The meadow was alive with the golden hues
of late afternoon. The sun cast its rays
across a field of wildowers, painting
everything in a soft, dreamlike light. Jericho
sat on a weathered blanket spread beneath a
sturdy oak tree, fiddling nervously with a
small wooden box hidden in his coat pocket.
His heart raced, and his palms felt damp,
though the day was cool.
Amelia—or Mel, as he affectionately called
her—was nearby, her laughter ringing
through the air as she knelt in the flowers,
weaving a makeshift crown of daisies. She
looked radiant, her auburn hair catching the
sunlight and her green eyes sparkling with
mischief. Jericho watched her with a
mixture of awe and trepidation. How could
someone so vibrant, so utterly alive, have
chosen him?
Mel turned, her face lighting up as she
caught him staring. "Caught you!" she
teased, standing and brushing the loose
petals from her skirt. "What's on your mind,
Jericho Wiseman? You've been quiet all
afternoon."
Jericho cleared his throat, his words
tangling somewhere between his nerves and
the unspoken question in his pocket.
"Nothing," he said, far too quickly. Then,
realizing how suspicious that sounded, he
added, "Just… thinking about how beautiful
today is."
Mel tilted her head, her eyes narrowing
playfully as she sauntered toward him.
"You're a terrible liar," she said, dropping
onto the blanket beside him. She leaned in
close, so close that he could see the freckles
dusting her nose. "Spill it, Jericho. What's
going on in that overthinking head of
yours?"
Jericho chuckled nervously, trying to
summon his courage. He reached into his
pocket, his fingers brushing the box, but
before he could pull it out, Mel leaned back
with an exaggerated sigh.
"You're impossible, you know that?" she
said, her tone teasing but affectionate. Then,
as if struck by sudden inspiration, she
straightened and clasped his hands in hers.
Her expression softened, her teasing smile
fading into something earnest, something
serious. "Okay, since you won't say it, I will."
Jericho blinked, caught off guard. "Say
what?"
Mel took a deep breath, her thumbs
brushing over the rough calluses on his
hands. "Jericho, I've loved you for as long as
I can remember." she began, her voice steady
but her cheeks blooming with color. "I love
the way you laugh, the way you care about
everyone around you, even the way you
overthink every little thing." She smiled, her
eyes glistening. "I don't want to wait for you
to work up the nerve to ask. So I'll ask
instead."
She reached into her own pocket and pulled
out a simple silver band, holding it up
between them. "Jericho Wiseman, will you
marry me?"
Jericho stared, his mouth opening and
closing like a fish out of water. This was not
how he had planned this day to go. He was
supposed to be the one asking, the one
kneeling. Yet, looking into Mel's eyes, so full
of love and certainty, he couldn't bring
himself to feel anything but overwhelming
joy.
"You're unbelievable," he nally managed,
laughing as he pulled the small wooden box
from his own pocket and held it up. "I was
supposed to ask you!" He opened the box,
revealing a delicate gold ring with a tiny
emerald set in its center—the same color as
her eyes.
Mel gasped, her hand going to her mouth.
"You… you had a ring, too?"
"Of course, I did!" Jericho said, still
laughing. "I've been carrying this thing
around for weeks, waiting for the perfect
moment."
Mel's laughter joined his, and before he
could say anything more, she launched
herself into his arms, nearly knocking them
Both over. "Does this mean yes?" she asked,
Her voice muffled against his chest.
"It means yes," Jericho said, holding her
close. He slid the ring onto her finger, where
it fit perfectly, and she did the same with her
own silver band on his.
They spent the rest of the afternoon beneath
The oak tree, wrapped in each other's arms,
their laughter mingling with the rustle of the
breeze through the wildowers. In that
moment, the world was theirs, and the
future stretched out before them, full of
promise.
The smell of freshly baked bread filled theThe
Wiseman family home as Jericho stepped
through the door, his heart pounding in his
chest. His mother, Beth, was at the stove,
humming softly as she stirred a pot of stew.
