She sat there clenching her fists together under the table. Sweat was starting to drip down her forehead as she tried to hold a smile on her face. 

“How was your food, love?” The handsome bearded man removed his napkin from his lap.

“It was very good.” Her face was unusually pale as if she had just seen a ghost. 

She knew what this dinner meant.

“Let’s order dessert, I hear they have an amazing lava cake,” he spoke again.

“Ok.”

Her eyes started to wander around the room. Lights dimmed, elegant table cloths, many many couples. Everything was perfect besides the fact that her dress felt too tight, her right ankle had a slight itch, and she could not stop thinking about her busy day of work tomorrow. 

Plates now empty as their conversion. Every so often their eyes would lock, but she could only hold contact for a second before darting her eyes elsewhere. 

The dessert arrived.

“Happy anniversary babe, I love you so much.”

She suddenly felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her.

“You too, I love you Mike.”

The next few minutes were a complete blur. He got up from his chair and began to kneel. As the jewelry case opened, the shiny piece of rock practically blinded her. The entire restaurant got quiet and words began to fall out of his mouth like rain. There was nothing she could do to stop this rain, she had to just sit there and simply let it fall.

“I cannot imagine spending my life with anyone else, you are my sunshine. Will you marry me?”

She stood insensate. Unable to move. Deep down she knew she did not want to be betrothed to him, but how was she supposed to tell him this in front of everyone.

“Kara?” His voice still sounded confident even after the silence. 

“Yes. Yes I will marry you.”

The room filled with cheering and laughter like the end of a movie. It was obvious that the waitress that delivered the lava cake became totally thrilled as well because she must have thought she just helped two people find true love. He twirled Kara in his arms and even shed a tear.

“You are my sunshine,” he repeated. 

Kara stood wondering how she was supposed to tell the perfect man that she does not love him. Wondering why she doesn't love him? Was there something wrong with her? He did everything right. He always does everything right. Every single bone in her body was telling her to get up and walk away, not to settle, but instead she just held that same smile on her face.

She grabbed her purse and they walked out of the restaurant. Hands linked. Smiles on faces. 

“Oh it’s raining,” she pointed out.

“Here, take my jacket,” he began removing his arms from the sleeves.

“I’m fine, I don’t need it.”