Sharp Shooter Seoul

by Charlie Godwyne

  "It's pretty old," Kei remarked. Indeed, it was quite beaten up.

  "It was my grandmother's, and her grandmother's, during the war," I said. "Nothing passed down on the male side of my family would fit your skinny fingers."

  "Taka, what are you talking about?"

  Belatedly, I realized I'd just spilled the beans. I held my breath as Kei took the ring off the lamp switch and brought it down to rest on the pillow between us.

  "Is this what I think it is?" Kei asked.

  I gasped. This was not how I'd planned the moment.

  Kei smirked at the look on my face. "What were you going to do?"

  I forced my mouth to work. "Dinner on Tokyo bay, a walk along the harbor after. Right at sunset, I'd get down on one knee and propose in front of the water. Then we'd go home and have spectacular sex."

  Kei's laugh was what starlight must have sounded like.

  I smiled as Kei slipped the ring on.

  "I want that dinner on the bay," Kei said. "You can't get out of it just because you're in the hospital."

  "So you say yes?"

  Kei's face collapsed into an expression that showed clear doubt in my sanity. "Duh."

  "Please say it," I begged.

  "Then ask it," Kei retorted.

  "Kei, will you marry me?"

  "Yes, Taka, I will marry you."

  "Good," I said.

  "Fine," Kei snapped.

  We kissed.

  I sunk into the pillow, smiling so big my face hurt.

  Kei took the ring off, threaded it back onto the chain, then clasped the chain around my neck. "I can't take this with me."

  "Wear it while you can," I said, already falling asleep.

  Kei smiled. I watched as Kei slid the ring back on, the chain pulling that thin hand close to me, the links of the chain pressing into delicate skin. I nuzzled my face into that hand.

  "Goodnight, my love," I said, knowing Kei might be gone by morning, the ring empty.

  "Goodnight."

  FIN

  About the Author

  Charlie Godwyne has lived in the US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Austria. Charlie’s favorite thing is obscure gondolas that lead to beautiful mountain overlooks. Charlie loves to read and write characters both unique and vulnerable who do what they can for the world.