Love is in the air. Film at 11.
Jason Walker watched from his couch as the love of his life, Lucy Marshall, appeared on the television screen. As a talented television reporter, her elegance and confidence shone through the lens, making Jason fall for her even more each day. With her long, straight blonde hair framing her striking green eyes, she had an air about her that captivated viewers and stole their hearts – especially Jason’s.
“Lucy is nailing this report,” Jason thought to himself, his chest swelling with pride. “How did I get so lucky?”
The idea struck him like a bolt of lightning: what if he proposed to Lucy during one of her live Dallas new reports? Sure, it was impulsive, but it would be one of the most romantic and memorable moments they could share together. The thought set his heart racing; just imagining the surprise in her eyes and the joy on her face made him giddy with excitement.
“Hey, Megan?” Jason called out to his sister, who was rummaging through the fridge in the kitchen. “What do you think about me proposing to Lucy during one of her live broadcasts?”
“Really?” Megan responded, poking her head out from behind the refrigerator door. “That sounds… bold! But knowing you two, it might just work. She’ll never see it coming!”
“Right?” Jason grinned, his enthusiasm growing. “I want to give her a moment we’ll both remember forever.”
“Okay, big brother,” Megan said, walking over to sit next to him. “But you better make sure it goes smoothly. You know how much she loves her job.”
“Of course!” Jason replied, nodding fervently. “I’ll plan this down to the last detail. It’ll be perfect.”
As the days passed, Jason became increasingly consumed by his plan, running through various scenarios in his head and strategizing the perfect moment to spring the question. He believed, without a shadow of a doubt, that this impulsive proposal would be the ultimate expression of his love for Lucy. All he needed was the right moment to turn his romantic fantasy into reality.
The scent of rain still lingered in the air from an earlier downpour. Jason stood off-camera, hidden amongst the crowd of onlookers who had gathered to watch Lucy’s live report outside the city hall.
“Okay, deep breaths,” he whispered to himself, rehearsing his lines once more in his head. His palms were clammy, and he wiped them on his jeans before reaching into his pocket to touch the velvet ring box, ensuring it was still there. “I can do this.”
“Are you ready?” Ben, the cameraman, asked him with a reassuring smile, knowing full well what was about to take place. “Once I widen the shot, that’s your cue.”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Jason replied, forcing a shaky grin. He watched as Lucy spoke animatedly to the camera.
“Three… two… one…” Ben mouthed the countdown, and Jason took a steadying breath as he stepped out from his hiding place.
“Here goes nothing,” he muttered under his breath, feeling a sudden surge of adrenaline course through him. His legs felt wobbly, but he managed to walk towards Lucy without tripping over his own feet.
“Come on, Jason, you can do this” he told himself. “You love her, and she loves you. This is going to be perfect.”
Lucy stood tall, her blonde hair whipping around her face as the wind picked up. She was in the middle of delivering a report on the recently approved city budget allocated for the development of new parks and green spaces in the community.
“According to city officials, these new parks will not only provide much-needed recreational areas for families but also contribute to the overall well-being of our urban environment,” she said.
Off-camera, Jason’s heart raced as he watched Lucy, his palms sweating so profusely he couldn’t stop wiping them on his jeans. He glanced at the velvet ring box in his pocket, reassuring himself that it was still there. “This is it. She doesn’t even see me yet.”
He could feel a tight knot forming in the pit of his stomach, his breaths growing shallow and rapid. The bustling noise of the city seemed to grow louder, drowning out everything else as he focused solely on Lucy.
“Okay, Jason, just wait for the perfect moment,” he coached himself internally. “She’ll finish talking about the park improvements and then… I’ll do it.”
His eyes darted around, trying to find something to fixate on other than Lucy’s radiant smile. He noticed a small group of pigeons pecking at some crumbs nearby, momentarily distracting him from his inner turmoil. But as soon as they took flight, his attention returned to the task at hand.
“Come on, you’ve been through worse,” he reasoned mentally, recalling some of the more challenging moments in his life. “You’ve run a marathon, survived a high school reunion, and even ate your mother’s ‘gourmet’ meatloaf without complaining. You can do this.”
“Furthermore, the city plans to implement various sustainability initiatives such as rainwater harvesting, solar lighting, and native plant landscaping,” Lucy continued, her voice growing more animated as she discussed the environmentally friendly aspects of the project.
Jason’s heartbeat quickened in anticipation, his legs feeling like they were made of jelly. He took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself, but his chest felt tight with anxiety. “What if she says no? What if she’s not ready?” The doubts swirled around his mind like a tornado, threatening to consume him.
“Snap out of it!” he mentally chastised himself, trying to regain control over his racing thoughts. “You love her, and she loves you. Nothing else matters.”
He clenched his fists, steadying himself for what was about to happen. As Lucy neared the end of her report, Jason’s nerves reached a fever pitch. His focus narrowed, his entire world shrinking down to just the two of them amidst the chaos of the city.
“Once these projects are underway, residents can look forward to enjoying these beautiful green spaces within the next year,” Lucy concluded, her smile warm and genuine.
“Okay, now or never,” Jason thought, taking one last, shaky breath before stepping into the unknown.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Ben, the cameraman, sensed the movement off to the side and smoothly panned out to capture the unfolding scene. The shot widened as Jason took his position on one knee just at the edge of the frame, the open ring box held aloft like a beacon of hope in his trembling hand.
