Put A Ring On It: The Engagement

 

Single Ladies: Put A Ring On It!

 

         The Engagement is where it all begins. Its smack dab between exclusive dating and saying you "I DOs". For me, it was spectacular because I was the proposer.  I had everything very well planned out with the help of family and friends. She didn't even see it coming! Some may argue that it was cliché but it was romantic and sometimes that's all that really matters.

 

     On February 13, 2012, I entered the Black Love Open Mic at Johns Hopkins University. It was a packed house. When they called my name I quickly got up. My line sister was taping my performance from one angle and my unsuspecting girlfriend taped footage from the front row. I opened my mouth and began to sing. Halfway through my piece the mood changed.

I grabbed the microphone off of it's stand and began walking toward my love. Her face instantly changed from excitement to confusion. It amused me. I stepped closer and closer rhythmically.  I dug in my pocket to reveal a small black box that held every bit of my future within it. I handed it to her while I continued spitting my poetry. She sat in shock. She opened her gift slowly. A river of tears flowed down her right cheek as she placed the ebony band around her left ring finger.

She looked up at me filled with emotion. I gazed at her lovingly. We embraced each other with a long, warm hug as the audience applauded. It was beautiful. I won second place in the open mic but I got something much more valuable that night; her love.

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