Emily:

"Harry," I softly call, as I watch his tall figure stray from me. "Come back."

Harry halts briefly in the dark hallway. For a moment, I feel as though he is about to keep walking. I feel my breath catch in my chest, and I hold it until I see his face turn to me again. He becomes illuminated by the warm light on my nightstand.

Harry fails to come into the room fully, he probably feels unwelcome in my presence, despite my reaching out to him. He leans on the door frame, crossing his arms over his darkened figure. He looks tired as he looks at me, waiting for my reasoning.

"I was listening to the story you were telling Sophia," I say to him, although I am not looking him in the eyes. My hands become the subject of my sight as I continue. "I'd really love to hear how it ends."

"Oh, Emily," Harry says, his body falling from its stiffened posture.

"Humor me," I whisper, looking up at him.

His shadow passes along the pale white walls as he walks towards the bed, without hesitation. The sheets encase me in heat, and when he finally takes a seat, the air meets my face. The book on my lap is set onto the stand beside me, and I feel hesitant towards Harry as I lay on my side, sinking into the feather pillows as I look up at him.

Harry kicks his shoes off, before leaning back against the headboard, lacing his hands in his lap as he closes his eyes. I gaze up at him as he begins to tell our story to me, and in an awed state, I relive our most intimate moment together. His lips move slowly as he begins, and I am captured in a whirlwind of emotions. I shut my eyes at his beginning, picturing the gorgeous night we shared, under the stars of New York.

-

Harry:

Her heels clicked with every step she took on the metal stairs, the ones that would soon lead us to the rooftop of the restaurant. The chatter of the busy streets below us came to a minimum as the night went on, and soon the only sounds to be heard were the cars passing below. Emily, the woman who stood by me through everything, was now literally beside me, as we stood on top of the dark roof.

The ring in my pocket made itself known, pressing to my thigh with each step I took. I mentally scolded myself for choosing its placement in the most obvious spot, rather than my coat pocket, but Emily seemed far too captured by the stars above us, and I — I was far too captured by her.

"This is beautiful," She said, almost out of breath. "I'm on top of the world."

"Look that way," I pointed to her left, coming closer to her as my arm outstretched. "Look at the city."

She smiled, and I watched her. I knew the view surrounding us was a panoramic dream, but I had tunnel vision, and she was at the end of it. Some people, are humble enough to call New York City 'The Center of the Universe,' and oddly enough, I was looking at mine. I, could easily label Emily the same.

I lead her to the glass table, lining the edge of the roof. I pulled her chair out, as she gently pulled her dress under her and took a seat. Emily seemed unable to take her eyes off the city skyline, and I reacted the same in regards to her beauty.

In this moment, when she was so stunned by the beauty of lights, and the noise of rushing cars, I knew, one hundred percent, that she was the one for me. When just the sight of her, when she is lost in her own mind, is enough to drive me wild.

It was time, and although my nerves were built up in my throat, and my hands continued to sweat regardless of the constant dragging on my suit pants, I was as ready as I would ever be.

"Thank you, Harry." Emily finally said, turning to me. "For bringing me here, and giving me the opportunity to experience this with you."

"I wouldn't want to experience this with anyone else," I shook my head, and I watched her smile disappear behind a wave of dark hair as she looked down. "Emily, I love you."

"I love you." She replied, with a warm tone and a soft smile. "I always will."

"Did you enjoy your dinner?" I asked but barely listened to her reply.

I needed a bridge to help me to my main point, and in the heat of the moment, I could only formulate the most basic question. Emily told me about her dinner, as if I wasn't there, and explained the different notes of taste each course had. She went on about the wine, the glasses she drank made themselves known on the reds of her cheeks, making her skin glow.

"Sorry, I'm rambling," She shook her head, pushing her hair behind her shoulder. "Dinner was lovely, thank you, Harry."

"Emily," I started, my hand travelling up my leg as it slowly dove into my pocket. "I love you."

"You already said -,"

"I'm going to say it again, and again," I moved my right hand to her linked ones. "I want to be able to tell you how much I love you, for the rest of my life." My voice became softer as I continued my amorous speech. "And I want to start a family with you, I want to grow with you, and fall with you, I want to do everything with you, my love."

"Harry -,"

"I know that you don't believe in the stars predicting our fate and that the compatibility of two people depends on more than just zodiac signs alone." I feel the velvet of the royal blue box in my pocket on my fingertips, and the crystal tears in Emily's eyes rise as I continue. "But the stars aligned the night we met, and I can tell you, they are aligned tonight — And I am in love with you, Emily."

My hand finally escapes the cave of a pocket I had buried the ring in, and as I pull it out, I swiftly leave my chair and kneel before Emily. Her hands follow me down and find a place on my shoulders as she cries. My heart is pounding behind my rib cage, at a pace so heavy I can feel it in my throat.

My hands are shaky as I bring them up, and slowly open the box to reveal the ring I had crafted just for Emily. Her eyes dart from mine to the ring, and the twinkle of the diamond mimics the tear travelling down her cheek.

"Emily, I want to spend the rest of my life with you, if you'll have me." I choke, on my emotions, I have been battling to keep down. "Will you marry me?"

Without hesitation, Emily collapsed to my level, shaking in my arms as she agreed to be my future wife. A weight is lifted off my shoulder with this response, and in a heartbeat, I am lifting her off her feet and spinning around with her pressed to me.

She laughed in such a genuine way, one that I could never succeed in forgetting. We shared a kiss, in the middle of the floor with nothing but serenity around us.

I slipped the ring onto her finger, and immediately she was glowing as bright as New York City. My future wife, was before me in a gorgeous dress, spinning in happiness as she did nothing but giggle.

"I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you," Emily said to me, as she pulled me towards her. Her hands slid from my chest to link behind my neck. "Forever."

"

❅ ❅ ❅

I rest my head on my hand as Harry concludes his story, and I am taken aback at how fondly he recalls our past. He opens his eyes and looks down at me with nothing but a tired smile.

"We've had some good times, haven't we?" I say to him, not shifting my sight from his eyes.

"We have." Harry agrees.

I turn to lay on my back, bringing the sheets up to my chin and feeling the warmth cascade my entirety. Harry shifts beside me as he turns to get off the bed and leave the room. Even without his spoken confirmation, I am well aware of his plans, and I can't let it happen tonight.

"Please," I speak abruptly. "Stay with me tonight."

Harry stops his movement again, similar to earlier. "I really shouldn't."

"Please," I leave my enclosure of warmth as I slide to his side of the bed, and lift the sheets for him. "Please, Harry. Stay with me."

I can see the battle behind his eyes, but that factor is minor in his decision making. Harry sighs, and with that, he is undressing and sliding into bed with me. I know my actions are confusing to him, and to myself. But I cannot deny my love to him when I am well aware of the depth.

Harry turns off the lights on his nightstand as he lays beside me in bed, barely keeping a distance between us as he tightens the blankets around the both of us.

"I'm sorry, Harry." I whisper, a breaking of my voice shining through. "I'm so difficult to deal with."

"Shh," He hushes, bringing me towards him as he wipes the hair from my face. "You're not difficult. You are stubborn, but not difficult to deal with." He kisses my forehead, and suddenly I am spun into a tornado of emotions yet again. "I'll always love you, regardless."