By Emma Russell

Jason and Cadence had been friends for their whole life. The best of friends. But for the past two years they had been more than friends. They loved each other more than they knew how to express. They were soul mates, if there ever were any. Everyone knew they were perfect for each other and so did they. 

Jason had been waiting to propose to Cadence for a while now but just couldn’t seem to find the right moment. He had always found an excuse in his mind not to. But he knew that it was time. He loved her more than anything. He was seeing her tonight. He thought that that would be the perfect time to pop the question, while they were dining in one of the cities finest restaurants. 

“Remember, just stay calm. Don’t lose your nerve again.” Jason recited to himself as he fixed up his appearance in the mirror. He was absolutely terrified. He knew she wouldn’t say no, but he still was nervous. Well actually, he was more than that, he was terrified, nervous, excited, happy and in love at the same time. He moved away from the mirror and over to his bedside table where there was a photo of her sitting there. She had beautiful blue-green eyes and golden-brown hair. She was the most gorgeous person he had ever seen. He could remember every word she had said the last time he had seen her. Jason fell into a dream of the day before. 

            “It’s beautiful here,” she had said, looking out over the water, “It would be great to live in a place like this, so quiet, the only sound the waves crashing on the sand.            “Yes, it is.” Jason had said getting up from the sandy, deserted beach and stretching his arm out to her.                                                                                                       “Would you like to dance?” he said.                                                                              “But what to, there is no music?” Cadence had asked him puzzled.                               “Come on, just dance, I just realised I’ve never seen you dance.” Jason said gesturing his hand as for her to hold onto. She placed her hand in his and picked herself up. Then he wrapped his arms around her as she did the same to him. He held her as close as he could. At that moment they began to sway to an invisible tune, both deeply in love with one another, not wanting the night to end.

 It had been the perfect night. It felt like it was one of those romantic stories out of a book. It had been that moment that he had known not to put it of any longer. He had to propose tonight. He picked up the phone and dialled Cadences number to make sure she was still up for tonight.

            “Hello, Cadence speaking.” She said in her beautiful voice.
            “Hello Cade, its Jason.” He replied

            “Jason, Hi! I was just about to ring you to see if you were still coming to take me out tonight. I wasn’t sure if your plans were finalised or not.” She gushed out.

            “Yea, sure that’s why I rung you. Well I guess I better be going if I am to pick you up in an hour, hey?” He said, nervous that he would give away his surprise.

            “Yes, okay then, if you say so…I’ll see you then, okay?” she said with the sound of wonder in her voice. She knew that something was up.

            “I love you, bye Cade.” And with that he hung up. He was breathing heavily because of how worried he was that he would spill his secret. That had been the shortest phone call he had ever had to her. Well at least now he knew that tonight would be the night to remember. 

A half hour later after rehearsing what he would say to Cadence many times over he went down stairs and into the garage. He wanted to make sure that his car was clean and that he had everything like his wallet and keys. He cleaned out the front seat and just as he was getting ready to leave, he remembered that her ring was still upstairs. He ran up and went to his beside table again where the ring was sitting next to Cadence’s picture. He opened the box to make sure the ring was still there and sure enough it was. The beautiful sapphire and diamond ring had cost him an absolute fortune, but he knew she was worth it. Walking back into the garage and opening the garage door, he started his car, reversed out and shut the garage again before driving off to pick up Cadence. 

He got there without a hassle and walked up the stairs to where her little front door was. It occurred to him that after all this time they should’ve moved in together. But this way it would be even better than living together. They would be an official couple then. It was going to be great. 

Just as he reached to knock on her front door it swung open and she was standing there with a grin on her face.

            “Were you planning on knocking any time soon?” She said with a cute giggle.

            “Yea sure, “ he said looking her up and down. She was wearing a beautiful cocktail dress and her hair was done just right. “You look stunning.” He said, flattering her. He had always told her that she was beautiful, but this made her feel really special. He put his arm around her back and then they walked down the stairs together talking about their day.

 They got to the restaurant quickly enough, just in time for their reservation. They had had trouble parking the car as they couldn’t find a spot. They finally found one, and it was in a good spot too, just across the road, they had driven into it just as someone was leaving it. They walked across the road talking about how nice the restaurant looked. Jason was glad to see that Cadence was excited.

 They walked inside, hand in hand and walked up to the queue for the main desk. Jason told the waiter their reservation name and then they were told to take a seat.

            “It really is pretty here. Look at all the fairy lights out of the balcony. It’s gorgeous.” She said pointing at the balcony that overlooked the water. All the lights could be seen reflected off the water too, so there looked like there was twice as many.

            “Yes it is nice here. The water is so crystal clear.” Jason said, pulling Cadence closer to him. Then a waiter came over and led them to a candlelit table on the balcony.

 About three-quarters of an hour later they were about to have desert when Jason pulled out his wallet and placed it on the table. He wanted to make sure that he didn’t pull the wrong thing out of his pocket when he proposed.

            “Cadence, there is something I want to ask you.” Jason said, taking in a deep breath. It was now the time to ask her to marry him.

            “Oh man.” Cadence said slapping her leg.

            “What’s the matter Cadence?” Jason asked her, worried.

            “It’s my purse; it’s still in the car. Can I have your keys to go get it?” She asked Jason worriedly.

            “Yes you can, but I don’t see why you need to, it’ll be perfectly safe in my car.” He said to her passing her the key. She took it gratefully and gave him a kiss on the cheek to thank him. Jason smiled as she walked out of the restaurant in a fast pace. Then, about five seconds later he heard a loud screech from some tyres and a bang. Jason ran outside. He was shocked by what he saw. Cadence, lying on the crossing with a car stopped just ahead of her.   

      “Cadence!” Jason said, realising the situation. He ran over to her, where she was laying half way across the crossing. He kneeled down beside her and turned her face to him. “Cadence, can you hear me?” he asked anxiously. There was a pool of blood forming beneath her body slowly.

            “Jaa…son?” She asked, her eyes half opened.

            “Yes Cade, its me, I’m here, its okay.” He said pulling her onto his lap so her head was in his arms.  She was covered in blood, and she wasn’t looking so good. All of a sudden Cadence made a groan. “Cadence, stay with me, stay with me, “ he looked around at the people, just staring at him. The person who had hit her was now running over. “Call an ambulance, NOW!” He yelled at them all. Then he looked down at Cadence. She wasn’t well at all. “Cadence, I love you. Cadence, don’t go, don’t die, “ he said crying and kissing her on the forehead. “Here Cadence, look what I got, just for you. Stay with me, Cadence. Marry me Cadence.” He said pulling out the small velvet box.

            “I love… you. I will marry you. “ She said struggling to smile. Jason pulled out the ring and placed it on her finger. He kissed her again on the forehead. He prayed for her to live. But in the back of his mind he thought, and in a way, knew that she wouldn’t make it. But his love wouldn’t let him think that. He held her tight and just as he saw the ambulance in the distance, lights flashing and all, she said something.

            “Jason…” she mumbled.

            “Yes Cade?” he asked, pleading that she would make it.

            “I love you…” and with that he moved back as the paramedics moved in. They worked so fast, putting her on a stretcher and into the ambulance. As they closed the doors and drove away, Jason wondered, had his dream been stolen from him?