The news was too much for Grace to bear. She abruptly excused herself and had a car service drive her home. She felt numb inside, like maybe she was somehow responsible for Alex's disappearance. That sounded crazy but she couldn't help feeling guilty, especially after the way things ended between them in Venice.
The gondola ride was the perfect ending to another perfect evening for Grace and Alex in Venice, Italy a year and a half ago. After savoring delicious homemade gelato in a quaint little cafe and taking in the architectural beauty of Saint Mark's Basilica, the couple wandered toward the Grand Canal, considered the main street and waterway in Venice. Here is where they found a gondolier that would take them on a memorable ride through the canal.
As Alex helped Grace carefully board the gondola, she was thinking that this was truly the most romantic moment of her life. The sun had started to set painting the sky in beautiful orange, red and purplish hues that reflected off the water making for a spectacular site. They marveled at the colorful buildings that characterize so much of Venice. That's when Alex whispered in her ear "I can't live without you Grace. Tell me now that you'll marry me". She froze again, and said nothing at first. Instead of the answer Alex was hoping for, her response was, "I'll have to think about it".