+ 1.19.4: A New Beginning

Azaria and Jared were beginning to discover their love for each other. They initially agreed to take things slowly; not to rush and spook each other out. Their friendship came first. But over the months things were getting serious between them.

While at work Azaria got a call from Jared to meet him at the esplanade. She didn’t think it was odd. They always met there on a Friday after work before heading out to the Red Rendezvous. She had got the job at the news offices; and she was already an investigative journalist. Those wasted days she spent in Davrin’s mansion writing short stories about everything and nothing at all had paid off to above-average writing skills.

ared was waiting for her. He had that nervous look on his face that he got whenever he was about to ask something he wasn’t sure she would agree to. He pulled her in for a kiss.

“I don’t think I could have waited any longer for this.”

“For?” She quirked her eyebrow at him. A Kiss? He always got kisses from her.

“Just one minute.” Jared sucked in a deep breath. It was now or never and he was sure if he waited he’d lose all courage to do this one thing he’d been planning for weeks. And there was no better place. The esplanade was their spot; their own little after-work rendezvous.

He got down on one knee, readying himself to pull out the black ring box stuffed in his pocket.

‘Oh no.’ Azaria thought. She could only guess what was about to come.

“Az... For as long as I’ve known you...” Jared’s voice trailed off as he launched into a speech about having known each other for what seemed like a thousand lifetimes.

He was proposing!

Azaria Hawthorne was no commitment-phobe. On the contrary she valued fidelity quite highly but marriage... Marriage was a totally different ball game. She didn’t need a ring on her finger or a certificate to validate her relationship with Jared: or whoever else might have been kneeling before her today. That wedding band and marriage certificate doesn’t stop infidelity nor does it prevent falling out of love. It was just better to spare each other the heart break of a bitter divorce: after all, that’s how most marriages ended up these days.

She played out a scene in her head. The rejection that would break his heart and the guilt that would consume her would be unbearable. How would they live in the same house if things turned out awkward? He’d understand her views right? But maybe this was the next step. They both had stable incomes, they loved each other to the ends of the world and she had already decided that he would be her future. It’s just that she hadn’t added marriage to the picture until now.

“...So Miss Hawthorne? Will you accept my promise to always be there for you, to never hurt you and to love you until my last breath?” Jared had come to the end of his speech.

“Oh my god what? You’re not... proposing?”

“Not in so many words.” He looked up at her blankly. The truth was he felt the same about marriage. In fact, until now, he wasn’t sure if he’d even go steady with any girl. But there she was, standing in front of him looking a little perplexed and damn was she cute when she made those funny little faces.

“I’m making a promise to you.”

“Yes! I accept. I absolutely accept.” She accepted whatever he was proposing be it marriage or just a life together for as long as destiny would allow. Jared slid the diamond ring on her finger, relieved that she hadn’t rejected him.

“Maybe marriage will find its way into our future.” He said as she pulled him in for a hug. For him she’d reconsider it. He’d done so much for her, he believed her when no one else would have and above all he accepted her knowing everything she had been through. If that wasn’t love then she didn’t know what was.