“Open the box,” he said eagerly, excitement dancing in his eyes.
I looked down at the plain little box and then back at him, my soul filling with uncertainty. His face was a study of animation. His eyes were dancing, the corners of his mouth kept twitching, he kept running his hands through his hair and he couldn’t seem to stop shifting from one foot to the other.
“Are you sure?” I asked, my brow drawn in concern and my voice cracking slightly. I was vaguely aware that my hands were shaking.
“I’m positive. Open the box Connie, trust me,” he grasped my hands in his and steadied them. He looked into my eyes with all seriousness and smiled gently.
I looked back down at the box. It was plain with a blue crushed velvet covering and a thin gold band that ran long ways around the box and a small hinge at the back. It fit right in the palm of my hand. And it was light, as light as my heart. I cracked it open slightly and looked back up. He was still animated with dancing eyes and twitching mouth but he had stopped shifting and wasn’t running his hands through his hair anymore. He looked up from the box and smiled at me.
“Open the box,” he whispered lovingly.
I found myself returning his smile. My heart pounded away and I felt my eyes misting over. How could I refuse?
I looked down at the box again. The blue crushed velvet covering had been rubbed off in some places and the thin gold band had tarnished in a few places; as though someone had repeatedly squeezed it or held it, nervous it would disappear or the recipient would leave. I smiled again and carefully opened the box. Inside sat a beautiful silver and amethyst ring. An engagement ring.
I screamed and my world changed.
To explain - this story and the other “Open the Box” story came from a writing prompt titled, of all things, ‘Open the box.’ It resulted in two completely different stories coming to my mind and I wanted to share both. To be honest I’ve tried to mirror some of the elements from one to the other. It was an exercise and I had fun with it, hope it messes with your minds :D
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