Greg sat in front of Amie at the round dinner table. The table was decorated with a long white table cloth, with one candle and one rose placed in the middle. The rose gave them the feeling of safe distance while the candle brought them together to embrace the warmth. A beautifully cooked 3 oz steak was plated for both of them to enjoy. The dish was accompanied by home roasted vegatables that took Greg longer to cook than the steak. He had put the table in the middle of his dining room, leaving the curtains open to illuminate the romance of the room by the moon. Though, the aromas begged for her attention, Amie kept her eyes on Greg.
Her smile sat light on her cheeks but heavy on her eyes. The happiness that she felt wrapped around his heart and comforted him. "It all looks so beautiful." her soft voice tickeld his ears. "Dig in" he urged her. Her thin, delicate fingers danced towards the sparkling silverware. Amie cut a piece of the buttery, medium-rare steak and lifted it to her mouth. Greg watched her full, red lips allow his cooking entry. His nerves took the warmth from the candle off his shoulders and sent chills to his stomach. Her sea deep blue, love-curious eyes shimmered. A satisfied moan escaped her lips, "Delicious!." Her pleased words gave him the go ahead to eat with her. The colorful vegetables on the plate claimed her attention the most and Greg made a note of that for next time.
As Amie finished her last bite of steak, Greg was already in the kitchen plating the dessert. He wanted to make sure his presentation was perfect; but, if it meant spending too much time away from Amie, his presentation was the last thing he cared about. With two plates in his hands he walked back to the dining room as if he were on a tight rope. Greg was known for his lack of graceful movements but tonight he made the extra effort to look like a dancer. The closer he got to his love the happier the butterflies in his stomach got. The fragrance of her perfume calmed him, and made it easier for him to keep his balance.
He slowly placed the dessert on her place mat, building her anticipation. On top of the small white dish sat a fluffy slice of vanila blueberry cake. The cake was dressed in a homemade blueberry buttercream, garnished with lemon zest and fresh mint leaves. "Oh, wow!" Amie gasped in awe. Greg sat back down, across from his darling and watched her take her first bite. Her first reaction was joy but it slowly changed to confusion.
With a mouhtful of fresh cake behind her pleasant lips she mumbled "I think there is something in my cake.." Greg tried to look concerned but the excitement was too hard to contain. Amie took something out of her mouth, trying not to be disgusted. Her worried eyes glanced down at what she held in her hands. "Greg..." Amie breathed heavily in wonderment. "My dearest Amie.." he began. "Greg..." she said again. "Greg... no." Amie placed the ring on her plate before standing up from the table. "I'm sorry, no." her black eyes filled with tears and she left the room. Greg sat in horror. The candle left dancing shadows of demons on the walls as the moonlight disappeared behind grey clouds. The scent of her perfume swirled in the air, stinging his nose. The once shiny ring sat dull on the plate, and the romance in the room wrapped itself around his throat like a noose leaving him hanging in silence.