After The Yes
905 Words
The beach was still buzzing with excitement. The guests were taking pictures, champagne glasses clinked, and someone shouted, “Kiss her again!” Daniel laughed, pulling Amara close and planting another kiss on her lips. She blushed and buried her face in his chest.
“Daniel, stop,” she whispered. “Everyone is staring.”
“Let them stare,” he replied, grinning. “You’re mine now. Officially.”
Ada squeezed between them, almost knocking Daniel aside. “Excuse me, fiancé, I need my best friend for a moment!”
Amara laughed nervously as Ada pulled her a few steps away. “What?”
“What?” Ada echoed, shaking her head dramatically. “That’s all you have to say after a man just staged the proposal of the century? Girl, you better start screaming!”
Amara giggled, her voice trembling. “I already said yes, didn’t I?”
Ada eyed her closely. “Yes, but you said it like you were about to cry.”
“I was happy!” Amara defended, though her fingers fiddled with the ring. “Overwhelmed, that’s all.”
Ada folded her arms, unconvinced. “Overwhelmed or scared?”
Amara looked away, watching Daniel laugh with a group of his friends. He was glowing, absolutely radiant, as if this night was the beginning of his dream. For him, maybe it was. For her—she swallowed.
“Amara.” Ada’s voice softened. “Talk to me.”
“I’m fine,” she whispered. “It’s just… you know my past.”
Ada groaned. “Not this again. That man is gone. You’ve healed.”
“Have I?” Amara’s voice cracked. “Sometimes I still hear his voice. I still feel like—like I’ll ruin this too.”
Ada grasped her shoulders. “Look at me. You will not ruin this. Daniel is not your past. He loves you. Anyone can see it.”
Amara blinked away tears. “Do you really think so?”
“I know so,” Ada said firmly. “Now smile before your fiancé thinks I’m convincing you to run away.”
Amara laughed weakly. “He’d chase me down anyway.”
They walked back to Daniel, who immediately took Amara’s hand. “Everything okay?”
“Of course,” Ada said smoothly before Amara could answer. “I was just reminding her she’s the luckiest woman alive.”
Daniel raised a brow. “She doesn’t need reminding. Do you, love?”
Amara forced a smile. “No, I don’t.”
He kissed her temple. “Good. Because you’re also the luckiest woman alive. You get me.”
Ada groaned dramatically. “Oh, please. Save the sugar for the wedding.”
Everyone laughed, the moment light again.
Later, as the crowd began to thin, Daniel and Amara strolled down the quieter part of the beach. The lanterns had drifted far into the sky, tiny specks of light against the darkness.
“You’re quiet,” Daniel said softly.
“I’m just… taking it in.”
He squeezed her hand. “Do you regret saying yes?”
Her head shot up. “No! Never. Why would you say that?”
“You’re trembling,” he said gently, brushing her arm. “I know you, Amara. When you’re scared, you pull inside yourself.”
She sighed, stopping to face him. “Daniel, I love you. I do. But sometimes I wonder if I’m enough for you.”
His jaw tightened. “Don’t ever say that again.”
“Daniel—”
“No,” he cut her off, his tone firm but tender. “You are more than enough. Do you know what I see when I look at you? Strength. Grace. A woman who makes me better every single day. Don’t let anyone—past or present—make you doubt that.”
Her lips trembled. “It’s hard to forget words that cut so deep.”
“I’ll spend the rest of my life giving you better words,” he said, pulling her close. “Words that heal.”
She closed her eyes, leaning against his chest. “You’re too good to be true.”
“I’m just yours,” he murmured.
They stood in silence, the waves crashing in the background. Finally, Amara lifted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“So… fiancé,” she teased, drawing out the word. “What now?”
“Now?” Daniel grinned mischievously. “Now we start planning the wedding. And it has to be grand enough to match tonight, of course.”
Amara laughed. “Daniel, if you keep this up, I’ll faint from the pressure.”
“Then I’ll catch you,” he replied smoothly.
“Always the hero,” she said, shaking her head.
He pulled her closer again. “No. Just always yours.”
Back at the edge of the beach, Ada spotted them and called out, “Lovebirds! I’m going home before you two make me sick with all this mush.”
Amara giggled. “Goodnight, Ada.”
Ada winked. “Goodnight, fiancée.”
When she was gone, Daniel leaned down and whispered in Amara’s ear, “I like the sound of that. Fiancée.”
She smiled, but deep down, the question returned, quiet but persistent: Can I really be someone’s forever?
As the night faded, her hand tightened around his. She didn’t know the answer. Not yet.
- Writer
