The moon hung low and silver in the sky, spilling its light across the quiet village. Loraine walked through the courtyard, her basket forgotten at the side, her mind swirling with thoughts of Jason. Every word he had spoken to her, every small gesture, every gentle smile… they had all taken root in her heart, deeper than she ever imagined.
Her mother slept peacefully, the soft rise and fall of her chest filling Loraine with relief. And yet, even in the quiet of the night, her thoughts drifted to him, to the man who had become the center of her world.
An Evening Meeting
She had not expected him, yet he was there, waiting at the edge of the courtyard when she stepped outside. The moonlight made his dark eyes shine, soft and warm, reflecting a tenderness she had never known.
"Loraine," he said, his voice calm, gentle, but carrying a weight that made her heart flutter. "I thought I might find you here."
Her breath caught. "Jason… you shouldn't—"
"I know," he interrupted softly, taking a step closer. "But I wanted to see you. To be near you. I… I've missed you."
Her chest tightened, and she realized with a quiet shock how deeply she felt the same. She had missed him too. Missed his presence, his words, the way he made the world feel lighter, softer, as if everything could be easier when he was near.
Walking Under the Moon
He reached out and took her hand, gentle, warm. Loraine's stomach fluttered. It felt natural, yet electrifying.
"You've grown so much," Jason said quietly, his thumb brushing across her knuckles. "Strong, kind… beautiful, Loraine. I… I cannot imagine my days without you."
Her heart thudded painfully. She had wanted him close for weeks, months now, but hearing it, knowing it… it made her breath catch.
"Jason…" she whispered, looking into his eyes, "I… I feel the same. I… I love you."
He smiled, that soft, knowing smile that always made her heart ache. "I know," he said simply, his hand squeezing hers. "I can feel it. And I want you to know something too."
The Proposal
He stepped closer, under the silver glow of the moon, lifting her other hand to his lips. "Loraine… I want to spend my life with you. I want to be the one you turn to, the one you trust, the one who stands by you through everything. Will you… will you marry me?"
Loraine's breath caught. Her heart raced, a mixture of fear, excitement, and overwhelming love. She had never imagined this moment, and yet… she had dreamed of him, of them, together, every night since he had entered her life.
"Yes," she whispered, tears pricking her eyes. "Yes, Jason… I will."
He smiled, pulling her into a gentle embrace. The moonlight bathed them both, soft and silver, and for the first time, Loraine let herself feel completely, utterly safe in his arms. She did not question, did not doubt. All that mattered was him.
Lingering Questions
Even as they stood together, hearts beating in quiet harmony, small, unspoken questions lingered in the shadows:
Will this love last through everything life throws at them?
Is Jason's devotion as endless as it feels?
Could she truly give her heart so completely, without hesitation?
And… what does the future hold for two hearts bound so tightly together?
Loraine didn't have the answers, but under the moon, wrapped in his arms, she knew one thing: her life had changed forever.