I grab the package of tissues from Rain and take three or four of them because no box of Kleenex is going to be enough to absorb my flood of tears.
You healed these scars over time… Embraced my soul… You loved my mind… You’re the only angel in my life.
Aaron is making himself vulnerable for me, he’s talking to me with his heart in his hand and hope in his eyes. Even if he doesn’t use words. He doesn’t realize that with this song and all of the sincerity of his soul he is giving me everything he has. He is opening his world to me, and it’s a place I want to stay.
For my whole life.
Blistered Hands, The Reign of Kindo, This Is What Happened Aaron
As the song ends, everyone disappears with the excuse that the bar is calling. Ciara remains sitting with wet eyes watching me approach her. I extend my hand and she takes it, rising from the chair. I hold her and wish her happy birthday.
“Thank you for everything.”
“It doesn’t end there, I still have my gift.”
“I thought it was the song.”
“Well, that was a good start.” I smile at her. “Come with me.”
I take her hand and we walk past the room with less than subtle looks coming our way. I open the door that heads upstairs and invite her to follow me. As we get to the apartment, I let her in and announce my intention to move here.
“Here? How come?”
“It’s the right moment. I need a place of my own. I know it’s just an apartment but it’s okay to start out. Then in the future we could think about havingour ownhouse.”
“Ours?” she asks me with wide eyes.
“I’d like you to come here and live with me, so that you have your own space, where you can feel comfortable painting and where I can fill my eyes with you every second of my life. I am not asking you to make a decision tonight, but when you’re ready, you’ll find me here waiting. At our house.”
“Are you sure about what you’re saying? Are you sure you want to live with me?”
“I’ve never been surer about anything, ever. I am so in love with you, Ciara. I love these hands,” I tell her, taking them one by one and kissing them. “These stains of color that never wash away. Your hot pink hair and your colorful shirts. Your infinite sweetness and amazing body. I love your sincere eyes that radiate all things positive. Your energy and your will to live. I love the most absurd details that make you unique, who you are, make you mine. It’s you, Ciara. You’re the other half of my soul.”
She looks at me incredulously and is on the verge of tears.
“I’m sorry, maybe it’s too much for you, I shouldn’t have dropped all this on you at once.”
She shakes her head. No.
“What is it then?”
“I have to tell you something.” She bites her lip nervously.
“You can tell me anything, don’t be afraid.”
“When I came to the pub that night… I needed to talk with you, but I didn’t have the courage to do it.”
I look at her, worried with that panic feeling shooting to my nerve endings.
“I, uh…”
My legs start to wobble.
“I’m pregnant.”
I think my jaw is going to smash through the flooring.
“We weren’t careful.”
