Page 93 of Play Me

And as if the gods have heard my question, the band and the orchestra fade away, and a single cello starts to play.

I search the stage, but he’s not there.

And then I see him, standing alone in front of the stage in the grass. One man alone, but creating a symphony of sound just from his cello and his bow.

He’s just like he was that first time I saw him on stage, eyes closed, hair over his face, lost in his own performance.

And just like that first time, he lifts his head and locks his eyes on mine.

I feel an explosion in my chest and I press my hand against my heart to stop it from breaking through my skin.

With the last few notes, I know. This song is mine, this man is mine and always will be.

The final note rings out and the crowd erupts into a chaotic applause.

I’m rooted to the spot and can’t move. He smiles and reaches into his pocket and holds an object in his hand for a moment before throwing it up onto the stage at me. I reach out and grab it, gripping it tight, afraid to drop it.

I’m frozen and just keep staring at him. He doesn’t move or say anything, his eyes dark and searching mine.

“What is it?” I hear a voice ring out, and it’s Sarah, of course. I think everyone laughs, but I’m not sure.

I open my trembling hand. It’s the rosin box. And all the memories come crashing back. I open the box and take out the little jar of rosin, wrapped in a little note.

I unwrap the note. And almost drop it.

“Marry me, maybe?” The clear black letters say.

Oh my god.

I look down to where he is standing, but he’s not there. Panicked, I search the crowd but he’s not there.

And then I feel a hand on the back of my neck. I spin around just as he drops to a knee. His hand reaches for the jar and he opens it, and like in a dream, pulls out a white gold diamond ring. He takes my hand and I can’t help but notice how small mine looks cradled inside of his.

“Cadence.” He says, I’m instantly dizzy from the sound of his voice saying my name. God, how I‘ve missed it. “Marry me? I can’t do this without you.”

I look up into his eyes, and I wonder how I managed to get through the last three weeks without him.

“Do what?” I ask, already knowing my answer.

“Life.”

Instantly, he looks hazy to me, and I realize I‘m looking at him through tear-filled eyes. Happy tears because I know I’m about to be his forever.

“Yes.” I say.

And now everyone knows it too.

He grins and slides the ring onto my finger and pulls me into his arms and kisses me. God, I’ve missed his kiss, the feel of my body fitting completely with his, the sweet salty taste of his lips. The way he moans when our tongues touch.

Suddenly, we hear the orchestra and the band break into the “Wedding March” and we pull apart and laugh. The crowd continues to cheer and we reward them with another kiss.

Finally, when the need for breath takes over, I pull away and whisper, “I love you, Sebastian.”

“I love you, too, Cadence.”

“How did you do all this?” I look around us, amazed that he could pull it all off. From the stage to the crowd to teaching the orchestra the song.

“Don’t you know by now? I’m a romantic.” He winks at me, and my knees do the wobble thing.