Page 23 of The Neighborhood Witch

“I have the dress on,” Elizabeth shouted.

Still nothing.

“HUGO?”

A noise, the clamoring of metal against metal, echoed in the woods. A figure bouncing in the pale moonlight galloped down the dirt path. He approached, closer and closer. Elizabeth’s eyes widened.

“Hugo, this isn’t funny!”

A figured approached with the distinct outline of a knight’s helmet. A long stick dragged along the dirt path between the figure’s legs as he galloped closer. His speed increased.

“Whoa, Sir Galahad. Whoa,” Hugo commanded the wooden horse before coming to a stop.

He stumbled from the momentum and almost ran into Elizabeth. He heaved off the knight’s helmet and sent it tumbling to the ground. It crashed and clanged from the impact. Hugo gave a quick glance.

“I hope I didn’t damage it,” he said before looking back at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth snickered. “What are you doing?”

“My lady,” Hugo proclaimed as he dismounted the imaginary horse. He carefully placed the stick on the ground. “I have traveled far and wide. Faced many tribulations. Conquered many foes.” He swung his arms around in magnanimous poses with each grand gesture.

Her breath shortened, and her heart raced. Her eyes brimmed with tears. “What’s happening?”

“I have searched a lifetime for a lady more fair than thou, and I have found none. You are the light that doth maketh the sun envious. You are the joy that maketh me—” Hugo paused. He pulled an object from his pants pocket and concealed it within his fist. He knelt down, opened his fist, and presented a maroon velvet box to her.

Elizabeth cupped her mouth. Tears of joy fell down her face.

“I’m going to stop with the Renaissance Festival talk now.”

Elizabeth laughed behind her hands.

“You are the joy of my life. I have loved you since the day we met in elementary school. I could not imagine a world without you. We have been through so much together. Happy times. Sad times. But through it all, we were together. I want to spend the rest of our lives together. Elizabeth Clark, willest thou doeth the honor of being my wife?”

Hugo opened the box. A diamond ring sparkled in the glow of a solitary ray of moonlight that made it through the tree branches.

“Yes,” Elizabeth said, unable to hold back the tears. “Yes, I will doeth this honor.”

Elizabeth presented her left hand. Hugo removed the ring and slowly placed it on her finger. Hugo locked with Elizabeth, and he sprung up. There was a small audible rip of cloth from his pants. He paid no attention to it. His hands cupped her face. His fingers traced along her jaw and neck before resting on the back of her head. Her heart raced, and her breath shortened. He leaned in, kissing her lips softly, gently—each kiss more passionate than the last.

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She took in his scent, a mixture of mint, vanilla, and cedar cologne. The smell lingered, as Elizabeth etched it into her memory. Their bodies pressed against each other. He pushed forward. She leaned back. Their heartbeats synchronized. The world was silent.

Eternity passed.

They stopped for a moment of air, foreheads resting against each other. Their eyes were closed, searing the moment into memory. Their breathing labored.

Hugo broke the silence. “I think I tore my pants.”

They laughed, opened and locked eyes. Her hazel eyes forever lost in the desire of his icy blue eyes.

“We can get them fixed,” Elizabeth said, trying not to lose herself to tears of joy. They both laughed.

“I love you, Elizabeth.”

“I love you too, Hu—”

The memoryof that night faded and plucked Hugo back to reality as Max violently pulled on the leash, impatient to continue down the path. His heart raced, breathing intensified, and his head throbbed. He stumbled before looking around. The world spun for a moment.Max gave out a loud session of barks before tugging again on the leash.

“Max, stop.Sit!” Hugo commanded.

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