The night was beautiful, Dave couldn’t possibly have chosen a better time. He sat under the starlit sky, watching the moonlight being reflected on the calm water of the river. The river bank was as stunning as he could recall, and it held such a special significance for him today. He sat down on the mat he had laid out and allowed his thoughts to wander back…

Even as kids, Kate’s beauty had astounded Dave. At an age where most boys would hate to be seen around a girl, forget talking to one, Kate and Dave had developed a beautiful friendship. She was the new girl in town, whom he had been forced to keep an eye on in school. He still remembered complaining about having to look after a girl. He had tried his best to avoid her during school hours, until she walked upto him and shyly asked if he could show her around. Dave smiled to himself as he remembered her deep blush as her eyes met his. He realised he had loved her ever since…

The hardest time for Dave had been the one when Kate told him she was moving. She had called him and they had decided to meet at this very place. She had walked up to him looking very excited, and yet Dave had immediately noticed that the happiness did not reach her eyes. He had been dreading this day, but had convinced himself that he would be happy for her. Kate had sounded so enthusiastic when she hugged him happily and told him she’d been accepted. He’d held her back, forcing himself to share her enthusiasm. Being Kate, she had sensed his uneasiness and had assured him that their friendship would never suffer. He remembered how beautiful her hair looked in the sun, and her heavenly scent as she embraced him. Dave shook his head in disbelief recalling these thoughts. The signs were all there, and yet neither of them had confessed their feelings.

During Kate’s visits back home, they’d keep meeting at the river bank. They lazed around on the sand, laughing together and catching up on all the time spent apart. It was so easy being with Kate. He never had to try and impress her, and she would always understand him without having to explain himself. Her intelligence challenged him, her kindness humbled him, and her beauty and elegance left him in awe.

Twelve years of knowing the most beautiful woman he had ever met had not ceased Kate’s ability to amaze him. Each day spent with her made him feel blessed and special. She really had this incredible charm and the power to make him feel like the man he always wanted to be.

As Dave looked out at the still water, sitting here in their special place also brought back some bitter memories. Like the fateful day when he saw Kate, her shoulders slouched dipping her feet in the water and staring absent mindedly in the distance. He had sat wordlessly next to her for a while before she spoke the words he never dreamt of hearing. Her cancer had been hard to deal with, and as much as Dave wanted to be her shoulder to cry on, SHE had been the one comforting him all along. He had been terrified of losing her, and yet each morning he thanked God for blessing him with her presence.

Today, he sat in their special place, waiting for his angel, the woman of his dreams to join him. Their special place by the river had taught them so much. They learned to face challenges and keep going with the flow, irrespective of the obstacles placed in their path. As Kate walked towards him, she looked graceful as ever, even though she seemed to have aged so much during the past few months. He stood up and helped her towards their special spot. She smiled at him as she watched him go down on bended knee…their dreams were finally coming true.