. It’d been there for over 130 years but its proud, polished arches and marble, mosaicked floor gave it an elegant timelessness than drew you in. You had to walk across a short, narrow path from the promenade towards the sea before entering under the birdcage-like structure but once there you had the best view the whole coast long. They followed carelessly the path they’d trod before and leant over the railing at the end of it and gazed out across the sea together. Ahead of them the solemn skeleton of the burnt out pier rested silently on the water, reminding all that passed how beautiful a wreck could be. The couple kissed and held each other close.
“You moving here was the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said quietly without breaking her gaze. “Your smile is the sun, ma chère. Et hommes tombés, il nous faut le soleil. You make me so happy.”
She squeezed his hands in hers and told him she felt just the same, everyday.
“But we better get going or you’ll be late to your own birthday!”
They turned their backs to the ocean and made to leave the bandstand.
“I’ve had the best birthday ever, you know. And it’s all down to you.”
They reached the centre point of the arches and he stopped.
“But there is just one thing that I really wanted that I didn’t get.”
She stopped too and turned to him quizzically, pleading “What?” with her eyes. He reached in his jacket pocket and slowly lowered himself to the ground so his eyes were level with her slender waist.
“A fiancée”
He looked up at her and opened a tiny box to reveal a treasure inside that caught the light bouncing off the waves.
“I love you girl and I always will. I want to spend the rest of eternity with you.”
The wind blew through the beach catching her blonde hair in its playful breeze and all became as it should.
“Will you marry me?”
The sun shone low over the horizon and a pathway was illuminated that showed two people away from the dark and into the heart of the world. They had forgotten the guests waiting for them, their friends and their families and when they remembered they had to run to the bar to meet them; breathlessly glowing with untold news.
“Ladies and Gentleman — thank you so much for coming tonight. It really does mean such a lot. I want to begin, however, with an apology. I’ve lied to you about this evening. I’ve lied to the all the guests, I’ve lied to the venue and until moments ago I’d even lied to her,” he gestured at his partner sitting by his side. “I didn’t invite you all here tonight to celebrate my 26th birthday — as momentous as the occasion is!” He took her hand and she rose from her seat to stand next to him in front of the crowd. She struggled to contain herself as she covered her smile with a newly decorated left hand and buried her face in his shoulder.
“But you’re all here in fact to celebrate our Engagement!”
Gasps became cheers and the cheers broke into shocked laughter. The group began to close in on the couple and he had just enough time to toast:
“Please join me in raising your glasses…to my future wife.”
