Unfurled

         Soothingly smooth silken masses brush the side of my face as my darling’s head nestles on my shoulder; floods of fire running through my veins. Gently blowing winds, wafting the slightly salty scent of the sea through the air, caress my face and help me sift among my thoughts. The picturesque scene before us warmed our hearts, holding the majestic passion that seemed to leave me breathless, as our souls melted together into one amorphous mass of bliss. The golden orb perched upon the horizon, casting shadows onto wisps of pink hued clouds that were seemingly drifting like nomadic spirits in the sky. Auras of rose and amber blended into the romantic haven above whilst gold displayed, beams of celestial light, shimmering off the sea. Wrapping my arm around her, I leaned my face on my beloved’s head while her aroma, intoxicating in its splendid floral scent, filled my lungs with her perfumed essence. The tranquil flow of time accompanied the serene ebb and flow of the effervescent waters, their foam washing upon the beach and lapping up to our ankles. A premonition flashing within my mind, I could sense that my future heart would be crashed over by nostalgia, like the calming waves that moved about the horizon, when I would look back on this day. Looking up towards the canvas which the shining sphere before me had painted with a multitude of colors that exuded poetic beauty, I knew that forevermore romantic passion would linger in the air when I thought back to this day.

         Jasmine Harper, the angel whose eyes glimmered with more passion than any of the heavenly jewels that hung above the clouds, held her precious head on my shoulder. From within my depths a deeply powerful feeling reminded me that somewhere upon the road of my life she had become my true love, my everything. Like the sands beneath me her presence warmed some part of me, a place inside my soul which would always yearn for her to be near and, thus, would have the sparks of passion flaring within me whenever she was close. But, as the romantic atmosphere continued to heighten, its gentle airs and magnificent spheres warning me the day would soon be over, I knew I never wanted this feeling to end, I wished to soar above the clouds with my angel for all eternity.

         Gradually I stood, my bare feet taking comfort in the sands’ warmth, and then held out my hand to Jasmine after her immediate attention had turned to me, her hazel eyes questioning, but she took the hand all the same. Helping her to her feet, our hands twined around one another, as we walked steadily down the beach, following the nomadic spirits in the sky. The symphony of crashing waves, seagulls which called out to one another, and the quiet whisper of the wind filtered their way into my mind, becoming an almost unnoticeable background to my thoughts. This single person, this combination of ideals, strengths, perfection, and flaws, had become my world, a symbol of everything, and the only thing, good in the world. I was surely unworthy of such a blessing, to be gifted with the only thing in the world my heart truly desired, but as long as I could make her happy I would do everything in my power to keep our fates intertwined as tightly as our fingers. I squeezed her hand briefly to reassure myself.

         “It’s very beautiful, Vincent, I’m glad you brought me out here today,” though her voice mingled with the area’s natural symphony it seemed so more distinct, the sound an angel would make as it sang, the siren of purity in a world where such was usually left in a fairytale. We were not in everyone else’s world, though, at this moment, it was her and I, all of the world would have to wait, second to the vision of beauty that drifted aimlessly along with me. She stared out at the sea, as I stared out at her, each time her crystalline voice rang out, making every other matter seem trivial, I lost most manner of wit and usually just watched her, my disposition probably showing the awe which my mind endowed her with. Gathering the composure that was scattered about when my name came through the rose petals of her lips, I tried to respond without letting it known my heart was pattering so erratically.

         “It is very beautiful, without a doubt in my mind. It’s like God placed this scene before us for a reason, maybe to show us that we should take refuge within the beauty of the world, of ourselves, and not ignore the evils.” At this she turned and looked at me, her hazel eyes smoldering, melting away a few more seconds of hesitation, then she blushed when the realization that I had been staring at her. Her peach complexion mixing with the wave of pink that washed over her face made a grin find its way to my visage, I knew she would not like such attention, but to not carefully watch every movement and expression she made was near that of blasphemy. Usually my actions would not be so deliberate with anyone, but that is what love did. Love, I believed, transcended all barriers and could not be stopped by anything, therefore, since true love stories never ended not even the obsidian dark claws of Death would be able to tear apart Cupid’s seams, those that bound my heart to her own.

         “You know I love you, right?” Her voice itself seemed to shine, as though if I could see sound her voice would be the stream of celestial light that helped tug at my heartstrings, and the same perplexed look came across her face. “I love you more than anything”, she said in the next moment, possibly taking my silence as hesitation and a cause to make her feelings more openly known when, really, I was just shocked. It still surprised me that such a divine creature would say such blinding words to me when she could surely have anyone she chose.

         “Yes, dear, I believe you with all my heart,” I said, yet for a long time she stood, her eyes looking about mine, searching for any bit of deceit, any incriminating movement that would prove to her that I was not sure, but, of course, she found none. “I love you, too, more than I’ll ever be able to say,” and with that I pressed my unworthy lips onto rose petals, kissing her as assuredly as I could. Fire rushed through me, yet again, whilst a variety of movements our lips displayed, becoming a passionate dance in which we shared breath, shared life, and essentially were becoming one. Somewhere within our romantic waltz my fingers found their way under Jasmine’s chin, tracing their way up her jaw and towards her hair where they combed through the fine silk. Despite my yearning I knew the kiss wouldn’t last forever, a notion that saddened me a bit, and when our lips separated we both gasped for some of the cooling air.

         “The perfect end to the perfect day”, she said, smiling towards me as her eyes twinkled, but I knew she was mistaken. This was not the end of the day, I thought as I stared at the golden orb that had sunken deeper into the horizon, there was a specific reason I came here today. I took a deep breath, gathering any remnants of courage that dwelt within me, as I looked into her bright eyes and took both her hands in mine.

         “Jasmine, we’ve known each other for a long time, traveled upon this road of life with each other to lean on and gained feelings that no one will ever be able to take from us. Within you I’ve found everything good in this world, everything I’ve ever wanted, and much more. I know that sometimes life can get hard, can push us to our limits, testing our sanity and faith in all around us, but I want you to be able to count on me for the rest of your life.” Slowly I lowered myself upon a knee, reluctantly releasing one of Jasmine’s hands and digging one of my own into my pocket, from where I produced a small black box. Flipping its top open with my index finger I revealed a diamond ring, but I merely watched Jasmine’s warm eyes widen because I knew the ring would pale in comparison to her. “So, Jasmine Harper, will you spend the rest of eternity with me?”

         Throughout my life I had done some pretty risky things, like most people, but none that had filled me with such a sensation as this. Anxiety mingled with excitement, letting chilling electric charges run through every fiber of my being as the silence ran on. Had Cupid’s arrow merely pierced my heart, and plunged itself profoundly deep with my soul, just to let me fall from grace?

         “Vincent Mills, I’ll spend every second of it happily in your company”, her twinkling eyes were turning glassy as tears came to them and a brilliant smile enveloped her face. I was engaged to an angel! All hesitation gone, I embraced Jasmine warmly, picking her off the ground and twirling around with delight. I found that, as her angelic voice created melodious sounds of laughter, that the feeling I had felt whilst we kissed was returning to me. She was verbally kissing me, promising to share her life with me, to intertwine our fates, and become one with me. They say when you are about to die your life leading up to the point flashes before your eyes, then it is equally fitting that once you truly experience life you can happily watch the rest of your days before you. In that second, while we twirled under the nomadic spirits of the sky and golden streaks of light crossed our faces, I could finally see my life unfurl before me. Flying above the world with my angel along side me, I would live forevermore in her heart and she within my own.