“Grief pulls you apart, piece by bloody piece, if you let it… Some would give anything to take the pain away.”

  David checked his pockets for the seventy-eighth time that day, his fingertips brushing the edges of a small velvet box. Still there. He couldn’t focus on the shirt in his hand.

  Normally, he’d grab whatever, but tonight was different.

  He picked up his phone and called the restaurant. One last confirmation couldn’t hurt, right? Everything was set—the table, the timing, even the flowers.

  Hard to believe he’d managed to pull this off without Marie catching on. Yes, that night, he was proposing to the love of his life.

  She was the type to walk into your room, half-seriously berate your every habit in alphabetical order, and then pull you into a hug like you were her favorite person in the world.

  David was sure she’d say yes. The real point was giving her the surprise proposal she’d dreamed of since childhood—a magical memory to treasure forever. He’d sooner rot in hell than let this occasion slip by.

  He mentally reviewed his checklist, a surge of pride bubbling up. Everything was in place.

  David buttoned up the shirt. He habitually switched off the TV, interrupting the reporter’s urgent babbling about some gangs on the rise. Then, he grabbed his keys and headed out.

  Finally, the hour arrived. David was waiting in front of a rather upscale establishment. It had a comfy, old-school design, reminiscent of Italian wineries.

  As he was wrestling with his nerves, Marie arrived by taxi. When he looked at her, his heart skipped a beat, and the small box threatened to burn through his pocket.

  The black-haired beauty wore a dark blue dress that perfectly complemented both her light make-up and her rather fair complexion.

  What do I say? He worried - After all, that night was about elegance—and he was her knight in shining armor.

  Before he had time to act, she gripped his tie. She pulled him in for a kiss, then leaned into his chest, a mischievous smile still on her lips.

  In her embrace, all worry melted. Inspiration struck and he felt ready.

  David pulled away a little, turned towards the entrance and straightened, his chin up. He gestured towards the door. “Shall we, my lady?” He asked, his tone overly exaggerated.

  Seeing the display, Marie couldn’t contain a soft laugh, but quickly schooled her expression into a dignified look. She straightened her posture and curtsied. “Why of course my good sir, it would be my pleasure.”

  She gets all my ideas instantly. David stood still as he stared after her, impressed.

  But Marie wasn’t in the mood for waiting. Upon reaching the table, she turned, staring at him down her nose. “Shall I be waiting long for you… Sir?” She smirked.

  David’s cheeks tinged red. Finally, he shook his head, jogged up to the table and helped Marie get seated.

  Got to take back the lead. Before leaving her side, he whispered into her ear.

  “Anything you might fancy, my dear?” He brought his voice lower, punctuating every word “Or… shall I make the choice?”

  With his breath tickling her, she softly shivered.

  “Oh, then I shall take you up on your offer.” She almost purred.

  She quickly composed herself, though, adopting a more dramatic tone. “I wish to experience the extent of your hospitality.”

  They were both committed to the noble act. Great. Maybe a little eccentric.

  Was it unbecoming of an engineer and a manager in a pharma company? Maybe. But who cared?

  Especially since dinner was starting.

  They did their best trying to savor the meal, but… neither of them was very patient. Soon, they were arriving at the main event, and David was getting anxious again.

  Marie stared wide eyed as the waiter placed the plates. It was an octopus, sliced and burnt – served crudely, with no decorations. Perfect. But why something so particular?

  It all started when as a 19-year-old with almost no cooking skills and very little money, David had tried to impress her. He stalked shopping malls to acquire frozen octopus – and completely unaware of proper procedures, burnt it on a hot pan.

  The meal itself was horrible in both taste and looks, as Marie informed him. David was crushed. He had completely embarrassed himself!

  But despite all that, Marie was delighted. She honestly appreciated the effort, and the burnt octopus became a symbol of their dynamic.

  His effort and her appreciation – but never judgement from either side.

  And now, that same Marie sat opposite him.

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  Her breath caught as she stared at the plate.

  Her lips trembled ever so slightly. She knew what was happening.

  It’s now or never. David stood up, walked around the table. He pulled out the box and kneeled.

  Still in a state of shock, Marie dropped her glass, but neither of them spared as much as a glance for the crash.

  He opened the container, revealing a delicate platinum band, embedded with tiny sapphires.

  She slowly stood up from the table and moved closer to him as he spoke.

  “Marie Miller, you are my world, the one I could never live without. I can’t even remember my life before you, and I wish to never know life without you. Will you marry me?”

  Trembling, with tears welling in her eyes, she extended her hand.

  “David Carter, yes! I will marry you!”

  He slid the ring onto her finger, stood up and kissed her passionately.

  A lot had changed since they met - They had adopted whiskers, the stray cat. They bought land for a house. And now they were going to marry.

  In the background the waiters were already pouring pink champagne into new glasses.

