Brave passers-by managed to pull his father from the driver’s seat. Despite his injuries, his father desperately tried to open the back door to get to his wife and son. Unfortunately, the door was stuck and wouldn’t budge.
In a quick decision, the crowd broke the car’s windows.
Dave’s mother lifted him up, and with the help of his father and the kind strangers, they finally pulled him out.
As his father tried to free his mother, he saw her legs trapped under the broken front seat. Blood was coming from her forehead, and she looked close to passing out.
Suddenly, the car made a strange noise and started leaking gasoline.
“Let’s get out of here! The car is going to explode!” shouted a nearby driver. Without hesitation, they quickly pulled Dave’s father several meters away. Dave could hear their worried whispers.
“It’s too dangerous!”
“I can’t go back there.”
“Some might be lucky enough to survive.”
In pain, Dave cried out while sitting on the ground.
The onlookers looked on with pity, staring at the leaking car and shaking their heads.
No one dared to step forward, unsure of when the car would explode.
All they could do was wait for help to arrive.
Suddenly, sparks flew from the car, setting it on fire. Seeing this, Dave’s father shook off those trying to help and ran toward the blazing vehicle.
“Dad!” Dave yelled, panicked.
His father ignored him, and his focus was only on the car. When he reached it, a massive explosion shook the area.
Thick black smoke rose quickly, darkening everything around Dave and even the sky.
His ears rang from the explosion and the screams around him, leaving him confused and unable to tell what was real in the chaos.
“Damn it, he brought this on himself!”
“How could he ignore his child and rush in so recklessly? Totally irresponsible! Now, both his parents are gone!”
“I don’t think he wants to live anymore.”
“What a poor kid!”
Overwhelmed, Dave shut his eyes, struggling to understand why his father had left him behind to face such danger.
Was it an act of love, as some people said-his father choosing to die because of his love?
Did his parents’ world revolve only around each other, making Dave seem like an afterthought?
Dave longed to understand his place in their lives, but they left without a word, leaving only ashes behind. It was as if they had never been part of his life.
A deep, unending pain pierced his heart, a hurt that wouldn’t go away. The thought of it haunted him constantly.
Every year, on the anniversary of his parents’ deaths, Dave went to the church alone. He hoped that through his prayers, he might find answers to the questions that troubled him and some peace for the pain in his heart.
Despite the passing years, he still didn’t have any answers.
All he was left with was the eerie silence of the cross in front of him.
Dave planned to stay at the church a bit longer, but when Bianca mentioned she would return that night, he decided to leave early. It was a rare chance for them to buy groceries and cook together.
As he was about to leave, he saw a familiar figure at the church’s entrance-it was Bianca.
Bianca’s warm smile gave Dave comfort in this quiet place.
“Why are you here?” Dave asked, looking at her with affection.
“Do you know what today is?” Bianca asked with a playful and sweet smile.
Dave was surprised. Did Bianca know it was the anniversary of his parents’ death?
He was about to answer, but Bianca pulled out a small blue box from her handbag and handed it to him.
“Happy birthday,” Bianca said, her eyes shining brightly.
Dave was momentarily speechless. He had forgotten it was also his birthday.
Since the tragic accident, his birthday had become a day of mourning for his parents, and he hadn’t celebrated it since.
“I wanted to surprise you later tonight, but I think giving it to you here and now makes it more special,” Bianca said, smiling affectionately.
She opened the blue box and took out a rosewood bracelet. Gently, she lifted Dave’s hand and slid the bracelet onto his wrist.
She said softly, “I brought this every week when I came here to pray for a whole month. I never expected you’d be here on this special day, too. It feels like a sign from above. I hope it brings you blessings for your safety and health throughout your life.”
Dave focused on the woman who had just placed the bracelet on his wrist.
In a way he couldn’t explain, he felt tears welling up.
He hadn’t felt so touched in many years.
Suddenly, he took Bianca’s wrist and led her toward the altar at the front of the church. The setting sun cast long shadows through the stained glass window, wrapping the two of them in a warm glow.
Dave took Bianca’s delicate hand and knelt on one knee.
“What are you doing?” Bianca’s heart raced.
Holding her hand firmly, Dave looked at her with deep sincerity. “Bianc, today I promise that you’ll be my one and only wife. I’ll protect you, comfort you in sorrow, and do everything I can to make you happy. I’ll love you until my last breath.”
His sudden and heartfelt promise brought tears to Bianca’s eyes. She placed her hand over her heart, feeling overwhelmed with joy as the past hardships and sorrows seemed to disappear.
She saw a bright and hopeful future ahead.
“Are you asking me to marry you?” Bianca’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him.
Dave had acted on impulse, feeling deeply moved at that moment. But when Bianca asked him, he suddenly realized he might have rushed things.
He had planned a more elaborate proposal and wedding for her.
With an apologetic smile, Dave said, “I’m sorry, Bianc. I didn’t have a ring ready today. Consider this a promise before the real proposal. When I get back…”
Before he could finish, Bianca smiled softly and interrupted, “No ring?”
Bianca took off the red diamond necklace she was wearing and carefully placed it on her ring finger, making it look like a red diamond ring.
“Well, now you can propose properly.”
Dave looked at the sparkling diamond and then met Bianca’s hopeful eyes.
With a soft smile, he cleared his throat and asked in the most loving tone, “Bianc, will you marry me?”
With a bright smile, Bianca softly replied, “Yes, I do.”
Dave stood up, gently held the back of her neck, and kissed her. The kiss was more passionate than ever, expressing emotions that words couldn’t express.