HAPPILY EVER AFTER discussion

Hi! Happy Saturday!

This weeks writing prompt is:

Red dress

Write a scene or short story that includes/mentions a red dress.

Because she was a redhead, she never liked to wear the actual color red. She thought it looked stupid on her.

I never understood that, personally, but didn’t argue; she looked wonderful in every other color, so what difference did foregoing that one make? No difference. None at all. I loved her no matter what, definitely regardless of what colors she did or didn’t wear. Girls, I always thought whenever she fell in love with some red garment at the mall and sadly spoke of how she wished she could pull that off. Only girls give a shit about how they look so much that they won’t wear something they love simply because of how they think they’ll look in it.

Well, on Valentine’s Day – the day I planned on surprising her with the understated engagement ring that I knew would look perfect on her slender finger - she surprised me by coming out of our bedroom wearing a crimson dress.

My jaw was immediately on the floor. My junk was making its way in the opposite direction.

She did not look stupid in that color. It looked incredible against her pale skin, not awkward or unpleasant. I’d been with her for three years and seen her in various states of undress, seen her in lingerie - but that dress outdid it all. The neckline of the smooth, fitted top dipped enticingly below her collarbone. The skirt was a different, more fluid fabric that swished above her knees.

She was a living, breathing piece of art in that dress.

While I stared, she asked, “What do you think?” before she bit her soft bottom lip. She nervously fluttered her fingers at her sides and tossed her head, sending her sleek auburn hair behind one shoulder. “I can return it,” she added. “You know, if I was a goof to buy it. I just couldn’t pass it up at the time….”

And I knew something I couldn’t pass up: proposing. Right then and there.

To hell with the plan to take her to dinner and then to that place in the park where we first met. No, no, no. I had to do it there in our apartment. She’d been brave, followed her heart, and even though it was in a small way and what I was about to do wasn’t small at all, I was inspired by her.

I figured out how to talk and told her, “You’re perfect, babe.”

Her eyes lit up and her pale cheeks went a little pink. “Are you - really? Are you sure?”

I stepped over to my desk, pulled the ring box out of my coat pocket, and proved to her just how sure I was.

I feel a strong hand descend on my shoulder. It grips firmly – comfortingly….

I blink a few times and realize where I really am, what I’m really looking at.

“Take your time, man,” a familiar, but not feminine, voice says from the owner of that hand.

I blink some more and stare at the single crimson rose in my hand.

It’s the color of the dress she wore just two weeks ago…

…the dress I chose to bury her in today.

Her family and friends didn’t fight me on it; all they wanted was for her to look beautiful, and the dress more than accomplished that.

I’m supposed to drop the rose into the ground.

They want me to go first – drop the rose first, say goodbye first. Then they’ll follow suit and pile their own roses on top of her sleek white casket.

My oldest friend has just told me to take my time, but why bother? I’m not ready for this and I never will be. This won’t be any easier one minute from now, or five minutes from now, or a month from now….

She was my heart, and now she’s gone. No amount of time is going to ease what that feels like.

I drop the rose, but I don’t do it gently enough. It hits the center of the casket before sliding sideways into the ground next to it.

I think I hear noises of pity from around the gathering, as if people were hoping the thing would’ve landed perfectly in place like in the movies.

But I’m fine with where it landed.

That’s where I want to be, anyway: next to her in the ground.

K.L I love your story. I was all excited for the couple and then I was on the edge of tears. thanks for taking part

Thank you, ma'am. It was fun!

I like it :) it is refreshing and very real

Thank you, Nagwa :)

K.L. wrote: "Thank you, Nagwa :)"

:)