The Late Evening of September 4th, 2012: Las Vegas

In a few hours, it would be exactly 4.5 years since we started dating.

We retired to our suite at Vdara after an amazing Cirque Du Soleil KÀ show. She went to shower as I secretly made the preparations. I poured chilled moscato into two wine glasses, retrieved the carefully hidden ring from the room safe, turned off the lights and retracted the shades to the panoramic windows.

Deep breathe and wait.

When she stepped out, I took her hand and led her towards the window. Handing her a glass of the sweet wine,  I directed her gaze towards the wide expanse of cityscape and the choreographed  Bellagio fountains erupting below. Turning towards her, I spoke of how our relationship had begun and how it evolved to the point I felt confident spending our lives together. She would later refer to this as a “long speech”. Then, eyes locked together, I presented her the ring, glimmering in the darkness.

“Will you marry me?”
“Yes!”

Unable to contain her excitement, she gave me her hand and I slipped the ring on. “Sparkly!” she deemed it, reinforcing the notion that women are attracted to shiny things. Later that night, I would catch her awake in bed playing with the ring and watching the diamonds glitter in the moonlight.