Museum Of Modern Art: A Short Story

My shoes pounded against the pavement as I sprinted down yet another alleyway. My breath rattled in my lungs, but I pushed forward through the biting pain. I gagged as the noxious New York City stench seeped into my nose. I couldn’t be late- tonight I would propose to my girlfriend. I swung the door open wide and stepped into the quaint tavern. Kaitlyn stood at the hostess’ stand requesting a table.
“I’m here!” I gasped, stooping to catch my breath.
Kaitlyn turned to face me, and my heart thu-thumped when I saw her bright smile. Her eyes twinkled with her laugh, and her wavy hair bounced on her shoulders as she laughed. She was a small woman with a big personality, and she could almost always be found laughing or cracking a joke. She seemed

Kaitlyn slid her hand into mine and we made our way over to our table. We sat down and she excitedly told me about her day.
“I visited the Museum of Modern Art!” she exclaimed. “It was simply amazing. They had an entire exhibition on clothing and style through the ages, and they even had a white Hanes t-shirt. Isn’t that funny?”
I nodded and laughed, trying my best to be interested. Instead, I was going over my proposal speech in my head, making sure I had it memorized. I barely noticed when she excused herself to use the restroom.
“Sir?” I vaguely heard the woman, her voice low and velvety. “Can I take your order?”
I blinked a couple of times and slowly raised my eyes to meet her. I was taken aback by her beauty. Her brunette hair enveloped her face like water and her long eyelashes curled upwards at the ends. Her storm grey eyes pierced mine with a look of shrewdness, and she arched one brow in response to my silence. Her full lips pursed, drawing the skin tight over her already defined cheekbones. I stood mesmerized by the way her olive skin caught the light, and I had to force myself to look away, overcome with the guilt I felt for the attraction I had for the somewhat menacing