I had to blink back the moisture that pooled in my eyes. How strange to think this man, who was so stoic and even abrasive at times, could also be so gentle and sweet.
We left the shop with our new ink and the formation of a fragile bond between us.
I was willing to entertain his notion of a real marriage, though I wasn’t sure what exactly that meant to him. Was he talking about our commitment to one another or something more? Could he possibly mean love? And even if he did develop a love for me, could our relationship ever come first when pitted against his duty and ambitions?
There was only one way to find out.
I had to take the leap and try to trust in him and open up my heart.
On the entire way home, I debated whether I could take that risk. When we reached the building lobby, I w
