He couldn’t quite put his finger on what he was feeling. He was, clearly, at a loss for words to describe how the past few months have been.

Of all the days to catch a fever, his body most conveniently chose today—Valentine’s day. He was lying on the sofa while classical music played in the background. If his memory served him right, it was Schubert. Not too far away, the kitchen played its own music of clanging pots and silverware.

When he was younger, on occasions of him having a fever, his mom would always fix him some chicken soup, the kind which had the magical capability to make him feel instantly better. As he grew older, he figured that it wasn’t really the soup or its ingredients that made it happen. He could order at a fine dining restaurant and their chicken soup would taste almost the same, though it couldn’t heal. He concluded that it was his mother’s labour of love that made all the difference. He knew he was right. Those were just a few fond memories of her which he kept alive in his thoughts. His mom had passed away due to a vehicular accident which happened just before he entered junior high. He never met his father who died at sea during one of his missions in the Navy. Being without relatives, he lived for some time in and out of different orphanages until he was of age and was able to work. He worked his way through college through different jobs. Even during the day of his graduation in college, he worked. By the time he reached his late twenties, he was already earning more than he ever imagined he could.

The sound of the stove being put out distracted his thoughts. After a few moments a woman approached him carrying with her a tray with a bowl of hot chicken soup. The air was filled with its aroma and the steam that had been rising constantly almost hid her pretty face from his view.

He never told her what his mother did, so this came as a surprise. In fact, one which will be added to long list of surprises she has given him since the day they met at the park. Who would have thought that he’d be dating the girl who hit his head with a baseball? Who would have thought that that same girl would prove to be his greatest love? The one he was going to propose to tonight. The same girl with the chicken soup, approaching him now.

Hers proved to be as effective as his mother’s soup. He sat there looking at her, both of them staring at each other. No longer able to control his feelings, he took from his pocket a little black box and then knelt down. Through her squeals of surprise and tears of joy, she managed to say yes.

They shared a kiss and then hugged. They hugged a lot before, but this time he dwelled a little longer in her arms, feeling like an orphan who has, after a long time, finally found a home.