The Backpack

He was nervous. Stretched across the hotel bed, he stretched his arm out blindly underneath. His fingers reached a corner of a small square black felt box. He rolled the box along the carpet with his hand until it was no longer underneath the bed. He assessed the weight of it and when satisfied tucked it in a small pocket of the backpack.

“Shall we go?” he asked, “I thought we could walk through the park”.

He knew exactly where to go. Or he thought he did. He found the place on the internet some time ago. It was perfect for his sort of thing. They walked through the park, soaking in the morning sunshine. He couldn’t keep much of a conversation. He was…..

Together they approached Bethesda Fountain while music emanated from the band shell behind them. “Can you take me highhhher…..” a young band sang.

The Terrace and Fountain were nearly vacant. Perfect. A few boats floated by in the pond next to the fountain.

“Sit.” He said, “I’ll take your picture with those boats in the background.”

She did as he requested, although with a funny look on her face. He wasn’t normally so bossy. He stepped back leaning against the base of the fountain and quickly snapped her picture and put the camera back into the small pocket of the backpack.

“Now you sit and I’ll take your picture”, she was promptly interrupted.

“SIT”, he scowled. “These darn shoes keep coming untied. I need to tie my shoe.”

He knelt near her, fumbling to tie the shoe. Shaking. He looked up at her, sitting in the spot where he had taken her picture. She was gazing off at the fountain and the park. Oblivious to what was about to happen. She was beautiful.

He could barely whisper her name.

Slowly she looked at him beneath her and spotted the open box in his hand. She smiled and this assured him. Slightly. He gathered his thoughts and forced them past his lips. Somehow they came out, but only as a shaky whisper.

After he had finished, she leaned to him, still on his knee with a smile and a laugh, “Of course I will.”