Will you marry me?

The next day...

Sam sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the small velvet box in his hands.

Inside was a ring that had taken him months to find—delicate yet striking, just like Ashley.

He had replayed this moment in his mind countless times, each scenario more elaborate than the last. But now, as the day finally approached, he felt the weight of the occasion settle heavily on his shoulders. He glanced at his phone and saw a message from Lian: *Everything's set. Good luck, man.*

He took a deep breath and slipped the box into his jacket pocket.

Today was the day he would ask Ashley to be his fiancée, and he wanted everything to be perfect. Nearly a year had passed since they began their journey together, a year filled with laughter, adventures, and an undeniable deepening of their bond.

The evening sun was beginning to dip below the horizon as Sam made his way to the park where he and Ashley had spent many lazy Sunday afternoons.