Morning After

Anya woke with a jolt, the memory of the previous night crashing back into her. She had proposed to a stranger! And he had said yes! Panic clawed at her throat. What had she been thinking?

She glanced at the clock on her bedside table. 8:17 am. She had overslept. Groaning, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stumbled towards the bathroom.

As she splashed cold water on her face, she tried to recall the events of the previous evening. After the initial shock, Ethan had seemed surprisingly calm. He had even offered to walk her home, insisting she shouldn't be alone. They had talked, or rather, he had listened while she poured out her heart, venting about Liam's betrayal. He had been a good listener, offering words of comfort and understanding.

She had felt a strange sense of peace with him, a connection she couldn't explain. It was as if he understood her pain, her anger, her shattered dreams. And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the evening had ended. He had walked her home, a silent agreement hanging in the air.

Now, the reality of the situation hit her. She was engaged. To a man she barely knew. A man who, as far as she knew, had no idea what he was getting himself into.

Anya glanced at her ring finger. The diamond sparkled, mocking her. She wanted to rip it off, to erase the events of the previous night. But something held her back. A strange sense of curiosity, a desire to see what would happen next.

She decided to go for a walk, hoping to clear her head. As she walked down the street, she tried to imagine what Ethan might be doing. Was he regretting his impulsive decision? Was he laughing about the whole thing?

She reached the park where she had planned to propose to Liam. The memories came flooding back, each one a fresh wave of pain. She took a deep breath, trying to push the memories away.

Then, she saw him. Ethan. He was sitting on a bench, reading a book. He looked up as she approached, a small smile gracing his lips.

"Good morning," he said, his voice warm and friendly.

Anya felt a blush creep up her neck. "Good morning," she replied, her voice barely a whisper.

There was an awkward silence. Anya fidgeted with her ring, suddenly self-conscious.

"I... I don't know what to say," she stammered.

Ethan chuckled. "Neither do I. This is probably the most unconventional engagement in history."

Anya couldn't help but smile. "You're not regretting it, are you?"

Ethan shook his head. "Not at all. Although, I must admit, I was a little surprised."

Anya laughed, a genuine laugh. "I can imagine."

They sat down on the bench, the silence no longer awkward. It was comfortable, filled with a sense of shared understanding.

"So," Ethan began, breaking the silence. "What are we going to do now?"

Anya shrugged. "I don't know. Do we tell anyone?"

Ethan considered this for a moment. "Maybe we should give it some time. See how we feel about this whole thing."

Anya nodded. "That sounds like a good plan. But for now," she added, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "I think we should celebrate."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Celebrate what?"

Anya grinned. "Our... engagement."

And so, they spent the rest of the morning celebrating their unexpected engagement in the most unconventional way possible - by sharing stories, laughing, and simply enjoying each other's company.

As the day wore on, Anya began to realize that this unexpected turn of events might not be so bad after all.

In fact, it might just be the beginning of something wonderful.