Is this destiny?

Sarah and Aiden were walking through the forest for some time. Sarah held Aiden\'s hand and followed without even trying to pay attention where they are going. It\'s not like she will be able to remember how to go back no matter how hard she tries, and there is no need for it, because Aiden is by her side. Even if they are going to the end of the world, she will follow him without any objections.

Suddenly, Aiden halted his steps and turned toward Sarah.

"Sarah… love… I need you to close your eyes."

"Eh?" Sarah glanced around. There is just forest and nothing else (how much she can see). Why does she need to close her eyes?

In the next second a playful smirk appeared on her face. "Is this the reason why you refused to dip your dipper this morning?"

Aiden stifled a laugh. Where is she getting those expressions? "No. But as you can guess, there IS something." He made a dramatic pause before continuing: "And I need you to close your eyes…", his voice drifted away as he pulled a long white silk scarf from the side pocket of his backpack. Aiden folded the scarf and tied it up around Sarah\'s head, covering her eyes.

Aiden held Sarah\'s hands in his from her back and she heard his voice close to her ear: "Straight ahead. Relax and let me guide you…"

Sarah obeyed and started making small steps, turning left or right, as Aiden guided her.

With every step her anticipation was growing. What is he up to? Did he set up a romantic lunch in the middle of the forest? Or is there a treehouse, just for the two of them? What else could it be? Sarah was bubbling with excitement. No matter what is coming when the scarf comes off, she knows that it will be spectacular because that is what her Aiden is: spectacular.

It didn\'t take many steps for Sarah to empty her mind and allow this feeling of Aiden guiding her to take over. This man has her absolute trust and she would do anything for him. All thoughts left her, and she was aware of his presence, and all the feelings which fill her heart to the brim, all the feelings directed toward Aiden.

"Honey?", Sarah called in a whisper.

"Yes, love?", he responded.

"You know that I love you, right?"

He hummed in confirmation and kissed her cheek before responding: "I love you more."

Sarah relaxed and allowed Aiden to guide her to their destination through the forest while counting her steps silently: 71… 72… 73… She felt the sun hitting her face. It seems that they are out of the forest. 96…97… 98… Sarah counted 114 when she heard Aiden say: "OK."

Based on his voice, she can tell that he is excited.

He moved away from her and she felt that he is removing her backpack. The sound on her right told her that both of their backpacks ended up on the ground.

A slight tug at the back of her head loosened up the silk scarf, and a second later it came off, freeing her eyes to see what is in front of her.

Sarah blinked few times at the sudden light and then she held her breath while observing her surroundings: she is standing in a meadow full of wildflowers… forest circling around it… snowy mountain peaks in the front, above forest canopy… This is the meadow from that painting they found on the flea market in Fairfield. This is the meadow from her dream… the one where they are going to get married on.

"Oh, Aiden…", Sarah said under her breath and turned to find him on her right.

She threw herself into his embrace. "You found it!"

"Is this the one?"

Sarah nodded frantically while tightening her hold on him.

"Happy birthday, my love.", Aiden said with a big smile on his face.

"Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me…", she looked into his deep dark eyes and her sight was getting blurry from her tears of happiness. "You literally made my dream come true."

He leaned his forehead on hers. "And you have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that."

"You are amazing. This place is amazing!", Sarah exclaimed and turned to look around one more time.

She made a full circle, taking in the surroundings before wanting to hug Aiden again.

Where did he go? He eyes are full of tears, but she should still see him, right?

Sarah wiped her eyes with the back of her palm and was surprised to see Aiden kneeling in front of her.

Aiden smiled while holding a jewelry box in his hand which is cradling a ring in its satin fold: a butterfly with a marquise cut green diamond for a butterfly\'s body and four pear-shaped white diamonds for wings which had many smaller green diamonds around them, filling in the perfect shape for butterfly\'s wings.

Sarah\'s mouth was slightly open while her eyes darted between the magnificent ring and Aiden.

Aiden cleared his throat: "I have a feeling I didn\'t do this right the first time, and since we are on this meadow, I believe this is the right time and a place for a second try…"

He licked his lips nervously and looked at her with eyes full of love while speaking: "Sarah, my love… When I met you, something whispered in my ear that I should not let you go. Listening to that voice was the best decision in my life. You showed me the meaning of trust. You showed me that the world has colors. You showed me that it\'s OK to be myself. Your selfless love showed me that I can be loved and that I can love in return to the point of pulling me back from the brink of death because I need to be next to my soulmate. I know that I love you since you entered my life and accepted to work on the project I made up, but I always wondered: how is it possible that I feel such a strong connection to you from the moment we met? When I found out that I claimed you long time ago with my first kiss, those last few pieces fell into place. Everything falls into place when we are together. You asked me once if the two of us meeting and falling for each other is destiny, and I can answer you now with certainty: yes, it is. My only desire is to be by your side and ensure your happiness. Will you make my life complete and stay by my side forever? Will you be my destiny and allow me to be yours?"

"Yes.", Sarah responded while choking on the tears which swelled in her eyes uncontrollably, blurring her vision.

Sarah felt when Aiden slipped the ring on her left ring finger before he stood up and kissed her on the lips.

"Thank you.", he whispered.

Sarah laughed through sniffles and hugged him tightly. "Thank you."

Aiden lifted Sarah up and twirled her until they were both dizzy.

They fell softly on the bed of wildflowers and both laughed.

The two of them, holding each other on the meadow full of wildflowers, surrounded with the forest and towering mountain peaks in the back… it is perfect.

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