A gentle breeze places its salty hands on my shoulders, comforting me, whispering in my ear that after many trials and tribulations, after much despair and anguish, after waiting patiently, for what seemed like an eternity, the time has finally come. As I glance back for confirmation, it nudges me towards those sun-kissed, caramel curls, bouncing freely towards the strawberry-glazed moon. My princess leads the way, approaching the water’s edge, yearning for a closer look. I nervously saunter behind, strenuously maintaining my composure, She stops just before reaching the sea to take in the brilliance of this picturesque scene; The Moon waking up and lifting itself from its horizon, Saturn scratching her out of jealousy, The moon bleeding her light onto the ocean, The tranquil waters gently rocking back and forth, amiably reflecting the moonlight back to its host. While she is distracted by the magnificence of this pristine painting, The sand reaches up from underneath her and encases her feet and ankles, Leaving her blissfully motionless. The breeze seizes this opportunity, giving me one final push and all at once, I’m drawn into my love’s magnetic presence. We are encapsulated in this divine surrealism We attempt to capture this moment to look back on it for years to come. Breathing becomes arduous, I can no longer stand. My ankles give out and I genuflect in the very essence of her majesty And in that moment, I present the Pandora’s Box, To which she scoffs and turns to walk away, escaping her sandy shackles. I glide like a sidewinder after her, Preparing for another strike. My second attempt hits the target, Much to her surprise. She glances inside the box this time to find a ring, One with a band made of my hopes and dreams, my fears and failures, my idiosyncrasies One with a diamond that contains my heart and soul, my passion and my fire, My life One that is wrapped in a shroud of my past, and a veil of my present and my future. “Are you serious?!” She exclaims “Yes. Will you marry me?” “Yes!” As she accepts this offer, the strength in my legs returns, My body is rejuvenated and though I’m hyperventilating, I can finally breathe again I place the ring on her finger and as we embrace, The breeze, the sand, the ocean and the moon exalt our love and we bear a new label: Engaged.