Kyoko and the Merchants' Moon

The man stood in front of me, down on one knee, holding a ring. He had a smile on his face that could light up the entire room while looking lovingly into my eyes. I could feel everyone else watching this moment.

"Claire," he began. "I know we haven't known each other for the longest time, and there are probably things you've been waiting to hear from me, but I want to make sure you know how much you mean to me."

He paused here, as if waiting for me to say something. I couldn't think of anything to say at that moment, so I just continued to stare back at him, with my mouth slightly open as if I was about to speak. He gave me a little smile and continued on.

"I've never felt this way about anyone before, and I know that sounds awfully cliche," he said with another grin. "But it's true." He took a breath in and then continued. "I'm not going to lie and say that we've only dated for a month or two. We've really been in love for a full year. It's just taken us this long to realize it." He paused again before continuing on, as if trying to collect his thoughts together before saying what he really wanted to say. "You mean the world to me," he said with conviction. "And I want more than anything else in this world to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"

There was silence throughout the room after he finished speaking. Everyone just sat there watching us with goofy smiles across their faces. The only sound was soft classical music playing in the background. Then suddenly everyone started cheering and clapping as they watched him slide a beautiful diamond ring onto my finger.

"Of course!" I cried out as tears began streaming down my cheeks. "I love you!" This caused everyone else in the room to cheer even louder than before. He pulled me close into his arms and held me tightly against him as we both cried happy tears of joy together.

As we pulled away from each other, I looked around at all the smiling faces surrounding us, taking pictures and videos with their phones or cameras, making sure not to miss this special moment between us as we celebrated our engagement together.