9/13/11

Unexpected
By Anna Parish

The lights were dim. Crowds of people cluttered the ballroom. Emily stood in the corner, holding a glass of fruit punch. She took a sip, her eyes lingering on a group of people in the center of the dance floor. Tonight was supposed to be special, but here she was, in a corner.
On the first Friday of every month, the hospital she worked at hosted a dinner and dance at a hotel. Emily had attended those parties for as long as she could remember, and every time, someone announced their marriage, retirement, or pregnancy.
Emily sighed, and put her glass down on the table next to her. She continued to stare at that group at the center. They probably thought that she was looking at all of them, but truth was, she was focused on one person. That person was on the edge of the circle, laughing with his friends. How could he just stand there, and ignore her?
“Emily?” A voice said, snapping her out of her thoughts.
She blinked, and found her friend, Claire standing right next to her. “Yeah?”
“What are you do- Oh, Emily.” Claire looked at the group of people, and back at her.
“Are you really still thinking about that? He’ll come over eventually. He wouldn’t just let you stand here all by yourself.”
“But he’s all the way over there.” Emily gestured to the group. “He told me tonight would just be different for once.”
“And it might be! The night just began, Emily. Don’t assume anything yet.”
Emily crossed her arms, “Fine. He has an hour.”
Claire smiled, and led her to the dance floor.

* * *


“Okay. That’s it.”
Emily mumbled to herself, checking her watch. It had been over an hour since she had talked to Claire. He had plenty of time to go over and talk to her. But he didn’t. He was still with the same group of people, in the center of the floor.
Emily walked over to the edge of the dance floor, ready to leave. She crossed her arms over her chest, and waited.

“Where are you doing?” Claire asked, walking over from the side of the dance floor.
“Leaving.” Emily said, through her teeth.
“He’ll come over. Just give him a few more minutes.”
Emily threw a glance in Claire’s direction. What was she talking about?
“Why would I do that? He promised that this wouldn’t happen -”
Emily was caught off guard when he began to walk in her direction. He nodded to the people he had been talking to, and made his way to the edge of the dance floor. Before he had a chance to speak, Emily spoke.


“Justin! What were you doing this whole time? Do you think it’s okay to just make me wait here while you’re over there, talking to your friends? I mean, you didn’t even ask me to go over there and talk to them with you!”
Justin’s eyes went wide. “Wait...wait, Emily....”
“No! What was that for?”
“Emily, please, just calm down...”
Emily stomped her foot.
“Not until you tell me what was going on over there.”
Justin grabbed a hold of Emily’s hand. She stared at their hands, and shook her head.
“Stop!”
“Emily! You know why I was over there the whole time?”
Emily’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Because, I was telling them about you.”
“What about me? That you wish you could get rid of me?” Emily tore her hand out of his grasp, and crossed her arms.
Justin’s eyebrows knitted together.
“What? Of course not, Emily. Just the opposite, actually...”
Emily’s shoulders sagged a little. She stared at him, her eyes slightly wider than they were.
“What do you mean?” she whispered.
Justin laughed. “I mean this...”
He got down on one knee, and looked up at Emily. The people around them fell silent. Emily’s hand flew to her mouth.
“What are you doing?”
“Emily,” he began, taking her hand. “you are the most spontaneous and authentic person I’ve ever met. Ever since I met you, it was like we were on a country road, just exploring the world together. I want to stay on this road, and explore more of the world together. Emily, will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down her face. She nodded, and kissed him. How could she have doubted his loyalty? Justin slid the ring on her finger, and wrapped his arms around her. She rested her head on his collarbone, her heart beating loudly in her ears. After all of this time, this was actually happening to her. She was actually going to get married.
“I love you,” Justin whispered.
“I love you, too.”
They kissed, and the rest of the world melted away.


- - -
Anna Parish is an aspiring novelist. She has been writing since she was seven, and plans to have her stories on a shelf one day.