“Lucy?” Jason called out, his voice wavering with a mix of nerves and conviction. His blue eyes locked onto hers, silently pleading for her to understand the depth of his feelings.
Caught off guard, Lucy’s professional façade faltered, her green eyes widening in shock as she processed what was happening. “Jason? Wh-what are you doing here?” she stammered, momentarily forgetting that they were still live on air.
“Making our lives unforgettable,” Jason replied, his gaze never leaving hers. He could see the confusion swirling in her eyes, but he had to try. For them. For their future.
“Is this… Are you…?” Lucy trailed off, her mind racing to catch up with the reality before her. She glanced from Jason to the camera and back again, suddenly aware of the thousands of viewers who were undoubtedly witnessing this unexpected turn of events.
“Lucy Marshall,” Jason began, swallowing hard as he fought to keep his voice steady, “you are the love of my life, and I want to spend the rest of my days making you happy. Will you marry me?”
For a moment, the bustling city seemed to fall silent, as if holding its collective breath in anticipation of Lucy’s response. The weight of her decision hung heavy in the air, and Jason couldn’t help but hold his own breath, praying that she would say yes.
“Lucy?” Jason repeated, his voice cracking with vulnerability. He could see the indecision in her eyes, and it only made him more determined to convince her of his love. “I’m serious. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. Will you marry me?”
On live television, surrounded by a sea of curious onlookers, Lucy hesitated. Her heart thudded in her chest as she struggled to find the right words. “Jason, I… I don’t know what to say,” she finally admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
“Say yes,” Jason urged softly, hope flickering in his blue eyes. “Please, just… trust me. Trust us.”
“Jason, I do love you,” Lucy began, but the furrow in her brow betrayed her uncertainty. “But I’ve worked so hard to get where I am now, and I have so many dreams and goals I still want to achieve. I can’t let all of that go, not even for you.”
“Who says you have to give up anything?” Jason countered, desperation creeping into his voice. “We can support each other, grow together. Isn’t that what love is about?”
“Of course it is, but…” Lucy hesitated again, her green eyes searching for answers in the sea of faces surrounding them. The pressure was immense, her mind spinning with thoughts of her career, her future, and the man kneeling before her. “I’m sorry, Jason. I just… I can’t.”
Jason felt as if the breath had been knocked out of him, his heart shattering into a thousand pieces. The ring in his hand suddenly felt unbearably heavy, like an anchor dragging him down into the depths of despair. His fingers trembled, and for a moment, he feared he might drop it. But he didn’t.
Instead, he slowly lowered the ring, his face a mask of heartbreak as he struggled to maintain his composure. “I understand,” he whispered, though it felt like the hardest thing he’d ever had to say. He rose to his feet, his legs shaking beneath him. “I hope you find everything you’re looking for, Lucy.”
“Jason, please…” Lucy reached out for him, tears glistening in her eyes.
But Jason turned away, his shoulders slumped in defeat, leaving behind the woman he loved and the life he’d imagined they would share together.
Jason couldn’t bear the weight of his own heartbreak. The ring, once a symbol of their love, now only served as a painful reminder of Lucy’s rejection. He glanced at it one last time, the tiny diamond mocking him with its cold sparkle.
“Damn you,” he muttered through gritted teeth, his rage boiling over. With a swift and forceful motion, he hurled the ring into the nearest trash can. It clattered against the side before sinking into the depths of discarded coffee cups and crumpled newspapers.
“Jason!” Lucy cried out, her voice cracking with emotion.
“Save it, Lucy,” he snapped, unable to look back at her. “You made your choice.” His chest heaved with anger and hurt, each breath an agonizing reminder of everything that had just transpired.
“Please, let me explain,” she pleaded, her voice barely audible above the city’s noise.
“Explain?” Jason laughed bitterly, the sound void of any mirth. “What’s there to explain? You’re married to your job, not me. I get it.”
“Jason, it’s not that simple,” Lucy insisted, trying to close the distance between them.
“Isn’t it, though?” Jason countered, finally turning to face her. “You want success, fame, adoration – and I’m just… in the way.”
“Jason, no,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
“Goodbye, Lucy,” he said, his voice hollow. As he stormed off, the wind whipped around him, scattering the leaves and debris at his feet. Each step felt heavier than the last as the reality of what happened settled in like an iron weight upon his shoulders. This was it. The end of their story, the final chapter written in the ink of her rejection.
He paused for a moment beneath the awning of a nearby café, the rain suddenly pouring down around him. Leaning against the brick wall, he clenched his fists and fought back tears of his own.
“Stupid,” he cursed himself, his thoughts a whirlwind of anger, hurt, and regret. “Stupid to think she’d choose me.”
“Excuse me,” a sympathetic voice interrupted his inner turmoil. Jason looked up to see an elderly woman holding out a tissue towards him, her eyes filled with understanding and sorrow. He took it with a mumbled thanks, dabbing at his eyes as he tried to regain some semblance of composure.
“Chin up, young man,” she said gently, squeezing his arm before continuing on her way.
With a deep, shuddering breath, Jason straightened up and stepped back into the rain, the water mingling with the tracks of his tears. His heart lay shattered in the stormy streets of the city, leaving a gaping void where once there had been love and hope.
“Goodbye, Lucy.”
