Marriage proposal

Micheal’s heart raced as he watched Yvonne beside him, her face glowing softly under the moonlight. She looked peaceful yet vulnerable, and for a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to imagine what it would be like to share more than just these quiet nights. He hadn’t meant for their conversation to turn personal, hadn’t intended to lay bare the hopes he’d harbored secretly. But with Yvonne, his guard always seemed to slip, and he found himself speaking from a place he usually kept hidden.

Micheal knew he couldn’t afford to be selfish. His children had grown attached to Yvonne, often whispering in his ear their dreams of calling her “Mommy.” He’d seen it in their eyes, a silent wish they were too young to articulate fully but that radiated every time they were near her. Yvonne had become more than a friend or a caregiver; she was their safe haven, the piece of their family puzzle they didn’t know they needed until she arrived.

He glanced at Yvonne, watching her shift slightly in her s