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Then it's time for our speeches so we sit back down.
First up is Christian, who inspires more awe as an orator than even my father. He talks about the history of Solvaria and the continuing legacy that we carry on.
Caesar speaks about our responsibility to contribute to world diplomacy, and his remarks, as usual, are punctuated with jokes.
Alexis, now seemingly fully Americanized, gets up and talks about all of the Solvarian values he honors through his life in America with his wife Bella. He lives with her on a ranch and they run multiple charities for animal welfare and rural communities.
Finally Ishmael. All four of them end their speeches by handing a rose to my wife.
Then it’s my turn.
I realize the magnitude of the task ahead, and the sea of faces in front of me look at me expectantly looks hazy. I find Ellie, and she gives me a nod.
“Sometimes when I'm away on medical missions, it can seem lonely. Especially in the most remote places with minimal staff. But on a night like tonight, surrounded by all of you our supporters I'm reminded of how big the team really is. Even though not all of you can vaccinate a sick child or perform eye surgery to restore someone’s sight, your contributions ensure that our work carries on for years to come.”
A polite round of applause comes forth.
“There's much to be said about purpose and legacy. And I truly know that the work I do is a big part of that. In recent months I've unlocked a new facet of my life's purpose, and that is to be a family man. A husband, and a father.”
I look down at Ellie's stunned face which fuels me. It makes me fearless.
“This wouldn't have been possible without my beautiful wife, who has opened my heart to new possibilities. I shut myself off from love a long time ago—I became consumed with medicine, after losing my mother and my best friend in short succession as a kid, and I always thought myself much too ‘serious’ for such ‘frivolous’ pursuits.”
The crowd laughs, and I laugh at myself.
“But really, trying to avoid it was frivolous. I’m glad I never pursued it, though, because the right person came along at exactly the right time. Well…came back along.”
The crowd oohs and aaahs and I turn to the big projector screen behind me. I hand-picked every picture that's now sliding across the screen, enlarged and visible from any corner of the grand hall. But to see them up there?
My heart skips a few beats and I feel the smile begin at the corner of my mouth.
Interspersed in each photo from the last several months is a photo from our childhood together.
I know the sequence like my own handwriting. There's one where we’re snorkeling, followed by reading on the lawn, then dancing together.
And then there’s one of us having a snowball fight. Another where we’re opening gifts for Solvarian Independence Day.
The slideshow pauses on a particular favorite of mine. A picture of her on a medical mission surrounded by women with medical suture needles, after teaching them to do basic surgery.
“That's beautiful,” yells someone in the crowd.
“Yes. She is.” I reply, looking straight at my wife. “Inside and out.”
On cue, community members from the mothers’ and children's foundation she supports come up and join me on stage.
“I'd like to read a poem I wrote for Princess Ellie, called Our Princess,” says one of the orphans. A little girl with a lisp.
“The world has only found out now, but you've always been our Princess. Your regal ways outshine the rest because your heart’s the best. You care for us come rain or shine and never miss a beat. And if they ever tire of you you'll always be our princess, and you keep us on our feet.”
At this point Ellie is a weeping mess. She comes onto the stage to thank the poet. I hug her after she hugs the mother and child.
And I get down on one knee.
“What are you doing?” she asks with wide eyes.
“Will you marry me, again?”
I'm solely focused on her as I pull out the ring box and open it.
