My eyes scan across the last sentence, drinking in every elegant loop as my mind processes the words. I lower the notebook to my lap and as I do, the final page flips over of its own accord. From the spine lies a piece of red string, and from the string, a ring.

My legs act before any other part of my body and the notebook falls to the floor ungraciously as I stand erect. A strange, strangled sound is emitted from my throat as I immediately drop to pick it up again, this time holding it as if it's a sacred relic.

I finger the ring, drawing my thumb over it slowly as I read and reread the final sentence Elias ever wrote to me. My vision blurs and stings as my eyes fill with liquid emotion. My tears spill onto my cheeks but I'm careful not to let them fall on the page.

The fact that Elias wants me in his life is still a shock to the system, but now he's asking for me, forever. I wonder idly if he's right in the head. The sound of the front door closing draws me out of my reverie and my feet guide me towards the sound. I stand in the hallway, watching Eli move out of his coat as if I've never seen him before in my life. Time has changed him, but in a good way. The elegance in the way he moves his arms, the almost arrogant cut of his jawline, the strength of his hands and the assuredness of his posture.

As soon as he notices me, he smiles. The smile that I know he only gives to me, whether he knows it or not. His eyes glance downward towards the notebook lying limply in my palms and he smiles even wider.

"You finally finished it." He states and I wonder if he's forgotten just how he ended it, but the tenderness in his gaze prevents me from asking. I nod slowly, my brain finally kicking into gear. He walks towards me and presses a gentle kiss to my forehead before retreating a step.

"Well, what do you think? Will you have me?" He asks, and I almost snort in response. So straightforward, so typically Elias.

"Aren't you going to get down on one knee?" I blurt, my face reddening immediately as I realise how demanding I sound. But Elias laughs, shaking his head but lowering to the floor anyway.

"Do you expect a speech too?" He asks, a wicked smile on his face and I shake my head.

His smile remains for a moment, before softening and transforming into an expression that I can only describe as complete and utter adoration. His fingers intertwine with mine, his thumb gently caressing the back of my hand.

"Sam, will you do me the honour of letting me hold you, keep you and love you for the rest of my life? Will you marry me?"

His voice is smooth and sensual, not a sight of nerves and that reassures me. He's thought about this, thought about it for god knows how long; so long that he knows with every cell in him that this is what he wants. His eyes never wavering once, always locked on mine and I know that that's the way it'll stay just as long as I say yes.

He arches an eyebrow expectantly and I smile broadly.

"Yes, obviously yes." I utter, rolling my eyes at him. He snorts, laughing under his breath as he shakes his head at me.

"Maybe this is a terrible mistake." He muses quietly from the floor and I bark out a laugh as I hoist him up.

"Too late now, you're stuck with me." I murmur, quietly relishing in the thought that the man in front of me is mine. Eli smiles and shrugs, not looking phased by the idea in the slightest and I revel in the fact.

Our lives together won't be perfect by any stretch, but it'll be worth it for the unexpected moments of joy that we seek out, the bliss that we create simply by being together and I honestly can't wait. Elias makes me excited to see every tomorrow, to make the most of every single day that I've been allocated, and I couldn't ask for anything more. As long as he's beside me, I have everything I need.