Silence had fallen over the garden, barely disturbed by the rustling of leaves under the gentle evening breeze. Ezran was still kneeling before me, one knee on the fresh grass, the open box in his trembling hand. His eyes, shining with a mix of hope and nervousness, never left mine. At that precise moment, the entire world seemed to have shrunk to the tiny space between the two of us.
"Will you marry me?" he repeated softly, his voice full of sincerity, as if he feared the silence would swallow his words.
My heart was pounding, each beat resonating in my ears. A part of me wanted to respond immediately, to be swept away by the reassuring warmth of this man who had done everything to prove that he would be there, no matter what. But another part, deeper, more fragile, hesitated. This moment was beautiful, almost unreal, and yet it seemed to awaken a shadow within me, an echo of a past I couldn't ignore.
