37 | ☕Will You Marry Me, Anya? ☕ #3
His fingers twitched slightly before he exhaled slowly, as if gathering the courage for what he was about to do.
The ocean's waves roared behind them, the salty breeze carrying the sound across the shore, but all Anya could focus on was him.
Atlas took a step closer, his grip on her hand tightening just a little, grounding himself before he lifted his free hand and began to sign. His movements were slower than usual, deliberate and full of meaning, as though he wanted her to feel every word rather than just understand them.
Anya's breath caught, her pulse hammering in her ears. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him, from the way his hands formed each word with precision, carrying all the emotions he couldn't say aloud.
Atlas swallowed, his expression softening as he continued.
"You have brought so much light into my world, even when I didn't realize how much I needed it. Every single day with you feels like the best day of my life, and I want that—always. I want to keep making memories with you. I want to spend every day with you, no matter what comes."
His hands stilled, hovering in the space between them, as if waiting for her to truly absorb the weight of his words.
His dark eyes searched hers, vulnerable yet unwavering.
Anya could barely breathe. The warmth in his expression, the raw sincerity in his gestures—it was overwhelming in the most beautiful way.
Before she could even find the words to respond, Atlas took another deep breath, then slowly dropped to one knee in front of her.
Anya's entire world tilted.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as she watched him reach into his pocket, pulling out something small and glimmering under the moonlight.
The flickering candlelight reflected off the delicate diamond ring resting in his palm, but Anya barely noticed the ring itself.
All she could see was him—his hopeful expression, the slight tremor in his hands as he held the box open, the silent question in his eyes.
He looked up at her, his gaze steady but filled with emotion, and signed the words that made her breath hitch.
Her pulse raced, her thoughts tangling into a dizzying mess of emotions. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, what she was hearing—or, rather, what she was feeling.
Her mouth opened, but no words came.
Atlas didn't move, didn't rush her. His smile, quiet and patient, never wavered as he waited, as he gave her all the time in the world to process this moment. He had waited so long for her—what was a few more seconds?
Anya's hands trembled, hovering between them as if trying to grasp the weight of everything happening. The ocean waves crashed in the distance, the night air cool against her skin, but all she could feel was the overwhelming warmth flooding her chest.
She took a shaky breath, her vision blurring slightly as tears gathered in her eyes.
Finally, Anya nodded, her lips parting on a shaky breath as emotion welled up inside her. Her vision blurred slightly, her heart hammering so hard she thought it might burst.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice thick with unspoken feelings, her fingers curling against her chest as if holding onto the weight of the moment. "Yes, Atlas... of course, I will."
Atlas exhaled, a gentle, relieved laugh escaping him—silent but palpable in the way his shoulders relaxed and his hands trembled slightly as he cautiously took her hand in his.
His touch was warm and reverent, as if he were holding something valuable.
Slowly, he placed the ring onto her finger, his thumb caressing her knuckles.
Anya barely noticed the cool metal resting on her skin because all she could think about was him—the way his dark eyes gleamed, the way the moonlight put soft silver highlights in his tousled hair, the quiet intensity in his expression as he looked at her as if she were the entire world.
For a moment, time itself seemed to still.
The crash of the waves faded into a distant hum. The candlelight flickered, casting golden shadows across the sand. The night air curled around them, cool and salty, but Anya felt nothing but warmth.
Atlas stood, never breaking his gaze from hers, and before she could say anything else, he pulled her into his arms. His embrace was firm, secure—like home.
And then his lips were on hers.
The kiss wasn't hurried or desperate. It was slow, deep, full of unspoken promises.
It was the kind of kiss that made her forget everything else, the kind that made her knees weak and her heart soar all at once.
She melted into him, her hands gripping the fabric of his shirt as if to ground herself, as if to hold onto this moment forever.
Atlas held her like he never wanted to let go, like she was something sacred.
Above them, the stars watched in their silent brilliance, scattered across the endless sky. The moon hung low, casting its gentle glow over the beach, as if blessing the moment. The ocean, wild and untamed, continued its eternal dance against the shore.
And for Anya, for Atlas, for this single perfect moment—nothing else in the world mattered.