“Thank you.”  I growled at the driver.  How insane was that?  Didn’t he know what went on in the back of limos?  No matter, it wouldn’t be long before I had her all to myself with no chance of interruptions.  I could say this much for sure, I didn’t rent a room at the Waldorf to ‘sleep’.

            “Wow, you really went all out huh?”  We had stepped out of the limo and she looked up to admire the beauty of the building before us.  We crossed the lobby to the elevators and I pressed the button that would take us to our floor.  She smiled at me and shook her head, “The things I’m going to do to you.”  I was breathless again with want.  I smiled back knowing full well she would keep that promise.  As we approached the room I became nervous.  I wanted everything to be absolutely perfect and at that moment I was relying on the competence of the limo driver and the hotel staff.  The driver was supposed to call the hotel and let them know we were on our way so they could have the room set up.  I inserted the key and held my breath, which I think Ashley noticed, but it didn’t matter, because when she walked in, it was she who was breathless. 

            Even I could not believe how beautiful the scene was.  Perfect is the only word.  Candles lined the room, creating a soft ambience of light and there was a small table in the middle of the suite with two chairs on either side.  She looked at me then back at the image before us.  On the table were two long-stemmed candles, a single red rose, a bottle of champagne chilling, two glasses and of course strawberries and whipped cream.  Tears ran from her eyes as she drank up the image that I had created for her.  I walked over to a chair and pulled it out for her.  She accepted my silent invitation and sat down.  As I began walking to my seat I felt her grab my hand.  She pulled me back then down towards her.  Tears streaked the sides of her face as I leaned down to kiss her.  It was tender and full of love.  I broke the kiss and removed the bottle of champagne from the bucket, pouring two glasses.  I sat down and took her hand in mine as I raised my glass.  She did the same as we said a toast to us and lightly tapped our glasses together.  We each took a sip and replaced the glasses on the table.  I continued holding her hand and reached under my chair with my free hand to retrieve the ring I had placed there earlier.  She looked at our hands and realized that I had begun to tremble.  My emotions were taking over. I became very nervous; I was not sure I would be able to say what I wanted.  She looked very concerned and began to get up.  I signaled that I was fine and I asked her to sit back down.  I took a deep breath.

            “These last five years have been the best of my life.  I didn’t think it was possible, but I love you more and more each day.”  She gazed at me intently, eyes glistening and tears threatening to spill over.  I unconsciously stroked her hand with my thumb.  “You have been my best friend, my shoulder to cry on, and my rock.  You are my endless supply of laughter, my lover and my reason to live.  When I think about my future I can only think of you.”  I brought my other hand to the table, revealing its contents.  “I want to give you this as a promise of the future.  As a promise that I will always be there for you no matter what.  As a promise that nothing could ever come between us.”  I slipped the ring on her finger and she brought her opposite hand to her mouth in an attempt to control the tears that were now flowing freely.  “I promise that I will love you for the rest of my life.”  She no longer tried to control her emotions. She cried openly as she pulled me out of my chair towards her.  She stood up and enveloped me in a hug as her body shook.  She held me like she would never let me go and I cried too.  She cried into my ear, “I love you so much.  I will love you forever.  Don’t ever leave me.”

            “I would never leave you.” 

~

             But I did leave. I broke my promise. It was all my fault. I promised her forever and just two years later, I did the unimaginable.