The Gardens

*Her*

I looked through the crowd until I spotted him. He stood tall, with the biggest smile on his face. His dark green eyes watched me as if I was the only person to exist. It sent my heart into a staccato beat, making me breathless and excited all at one go.

He made me feel so loved, so special. So not alone.

My legs shook as I sat there, waiting for the last of the speeches to end. My feet were hurting and I regretted the heels I had worn. Still, relief was evident in the way my shoulders sagged with no indication of stress.

“Have any plans for after?”

I leaned toward Brian, who sat beside me and shook my head.

“We can go out if you want?”

“We could, but I have to check with Kian. He might have something planned.”

He shifted his eyes, his jaw clenching. I watched him a feeling of pity in the depths of my chest. He always looked at me like that and our friendship was never the same after Kian had shown up at my door a few weeks ago.

“You love him?” He whispered, still averting his gaze.

I smiled to myself as I thought about it. Love sometimes felt like too simple a word. Sometimes I felt as if I loved him more than I loved myself.

“Yeah,” I whispered, my throat thick with emotion.

“He treats you right?”

I frowned, smirking at the unnecessary question, “Brian, you don’t have to worry about me.”

“It’s all I’ve done these past four years, what am I supposed to do now?”

He lifted his eyes, smiling sadly at me as if I had just crushed his whole world. I placed my hand on his shoulder, squeezing it in friendly affection.

“You can move on.”

He nodded, pursing his lips together. The crowd erupted into claps and screams around us and we stood with the other graduates, throwing our caps into the air.

“Good luck with everything Brian. Maybe one day we can be friends again.”

I hugged him quickly, not even giving him a chance to respond as I made my way off the stage and through the crowd. I headed in the general direction of where Kian was.

We had been living together and it had been perfect. His nightmares still haunted him but we both found solace in each other. We were both comforted and content. Waking up to him every morning was something I would never take for granted.

I had a taste of what life was like without him, and I didn’t want to go back to that again. Ever.

I stopped walking for a moment, to look through the crowd and see if I could catch him from a distance, but I couldn’t see him. With my hand over my eyes to cover the sun, I scanned the field, and still I did not find those perfect green eyes.

“Hey.”

I spun on my heels, thrown aback when a complete stranger stood before me.

“Hey?” I responded hesitantly.

“Inesa?” The man was also a graduate, small and skinny.

“Yes?” My eyes shifted uncomfortably.

He smiled, “Kian sent me. Told me to give you this.”

He shoved a folded piece of paper toward me. I frowned at him, muttering a thanks and waited for him to leave before I opened the note.

Meet me in the gardens. - Kian

My cheeks ached from the smile that lifted my cheeks and I quickly stuffed the note in my pocket before making my way there.

I leaned over the arch that signaled the entrance to the garden and slipped my shoes off, giggling when I eyed my bright red toes.

Barefoot, I made my way through the hedges, looking at the colorful flowers that smelled so good. In that moment, I was upset I had never stopped by here throughout my studies.

My heart beat sped up when I spotted Kian’s tall figure at the edge of the walkway. The ground dropped down after that, leading to another level of the garden.

His hands were resting on the stone railing as he watched the crowd of people moving through the grass.

“Kian,” I called, making my way to him.

He didn’t move, just kept watching the people. He had turned extremely pensive lately, but he always reassured me of his intention to stay with me. He wouldn’t leave me again.

He dropped his head, watching his hands as he swallowed, it was tense enough to where I could hear it.

“Kian?”

“I knew,” He whispered, shaking his head, smiling with a short chuckle.

“What?”

He lifted his head, still watching the crowd, “I knew when I saw you for the first time. Almost seven years ago.”

“Kian, what are you talking about?” I frowned, my chest turning sour.

“I knew when my heart physically hurt every time I saw you with someone else.”

I chewed on my lips, trying to figure out what he was saying.

“I knew when I saw you cry.”

He turned to me and I was shocked to find tears in his yes.

“I knew when I heard you laugh.”

He smiled at me so beautifully and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“I knew when I kissed you for the first time.”

He reached for me, placing his fingers on my jaw.

“I knew when all I thought about was you.”

“What are you doing?”

Shock ran through my chest, disturbing my stomach. It flipped painfully as I watched him dig through the pocket of his jacket. He held a small, stunning, green emerald ring between his fingers.

“Kian,” I gasped.

“I knew. When I was bleeding out and I just hoped to see your face again. Just one more time. I knew because I could not breathe without you. And I know now more than ever.”

“Oh my god,” I covered my mouth, silencing my cries.

“I can’t do this life without. I don’t want to do this life without you. I want you forever. I want everything with you.”

I nodded hysterically.

“You make me want more. You make me want to be better. And you make me so fucking happy, baby.”

I chuckled, still not believing what was right in front of me.

“You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever known. Inside and out. And you took me, even at my absolute worst and you loved me. I didn’t deserve that, I still don’t deserve that.”

I placed my hand on his cheek as he spoke, my smile deepening and my heart rate increasing.

He was proposing. He wanted me and he wanted me forever. To be able to have a home in him, to belong to someone, that’s all I ever wanted. He was giving it all to me right here. It was I that did not deserve him.

“I only hope I can make you as happy, even if it takes me my whole damn life. I promise, I’ll do everything I can to make you happy. And safe.”

He pulled away from my hand and I shook with nerves as he dropped himself to one knee. When he looked up, the sun reflected off of his eyes, truly showing me the depths of beauty in him.

My heart was in his hands, perfectly held.

“Marry me?”

“Yes. Yes,” I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck and letting my weight fall on him.

Because he would always catch me.

Because he would always hold me.

I thought I knew what love was, but as he took me in his arms and kissed me, I realized that love did not exist in my life until I had met him.

I loved him.

And he loved me.

My heart was completely and utterly captured.

**THE END**