15 Minute Challenge: Letting Go
A little unconventional, maybe, is the most she will admit to calling it. This answer seems to satisfy all parties involved except Aeneas, who could not let the subject die.
It's just way beyond me, he says. Beyond my capabilities, I...why me?
She only smiles. Am I asking too much of you?
Her eyes get big and dark and round, and though he opens his mouth to contest it, of course he can't, not facing those eyes.
Not too much, he mumbles.
In reality, though, 'too much' doesn't begin to describe the whole of it.
He spends the next five months trying to change her mind, persuade her otherwise. He even goes so far as to look through her family tree for other willing relatives, but as the date winds closer, his chances slim out. She is adamant.
Eventually, he resigns. In a battle between his and her stubbornness, he didn't stand a chance.
She takes his arm as the organ music begins to play. The wedding party files pair by pair into the aisle with the deliberate sense of occasion they'd rehearsed the day before.
She watches the procession, but he looks at her, and looks and looks, until her eyes turn to meet his and she smiles.
You're so beautiful, he says.
She squeezes his hand. Onlookers rise as the bridal march begins.
As they enter the church, he whispers, you never told me why you chose me to give you away.
You don't know? She asks softly.
At the end of the aisle, her fiance stands, delight and fear and surprise and awe all visible from the opposite side of the church.
Luna smiles as she sees him, and when she looks back toward Aeneas, there are little diamonds in her eyes.
Because I have only ever been yours to give.
They reach the end of the aisle. She moves to take her place before the altar, but his hand holds her back. Their eyes meet. Will you keep me forever, she seems to ask.
In response, he draws her forehead to his mouth, and whispers,
A second longer and you'd be too beautiful to give away.
Then, wearing his saddest, most beautiful smile, he lets her go.
23 February 2008
Honour is purchas'd by the deeds we do
It's just way beyond me, he says. Beyond my capabilities, I...why me?
She only smiles. Am I asking too much of you?
Her eyes get big and dark and round, and though he opens his mouth to contest it, of course he can't, not facing those eyes.
Not too much, he mumbles.
In reality, though, 'too much' doesn't begin to describe the whole of it.
He spends the next five months trying to change her mind, persuade her otherwise. He even goes so far as to look through her family tree for other willing relatives, but as the date winds closer, his chances slim out. She is adamant.
Eventually, he resigns. In a battle between his and her stubbornness, he didn't stand a chance.
She takes his arm as the organ music begins to play. The wedding party files pair by pair into the aisle with the deliberate sense of occasion they'd rehearsed the day before.
She watches the procession, but he looks at her, and looks and looks, until her eyes turn to meet his and she smiles.
You're so beautiful, he says.
She squeezes his hand. Onlookers rise as the bridal march begins.
As they enter the church, he whispers, you never told me why you chose me to give you away.
You don't know? She asks softly.
At the end of the aisle, her fiance stands, delight and fear and surprise and awe all visible from the opposite side of the church.
Luna smiles as she sees him, and when she looks back toward Aeneas, there are little diamonds in her eyes.
Because I have only ever been yours to give.
They reach the end of the aisle. She moves to take her place before the altar, but his hand holds her back. Their eyes meet. Will you keep me forever, she seems to ask.
In response, he draws her forehead to his mouth, and whispers,
A second longer and you'd be too beautiful to give away.
Then, wearing his saddest, most beautiful smile, he lets her go.
23 February 2008
Honour is purchas'd by the deeds we do