Page 208 - Interior_SPRING SUMMER FALLING_2021

208 | FRANCESCA P E NN

Henri shrugs. “I hoped we’d find a house by now.” He sits back and admires our
now complete castle. I rub and clap my hands together to remove the excess sand when
he continues. “But since we haven’t, I still thought it would be nice to build something
together before we got married.”

I look up from my position on my knees catching the meaning. “That’s why you
wanted to build a sandcastle right now.” “Yes,” he whispered. “It’s symbolic.”
“Symbolic?” I repeated testing the word.
“Yes. Symbolic.” Henri gripped my hand; the sincerity is clear in his eyes. “I had
a five-year plan, and we’re already out of order. We may not always experience life
the way we plan, but just know no matter what life throws at us, we’ll do it together.”

I stared at him blankly because I had no words. Emotion clogged my throat and
cut off my ability form a coherent sentence.
Henri leaned in closer. “There is no one else I’d rather figure out the rest of my
life with than you.”
Henri pulled two boxes out of his pocket. He placed one between us before opening
the other. My engagement ring sparkled even in the moonlight.
“Your ring is a physical reminder of my commitment to you. To us. The diamond
is my love for you; the anchor holds it in place always grounding me to you; and the
infinity knot is there to remind you that my love for you is eternal.”

“Oh, Henri,” I cried as he slid the ring on my finger. “I. I…”
He picked up the other box and opened it. “Tomorrow, I’ll don this ring and never
take it off.” His ring is a platinum band with a compass in the center. I saw my name
inscribed around the outside of compass.
“Where are your compass points? The directions.”
Henri smiled at me and pecked me on the lips before answering, “Don’t need
them. Everything points back to you.”

I kissed him with everything I had to replace the words that refused to be spoken.
Henri chuckled when we broke apart. “Is that a yes? Do you still agree to marry
me?”
“More than ever,” I confirmed while wiping the tears off face. “I love you so
much…”
“Are you sure about this?” my dad checks in a low whisper, pulling me back in
the moment.