I was pacing back and forth in my living room when Aliyah called. I picked up immediately, needing to share my excitement and nerves with someone.

“Hey, Aliyah. I need to talk to you about something really important,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“What’s going on?” she asked, sounding concerned.

“I’m going to propose to Jenna,” I blurted out. There was a brief silence on the other end before she responded.

“Oh my gosh, are you serious?” she exclaimed. “That’s amazing! Do you have a plan?”

“Yeah, I’ve been planning it for weeks. I’m going to take her to the botanical gardens where we first met. I’ve arranged for a private tour, and at the end, in the rose garden, I’m going to get down on one knee and ask her to marry me,” I explained, my heart racing just thinking about it.

“That sounds absolutely perfect! She’s going to be so surprised and happy. I’m so proud of you for planning this out so beautifully. You’re going to make her the happiest person ever!” Aliyah’s support and excitement made me feel even more ready for the big moment.

“Do you really think so? What if something goes wrong?” I asked, my nerves creeping back in.

“Trust me, it’s going to be amazing. Just be yourself, and she’ll see how much you love her,” Aliyah reassured me, and I took a deep breath, feeling a bit more confident.