He proposed to me next to my grandma’s casket.

My grandma was my person. 

She basically raised me. She was the first person I called when I got the job I have now, when I moved into my first apartment, when my now-fiancé and I had our first big fight. So when she passed away suddenly a few weeks ago, I was gutted.

The funeral was held at her small-town church. The one she went to every Sunday for over fifty years. 

I was already barely holding it together when I gave the eulogy. Afterward, the pastor led a final prayer, and as people started gathering their things and getting ready to leave, my boyfriend walked to the front of the chapel.

At first, I thought he was going to say something about her too. But then he turned around, looked right at me, and said,

“Can you come up here for a second?”

Everyone turned. I was confused, but I walked up anyway. He took my hands and said, loud enough for the whole room to hear:

“I know today is hard. But I kept thinking about how much your grandma loved us, and how she always said she wanted to see this happen. I just thought… maybe when one life ends, another begins.”

Then he got down on one knee, pulled out a ring, and asked me to marry him.

All I heard were gasps. Mumbling. Someone even said out loud, “Are you serious?” I just stood there. Frozen. I didn’t say anything for what felt like thirty full seconds. 

The silence was brutal. So awkward. I could feel everyone staring.

And then I reluctantly said yes. I was just so emotionally wrung out, and completely overwhelmed. I said yes because I didn’t know what else to do. I just wanted it to be over.

The car ride back to the house was tense. Some of my family said it was beautiful. Others thought it was completely inappropriate. My sister asked me privately if I was okay. And I didn’t even know how to answer that.

Later, he told me he just wanted to give the day a happy memory. That it would’ve made my grandma smile. But to me it felt like he ruined our moment of closure. That moment wasn’t about us. It was about her.

Now I’m engaged… but it doesn’t feel how I thought it would. I’m just so confused. I keep replaying it and wondering if I should’ve said no. Or told him to wait. Or if maybe I’m being too harsh.

So yep… that’s my engagement story. Gonna be a fun one to tell the future kids.

Would you have said yes?

I don’t blame you for saying yes. With everyone watching, it probably felt impossible to say anything else. Proposing next to a casket is wild. Even if he meant well, it’s not the time. You’re not overreacting. Anyone would feel off after that.

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