Living Next Door

"Why now?"

"Do the words 'unrequited love' mean anything to you Nessie? Until a week ago, I thought you were talking about someone else, but some heavy hints have been dropped that you meant someone closer to home."

"Yes, next door." She replied, looking at me through teary eyes. "All the time you were thinking of Mel, I was thinking of you. What does that make us?"

"A pair of idiots I think." I grinned and hugged her, kissing away her tears. "How about a new start? As if we don't know one another?"

She nodded.

I took a couple of steps back and then held out my hand.

"Hello, I'm Doug. What's your name?" She giggled and blew her nose before taking my hand and shaking it.

"I'm Vanessa, pleased to meet you."

I pulled her towards me, and as the clocks rang in the New Year, accompanied by our fathers letting off rockets, I kissed her.

"Pleased to meet you Vanessa." Then I whispered in her ear. "Will you marry me?"