We're enjoying the scenery just around the hotel for now. It's almost dinner time so we didn't want to get too involved in our excursion. We headed back in stopping at the kiosk for snacks and drinks for our room and then went to the restaurant for dinner. We enjoyed watching the sunset while we laid in bed together, kissing and discussing what we wanted to do tomorrow. She fell asleep in my arms and just laid there, watching her sleep for a while. Wondering how and when I was going to ask this woman to marry me.
I was nervous, excited, anxious, scared... all at once. It was driving me a little crazy by letting my thoughts run wild.. What if she said no?
I'd be devastated. I don't know what I would do.
What if she said yes? I still don't know what I would do.
Fuck... damn it. Lance was right. What did he say to me again? 'When you realize you'd regret it more if you didn't ask, because of your anxiety, that just the thought of one day with out her, cripples you... You ask.'
I already know if things were to end, it would cripple me in a way I'd never be able to return unscathed from. I don't want a future with out her in it. Ever. I still can't believe I lived so many years without her in it. I wished I had met her sooner, so I could have loved her longer. There's not enough time in the years, the days, the seconds we have left on this earth for me to be able to show her how much she means to me. Each day, my love only grows more for her.
"I love you, Sarina." I whisper and place a kiss upon her forehead. She snuggles closer into my chest, a smile on her face, making my heart beat faster at the sight. I sigh, close my eyes and will myself to sleep.
I awaken to the suns morning rays coming through the window, still wrapped up in Sarina's arms. I stretch and slowly start to move when she stirs awake. She seems confused at first, blinking her eyes open, but when she focuses on me, she just smiles.
"Good morning." She mumbles, sleep still heavy on her voice. Her eyes wonder around me, narrowing in confusion as she sits up and looks around.
"Where..?" Something clicks in place and she jumps up, "Oh! That's right!" She's giddy with excitement. She runs into the bathroom and then comes back out afterwards with her toothbrush, scrubbing away.
I chuckle and get up, kiss her forehead and let her know I'll be in the bathroom a minute, once she's done brushing her teeth. I take a quick shower and while she's occupied in the bathroom to get ready, I'm slipping the ring into my pocket wrapped up in her brothers letter.
When she's ready, with our backpacks ready with snacks, water, extra clothes and our survival gear, we head out of the hotel. We were told we could take the furnicular down and walk back up to see the waterfalls and then told about the hiking trails that would take us to Uferweg Iseltwald area.
We thanked them for their help and headed out. Sarina and I took a lot of pictures going down on the furnicular which was a railed open air tram. The view was stunning. The beautiful color of the lake was a stunning blue green, with the white tipped mountains all around and the fresh mountain air, it invigorated my senses and made us both feel a little high on the experience.
Once at the bottom we started up the trail of switchbacks that let us get some amazing views of the falls, enjoying the walk at our own pace. We were having a great time and it didn't take too long to get back up to where the hotel was again, but we kept up our trek after taking some pictures of the hotel from the different angles. I was trying to find out which spot was her favorite, which one she sighed at, which ones she gazed at longingly, which ones seemed to have more privacy too, as we made out way up the trails farther. I didn't know where I was going to do it, and the farther we trekked up the trail, the more nervous I felt trying to find the right place.
I suggested we stop and take a break for water and to have a snack and enjoy the moment.
"So far what's been your favorite spot? I really like the one near the bottom where you could see the cascade of several of the falls."
She hums, "I'm not sure yet. When we finish I'll tell you." She smiles and leans over and pecks my cheek. "Thank you, Brian. This is really amazing, I'm so glad I'm sharing this with you."
My heart flutters with courage at that moment, filling me with certainty.
This is it, this is the moment I've been waiting for.
I reach my hand in my pocket and am about to take it out...
"Oh! You two are from America too!"
We're approached by two other Americans walking on the trail who come up and greet us, introducing themselves and where they're from.
And.. just like that, the moment escaped me. I shoved the ring back down into my pocket and greeted them courteously.
Greg and Val were from Minnesota and we're staying at the hotel too, here on a vacation. Val and Sarina seemed to be getting along and Greg was a likeable fellow too. After about fifteen minutes of us exchanging pleasantries, they headed back to the hotel for lunch.
"Would you two like to join us?" Val asked and I exchanged a glance with Sarina.
"We were planning on hiking the trail today. Maybe tomorrow?" I offered.
"Oh, we leave tomorrow, but that's alright, you two go ahead and enjoy yourselves. We've already seen it all." Greg said in a friendly manner as Val looked slightly disappointed.
Sarina turned to me and I internally sighed.
"Well, since you're leaving tomorrow, I guess we could join you. We could finish it tomorrow, I suppose." I gave Sarina a lopsided smile and she beamed at me.
So we headed back down to the hotel for lunch. This turned into drinks at the bar afterwards, then dinner viewing the waterfalls, then more drinks at the bar. I finally called it a night when Sarina started slurring.
"Oh, you're no...fun." Sarina pouted but gave in, "But... he's right. I'm tired but it was...nice meeting you both." I walked her up to our room, her stumbling along the way. It got to the point, I just picked her up and carried her to our rooms. I took off her shoes and got her changed and in the bed, a trash can nearby just in case as she started softly snoring.
I sighed and stuck my hands in my pockets....
My eyes went wide.
It's not there! The ring! I started patting my pockets again and didn't find it. I looked all around on the floor, under the bed, the bathroom, nothing.
I can't believe I lost it!
I decide to retrace my steps, heading back down to the bar. I went to where we were sitting not long ago and asked the bartender if anyone handed over a piece of paper with something in it or threw it away. They shook their head no. I went to the restaurant and asked the same but they told me if something was picked up, it was in the trash can that held all the table scraps.
I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated, defeated, but still thanked the man and with my shoulders hunched and my head low, started making my way back out. I decided to step outside to get some air.
I can't believe I lost the ring. David is going to get upset, he'd kept that for so long and I lost it. Now, all my planning was for naught.
Groaning into my hands, I decide to head back inside, my face still in my hands. I bump into someone and immediately drop my hands.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I start and see Greg.
"It's all good, I'm glad I spotted you from our room." He points up to a corner room window. He holds out his hand, "I was going to leave it at the front desk tomorrow morning, but I believe you lost this?"
In his hand is the letter and the ring. My eyes widen, thrilled.
"Fuck, Greg! Oh man, thank you! You have no idea how much I was beating myself up right now, trying to find that. I thought it was gone forever." I take them from him and he smiles.
"No problem. Sorry, I kind of read the letter. I didn't actually know it was yours, don't ya know. I saw it in the chair and thought it was trash, but stopped when I felt something in it and opened it to check. The letter helped me realize it was yours." He scratched the back of his head, awkwardly.
"That's fine. You found it and returned it, that's all that matters to me."
Greg smiles, "Happy I could help. By the way. There's a perfect spot to propose to her on the trails." He pulls out a map, pointing to the spot he's talking about. "It's beautiful, scenic, and if you get there early enough tomorrow, there won't be too many others there, don't ya know."
I stick my hand out and shake his, "Thank you, Greg. I was hoping to find the perfect place today and doing the hike again before we left and doing it then. This helps me surprise her even more. "
"No problem, man. I've got to get back to Val now. She had a few too many too. Safe travels, Brian." He turns and starts heading back inside but stops and says quickly, "Good luck and congratulations." He tips his head in a salute with a finger before heading back inside.
Carefully, I place the ring back in my pocket. My hand on it until I get back up to the room and place it in a safe spot in my bag. Sarina still snoring softly.