His father, Samuel, sat in his favorite chair
by the hearth, whittling a piece of wood
with practiced ease. Across the room,
Jericho's younger sisters, Clara and Elise,
were embroiled in a heated debate about
some trivial matter. His older brother,
Nathan lounged at the table, absently
flipping through a weathered book.
"Jericho!" Beth called out, her smile warm
and welcoming. "You're just in time for
supper. Wash up, would you?"
Jericho nodded, wiping his hands on his
tunic as he approached the kitchen. He
hesitated, his nerves threatening to get the
better of him. The small wooden box
containing Mel's ring weighed heavily in his
pocket, a reminder of what he had come
here to say.
Nathan noticed his hesitation and raised an
eyebrow. "You okay, little brother? You look
like you've seen a ghost."
Jericho forced a laugh, but it came out more
like a croak. "I, uh… I have something to tell
everyone."
At that, the room fell silent. Even Clara and
Elise paused their bickering to look at him
with wide, curious eyes. Beth turned away
from the stove, her hands on her hips, and
Samuel set down his carving knife, giving
Jericho his full attention.
"Go on, son," Samuel said, his voice calm
and steady. "What's on your mind?"
Jericho took a deep breath, his heart
hammering. "I… I asked Mel to marry me.
Well, actually, she asked me first, but I had a
ring too, so—" He stopped himself, realizing
he was rambling. "We're getting married."
For a moment, the room was completely
still. Then, chaos erupted. Clara squealed in
delight, practically tackling him in a hug.
Elise immediately began peppering him with
questions about the proposal. Beth rushed
over, her hands on his cheeks as she beamed
with pride.
"Oh, Jericho!" she exclaimed. "That's
wonderful news! Mel is a lovely girl. You two
will be so happy together."
Samuel stood, his expression calm but his
eyes shining. He placed a firm hand on
Jericho's shoulder. "Congratulations, son.
You've made a good choice."
Nathan grinned, leaning back in his chair.
"Well, looks like you've officially grown up,
huh? About time."
Jericho laughed nervously, overwhelmed by
the attention. He rubbed the back of his
neck, unsure of what to say. Nathan must have
noticed, because he stood and clapped
Jericho on the back.
"Come on," Nathan said, grabbing his coat.
"Let's give the man some breathing room.
You and me, J. Night on the town. My treat."
The tavern was alive with music and
laughter, the warm glow of lanterns casting
long shadows on the wooden walls. Nathan
slid two mugs of ale across the table to
Jericho taking a seat opposite him. The din
of the crowd provided a welcome buffer,
making their corner feel private despite the
lively atmosphere.
"So," Nathan said, leaning back in his chair
with a smirk. "You're getting married. That's
a big deal."
Jericho nodded, staring into his mug. "It is.
Bigger than I realized, I think."
Nathan tilted his head, studying him. "You
scared?"
Jericho hesitated, then sighed. "Yeah.
Terried, actually. I mean, what if I screw it
up? What if I can't give her the life she
deserves? What if—"
"Whoa, whoa," Nathan interrupted, holding
up a hand. "Slow down, little brother. You're
getting ahead of yourself. Mel said yes,
didn't she?"
"Yeah," Jericho said softly, a small smile
tugging at his lips. "She did."
"Then you've already won half the battle,"
Nathan said, his tone more serious now.
"You love her, right?"
"With everything I have," Jericho said
without hesitation. His voice was steady,
and for the first time that night, he felt a
flicker of confidence. "She's… she's
everything to me, Nathan. She makes me
feel like I can be better, you know? Like I
can do anything."
Nathan nodded, a rare softness in his
expression. "That's how you know it's real.
And trust me, J, you're gonna be just ne.
You've got a good heart, and that's what
matters most."
Jericho smiled, raising his mug. "Thanks,
Nate. I needed that."
Nathan clinked his mug against Jericho's.
"What are big brothers for?"
The two of them laughed, the tension
melting away as they spent the rest of the
night, sharing stories and dreams of the
future. For a little while, Jericho's fears felt
distant, replaced by the warmth of family
and the certainty of his love for Mel.