Fraize Dotcom

I woke and, bleary eyed, stole a glance at her. She was still asleep, on her back, with her arm over her head, breathing slowly and quietly. I eased out of bed, sliding as silently as a cat across the cool satin sheets, and crept downstairs.

As my foot rested onto the first step, the staircase creaked slightly. I could hear her stir behind me. I was worried I would wake her and ruin it all, but I figured I could still work it out. I made it downstairs, fished the tiny lacquered box from my jacket pocket, and crept back up the stairs.

She had rolled onto her side and curled up against my pillow, her hand resting near where mine would have been. I transferred the box to my right hand, then soundlessly dropped it onto the floor. As I slid into bed next to her, she inhaled deeply and her eyes met mine. She reached for my hand and held it as she settled back into a comfortable sleeping position.

“We were married,” she said sleepily, going right into her dream without preamble. She told me about some minor drama we had regarding the wedding photos in the dream. I sat and listened with a slight smile on my face. She continued, slowly waking up.

When she was done, I kissed her. “You know, Heather, the problem with that dream is,” I turned over and retrieved the box. “You can’t get married before you’re engaged.” I opened the box.

Her mouth hung open as she stared at the ring. Bright and shiny white gold with a large white diamond sparkled in the morning sunlight. She looked at the ring and then to me, her face a mask of complete shock.

“Heather, will you marry me?”

She giggled, and her breath caught in her throat. “Yes… Oh, oh God, John, yes!” She was still frozen in shock, staring at the ring still in the box.

I pulled the ring out of the tiny hinged box. “Well, give me your hand!”

Blond Girl: [admiring her custom license plate] Omigod, don’t you just love it? [pauses, thinking] I should totally get a job…