Monica's Key

Monica, will you marry me?

Don's eyes were dark, deeply piercing my eyes, and my racing heart.  We sat on a bench on our favorite nature trail, at the place where the path splits in two roads.  At the end of both roads were log cabins, and sometimes those who walked the paths rented the cabins. 

Now it was my life that was forking, and at the end were two cabins for me:
One with Don, and one without Don.

The key. 
I have the key.

It dawned on me.  This moment, the answer to Don's question, would begin a new life.  A new me.
I could become a wife, and then a mother, and bring into this world brothers and sisters who would not have been here before this moment.  They would be because of me.

The key. 
I have the key.

A simple, "yes," or "no."  An "I will," or "I will not."  I had the key to my life, and even Don's life.  They key to unborn lives.  It could begin with me.

The key. 
I have the key.

"Monica?"

His voice broke my trance.  But not for long.  Though I sat silently no longer than a minute, for Don I'm sure it seemed like an hour.  It seemed that way for me, the one with the key...to this life and eternity. 

Who gave me this key?
Don, in this moment.
But before this moment?
Who gave me the key to my femininity, to my womanly identity?
It had to be The One who made me.  I could feel him on the path, but even He waited for my answer.
Even He could not open the door.

"Do you need more time," Don asked.  His voice sounded sad, but more beautiful than ever.  I felt no pressure.  He loved me.  I knew this...because he waited.  I felt free to accept or reject his proposal. 

"My delay isn't an answer."
"I know.  You like to think before answering."

My heart melted.  He did know me.  And love me.  And like me.  I knew, loved, liked, and deeply admired my Don.  Yet the weight of this moment summed up every moment of my life before.  Though I was thoughtful, I never thought about each choice, each key given to me.  I vowed to never lose my keys again...then I looked into his eyes.

"Yes, Don.  I'm yours."  I gave my answer with a new power.

Don hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear,  "And I am yours Monica.  Always."