NOTE: Please read till chapter 5
The sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon with hues of orange and pink, casting a warm glow over the beach. Steve and Olivia walked side by side, their footprints leaving temporary marks in the sand that were quickly erased by the gentle tide. The soft hum of the waves seemed to blend with the distant cries of seagulls, and for a moment, everything felt perfect, frozen in time.
They had come to this beach every weekend for the past two years, finding solace in the simplicity of their shared space. Each weekend, they discovered something new—whether it was an unfamiliar shell that caught Olivia's attention or a funny story Steve would tell to make her laugh. This beach had become their haven, a place of escape from the hustle and bustle of life. It was where they had shared their first kiss, where they had argued playfully about whose idea was better, and where they had built the foundation of their relationship.
As the sun began to lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the sand, Steve felt an undeniable weight settle in his chest. His heart was pounding—not from the run on the beach, but from the anticipation of what he had been planning. For weeks, he had been thinking about this moment, wondering when it would be the right time. But now, as they walked along the water, the question he had been carrying seemed to burn inside him.
Steve stole a glance at Olivia. She smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling with the ease of someone who was at home in the world. She was everything he'd ever wanted—a companion, a friend, and someone who could make him laugh on even the darkest days. They'd been together for two years, yet every moment with her still felt like a new adventure.
But as they strolled, something in the air seemed to change. Steve felt a tension building in his chest, his thoughts swirling. He had known for a while that this moment would come, that he would need to ask the question that had been gnawing at him for weeks.
Without a word, he stopped walking, his boots crunching softly in the sand. Olivia paused beside him, tilting her head slightly, her expression open, expectant.
He looked into her eyes, his voice uncharacteristically calm but laced with something more. "Hey," he began, taking a breath, "I still don't know how you'll feel about what I'm about to ask you. But if I don't ask… I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
Olivia's brow furrowed, a soft smile still playing on her lips as she waited for him to continue. Steve's hand trembled slightly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. He opened it slowly, revealing a ring that gleamed in the soft light of the setting sun.
"I want to marry you," he said, his voice steady but his heart pounding. "I will be a different person 365 days a year so, you won't get bored. I can't give you everything but everything I gave will give you happiness surely. Every single day will be an adventure—a rollercoaster of joy. You will always be my first priority… well, until we have a baby girl, then just a little less," he added, gesturing playfully with his hands, trying to lighten the moment.
Olivia blinked in surprise, then laughed softly, the sound like music to his ears. "No," she said, the simple word hanging in the air, startling him.
Steve's heart sank. "Why?" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and shock.
Olivia turned to face him, her expression tender but firm. "I don't want someone with 365 different personalities. I like you the way you are—calm, bright, consistent. And second…" She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly with a seriousness that made Steve nervous. "I want to always be your first priority. If you put anyone above me—especially a child—I'll be jealous. Even if it's my own child. I'll be second to no one, not even in my own heart."
Steve stared at her for a long moment, taking in the weight of her words. His mind raced, but before he could respond, he dropped to one knee, the sand pressing into his skin, and pulled her attention back to the moment.
"Olivia," he said, his voice trembling with the kind of emotion that only came in the most crucial moments. "Will you marry me?"
Her eyes welled with tears—tears of joy, tears of love. She nodded, her voice barely a whisper, but clear and full of certainty. "Yes."
One Year Later
The soft glow of the evening light barely reached the bedroom, casting long shadows across the room. The house was quiet, almost too quiet, and the air felt thick with tension.
Steve walked into the room after a long day, his footsteps slow and steady. As he entered the bedroom, something immediately felt off. His eyes scanned the room, landing on the sight that made his blood run cold.
There, hanging from the ceiling, was Olivia.
The room seemed to freeze in that instant. Time stood still as Steve's mind raced, struggling to comprehend the nightmare before him. His legs went weak, and he stumbled forward, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"No," he whispered to himself, the word barely escaping his lips. His hands reached out, trembling as he tried to grasp onto the nightmare that was unfolding in front of him. But it was too late.
Steve's world broke like it was never built, his life ended like it was never born, his happiness disappeared like it was never there, all is left is steve itself with a void in his heart.