A Proposal Story, One Year in the Making

It was a Saturday. The weather in Blacksburg was being reasonable even in the midst of January, so it turned out to be a good day to go hiking. I had yet visited the Cascades, one of the most popular hiking spots nearby, and it was about time I made the effort to actually go. I went with my two good friends, Nicole and Emily, as well as my boyfriend, CJ. We were always hanging out on weekends, so we definitely wanted to make this trip together before graduating. It was a fun afternoon of climbing, picture-taking, and laughs. Seeing the waterfall at the top made it well worth it. I didn't think the day could get any better.

After getting back to campus, the girls went back to their apartment while CJ and I hung out on campus. I honestly don't remember what we decided to do that afternoon, it was not the part of the day that was memorable to me. Around twilight, as the sun started to set, CJ went off to his weekly club meeting at PokéTech, the club on campus where students met to battle and talk Pokémon. You know, because he's awesome like that. I stayed behind and just relaxed for the while that he was gone, unaware of what was to come that evening.

It was late when he texted me, letting me know that he was about done with his meeting. I was going over to meet him, so that we could go out to Main Street and grab a late dinner. It was freezing that night, the good weather from that morning was long gone.

After eating, we headed back towards campus. But on the way, CJ suggested that we should go star gazing over at the Pylons, a beautiful memorial that overlooks the center of campus. I complained, it was too cold, I just wanted to get back indoors. "Aww, c'mon," CJ continued to insist, saying it was such a great night to check out the stars for a few minutes, like we used to when we started dating. I eventually gave in, but I wondered, "why does he want to go see the stars so badly?" Soon enough, I forgot how cold I was.

We gazed at the stars, silently for a minute. He was right, it was a beautiful night. And then he says,

"Hey, I got a cool Pokémon card that I wanted to give you," pulling the card out of his backpack as he spoke.

I took it from him as he handed it to me, seeing that it was in a plastic sheet, protecting it. I started to read what was on the card when I felt something on the back. I turn it around to see a ring inside. A RING.

"No way. No no no way." I said. Was this really happening?!

CJ took the ring, got on one knee, and put it on my finger. He started talking, but I can't quite be specific on what he said, I was crying throughout the whole thing. But all I knew is that he loved me and I loved him, and in that moment everything was perfect.

--

I can't believe it's already been a year since that crazy night. And while I grow impatient each and every day, I know that when this story concludes in a few months, it will have been well worth the wait!

<3