creative writing challenge: a love story!

I worked as a special education teacher.  I worked with mostly women, mostly married.  I had lots of friends, a wonderful family, but I had not met that 'special someone'--I was approaching 34 years old!  What to do??  How to meet someone??  I took a leap of faith and put an ad in a local paper in the 'singles' section.  I was nervous, but willing to take the chance!  Luckily, someone else was willing to take the chance, too.  He read my ad, held on to it, thought about it, then made the call. 

I got the message in my box on Valentine's day 1998.  I listened to it three or four times.  Decided to take the next leap, and call him back.  I left a message, and hoped for the best.

He called me the next day and we made plans to meet for dinner that night!  The day couldn't move fast enough, then it was time!  When I arrived at the restaurant, he was waiting in the lobby. 

It was the first time I met Bart. 

The night was amazing.  We closed the restaurant, then closed the bar that was attached to it, then moved to his car, then, feeling safe, invited him to my apartment.  We talked and talked and kissed and talked until 3 am!  I was off the next day, but he had to work.

As he was getting ready to leave, he asked if he could see me tomorrow.

We saw each other everyday that first week.

I was in love.

December 1999, he brought me back to the parking lot of the restaurant we had met in the first time.  The restaurant had closed down.  In the same parking lot, in the same Jeep we had sat in, he asked me to marry him. 

My life was changed forever, because I had the courage to a chance nearly two years early.