John reaches across the table to take Karen's hand, the ring box still held lightly in the palm of his other, and he runs his thumb gently across the back of her knuckles. In thinking about this, he had imagined he might be nervous or the right words wouldn't come, but now, sitting here with Karen, he doesn't feel nervous at all.

"I love you," he says simply. "I think I probably loved you from that first day we met, when I woke up in the hospital and found you had already become my wife just so you could stay and make sure I was okay."

He opens the ring box then, holding it toward Karen. "I know this place probably can't give us forever, but I also know I want to spend whatever time we do have together. Will you marry me, Karen?"