  They smiled, they laughed, and the evening continued – That night was to be remembered as the proposal Marie dreamt of, and which David made a reality.

  As their meal wrapped up, David stood up and helped Marie from the table. But their night has just begun… And they never expected what came next.

  David couldn’t stop smiling. He felt light, euphoric, untouchable.

  Marie’s fingers intertwined with his as they stepped onto the sidewalk. The ring glimmered under the city lights; a delicate promise wrapped around her finger.

  She pulled him close, her voice teasing, saccharine. “You know… tonight was perfect.”

  David smirked. “Of course it was.”

  She leaned up to his ear, close enough that her breath tickled his skin.

  She whispered. A secret. Just for him.

  His mind blanked. “H-huh?”

  Marie giggled, her lips parting slightly. She tugged him forward, eyes sparkling with intent.

  David’s heart stammered. He wasn’t sure if he could handle any more perfection that night.

  He never got the chance to find out.

  A screech of tires. A van veered into the curb. The doors slammed open. Figures rushed out.

  Marie barely had time to gasp before a gloved hand clamped over her mouth. Her body jerked backward, her heels scraping against the pavement as she struggled, thrashing, kicking.

  David turned, ready to punch—too slow. A bat slammed into his ribs. Air ripped from his lungs as pain exploded through his side.

  Before he could react, another strike caught him across the jaw—his vision flashed white. He crumpled, his knees cracking against the pavement.

  David’s hazy mind ignited. He forced himself up— A thick boot collided with his face.

  His head snapped back. Black static filled his vision.

  Grip. Drag. Metal doors. Darkness.

  David lay in a pool of blood, his gaze fixed on Marie; his lovely, beautiful Marie.

  At the broken and empty finger. At her bruised body, which still preserved her angelic qualities.

  One might imagine that he was furious. Or sad. Or anything, really - but no.

  His vision was black. Only one thing remained. A single white shape in front of him. His ears were full of static. His ravaged body was numb.

  At first, he had been furious! He tried to fight!

  But they beat the air out of his lungs.

  He kicked and screamed– Until they broke his legs. Even then he struggled!

  They had to brutalize him so much that his teeth were scattered across the room.

  But it was all in vain. He had been utterly helpless.

  Marie had always been rather frail, she died halfway through – not that it made them stop.

  From that point on, nothing mattered anymore.

  Body broken, soul torn apart, will extinguished.

  He barely noticed anything around him. He was vaguely aware of being violated, but he never moved or fought back.

  He didn’t even register the gangsters getting bored and leaving nor did he notice the police officers coming in.

  His world died and it now lay on the concrete floor before him.

  How long did the stupor last? Who knows?

  He just laid there and stared. The tears were no longer coming. He had none of them left to shed.

  Yet, in the all-consuming darkness, a faint spark appeared, flickering against the void.

  His eyes locked onto a small object near Marie –a palm-sized shard of glass on the floor. It lit up, promising an escape.

  An end to the suffering.

  There was not a single thought, not a single stray emotion.

  Nothing, but a final act.

  He heaved himself upwards, to run… and immediately smashed face first into the ground. Both his legs were broken. It didn’t matter.

  Nothing mattered—not the officers, not the pain—only her.

  He crawled. Clawed at the ground with bloodied, dislocated fingers.

  Grip. Pull.

  Grip. Pull.

  He reached the glass.

  David grabbed it, held it tight. The sharp edges dug into his hand.

  Heat filled his body. His hand moved before his mind did.

  A deep cut across his neck. Carotid arteries, carved open.

  His survival instincts started to kick in, filling him with regret, but it was too late.

  Numb to the pain, with seconds left to live, he resumed crawling.

  Grip. Pull.

  Grip. Pull.

  His head landed on Marie’s cheek.

  Cold.

  His blood painted her body in fresh crimson.

  Her laugh echoed faintly in his fading consciousness, a warm, fleeting memory. His lips brushed Hers one last time.

  In his final moments, David’s life flashed before his eyes.

  The memories came fast and bright, like sparks from a dying flame.

  He saw laughter and tears.

  Triumphs and failures.

  And Marie—always Marie.

  Each moment shined with vivid clarity… Until it all burnt out.

  David’s vision emptied, leaving only a hollow ache as he floated weightlessly.

  This must be heaven. His incorporeal form drifted into a vast, white void, where the horizon stretched infinitely, empty and featureless.

  His gaze was drawn downward, where a golden ocean shimmered, its light rippling like waves.

  As he neared, he realized it was no ordinary water—But an intricate weave of golden threads, countless strands entwining in a timeless dance.

  A gentle hum enveloped him, suffusing him with warmth, an inescapable bliss that slowly embraced his mind.

  It promised to free him from the pain. He belonged there, or so it felt… But he wasn’t meant to stay. Not yet.