We hosted New Year's Eve. Mike was always helpful, but strangely more accommodating that day. My family has a tradition of releasing balloons, filled with money, at midnight for the guests to pop and keep. We had filled balloons from $1 - $20. Mike, being tall, was tasked with hanging all the balloons to the ceiling. He did this without any complaint. He picked up all the food, set up all the warmers, and played DJ all night. When the clock struck midnight, my family stormed to hug me. I started giving instructions the moment they released me, not knowing what was truly happening. My family and friends had to physically turn me around for me to realize he was down on one knee waiting for me to say yes. Tears immediately started to flow, and I just collapsed into his arms. I kissed him, not sure if I had even given him an answer. The next thing I knew, poppers went off. We were showered in gold confetti. I could barely see past my tears. I don't recall what happened to the balloons. I could barely process his proposal. I couldn't remember much after that. We stayed on the floor hugging each other until I could regain the sensation in my legs to stand. The house was covered in confetti and popped balloons. It was a total mess, but I didn't care. I only later realized I had missed so many signs. Mike had planned it all so carefully. He chose the Ed Sheeran song that played at midnight. He asked my aunt (mother) for her blessing beforehand. He assigned people to the poppers. My best friend even demanded I change my socks before midnight (to make for a better photo). He had planned exactly when and how he would do it. He was meticulous in all the little details. I fell in love all over again.