One year
after the day they married, Stine returned to the same registration office.
The same
building.
The same
courtyard.
The same
rain.
But this
time, she wasn't crying.
Charles stood
beside her.
He held two
documents.
Their divorce
papers.
Stine looked
at him.
“What are
those?”
“A new
agreement.”
She opened
it.
There was
only one sentence.
No expiration
date.
Stine
laughed.
“You're
terrible at romance.”
“I know.”
“You're
supposed to give me flowers.”
“I bought
some.”
“Where?”
Charles pointed behind him.
A delivery
boy stood there holding an enormous bouquet.
Stine burst
out laughing.
Charles
smiled.
“I was told
flowers were important.”
She stepped
closer.
“They are.”
He reached
into his pocket.
A small
velvet box appeared.
Stine's eyes
widened.
“Charles…”
“This isn't a
proposal.”
She frowned.
“Then what is
it?”
He opened the
box.
Inside was
her original wedding ring.
The one she
had removed a year ago.
He took her
hand.
“I want you
to wear it because you choose me.”
Stine looked
at him.
The man she
had married by accident.
The man who
had slowly become her best friend.
Her safest
place.
Her greatest
love.
She slipped
the ring onto her finger.
“I choose
you.”
Charles
smiled.
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm
not marrying you again.”
Stine's eyes
widened.
He pulled her
closer.
“I'm keeping
you forever.”
She laughed
as he kissed her.
Behind them,
the rain fell softly against the pavement.
One year ago, Stine had walked into that building believing her life had ended.
Today, she
walked out knowing it had only just begun.
Their
marriage hadn't started with love.
It had
started with heartbreak, revenge, and two strangers making a reckless bargain.
But somewhere
between the arguments, midnight conversations, stolen smiles, and impossible
forgiveness…
the bargain
had become a promise.
And the
promise had become love.
No comments:
Post a Comment