“It’s beautiful.” She runs her finger over the shell.
“My father reminded me of a memory the last time I saw him. It was the day on the beach, the only memory I have with him. Break it in half. Right down the middle.” I cup my hands beneath it to catch the spoils.
She snaps the dollar in half, and the contents fall in my palm. I give a nod to luck when five perfect bone-shaped doves appear in my palm. She studies the evidence in my hand and lifts one to inspect it. “They look like little birds.”
“Kind of ironic, isn’t it? Even before I knew what my destiny was, it was handed to me by a man I never really knew. What’s even more ironic is that these birds represent the five of us.” I lift the birds one by one. “Me, Sean, Tyler, Dom, and you. The beginning and the end—even though technically they’re Doves—in the religious sense, they represent sacrifice and peace.”
“I didn’t know that,” she says softly, studying the pieces, “that’s…really beautiful.” She lifts her deep ocean eyes to mine.
“It’s time to change our wings, Cecelia.”
Her lips start to tremble, and I know she’s feeding off my emotions. We’ve reached a point in our union where there isn’t an ounce of separation. We’ve been one for a long time.
I take the birds from the dollar and set them on the balcony.
“You,” I manage to strangle out through the ball in my throat, “you did this for me. I demanded the sacrifice, but you, Cecelia, you brought the peace.”
Her eyes glisten as a suggestive smile plays on her lips. “Have you been drinking?”
“Not a drop.”
“Sorry, it’s just that you rarely get this sentimental unless—”
“Not this time,” I close my eyes and hang my head as more emotions seep from me. All I feel for her is raging in my head and chest and refusing to be held back a second longer. “I don’t need alcohol, and I don’t need to hide anything from you.”
“Tobias, what are you saying?”
“Where I go, you’ll go?”
“I’ll follow you anywhere,” she assures without hesitation, “you know that.”
“As I will follow you. And from this day on, I never want to take a single fucking step without you beside me. I love you, Cecelia, so much.” She cups my jaw, the evidence of my undoing, dampening her hand.
“I love you, too. Tobias, but you’re still scaring me.”
“Don’t be. I’m not afraid of anything anymore. And you gave that to me. There’s no opponent strong enough for us, Cecelia. You have to believe that by now.”
“I do.”
“God, I’m,” I dip my chin to my chest. “I have so much to say, but I don’t think I can get through it all…will you forgive me that?”
I take a knee, and she recognizes my intent. It’s the most beautiful sight. I burn her expression and the love in her eyes into memory.
“I…，” I hang my head. “Fuck…” I run my face along the sleeve of my shirt and see her visibly starting to come as undone as I am.
“No man on earth has ever loved a woman more than I love you. I’ll prove this every day for the rest of our lives. I love you more than any cause, any ambition. The sight of your face over any other on earth.” I choke on every other word, frustrated by my inability to carry out my plan but too emotional to give a fuck. I’d humiliate myself a million times over because she’s shown me, repeatedly, the beauty in a bare, stripped heart. “You own me. You make me so fucking happy. You are my purpose now, and forever.”