Foul Ball

"This is where I took you for our first adventure." My hand curled around Macey's as her eyes caught sight of Garden of the Gods, the very path we'd taken that fateful night, where we'd made love off-trail, in the grass, uncaring, unafraid of any consequences that might come our way. Oh, how things had changed in the last couple of months. Now, fear was everywhere. It hid around every corner in the shadows, slithering by silently until it reared its ugly head, striking when the victim was most vulnerable.

Yes, there had been a lot of fear. But also happiness. More happiness than I had ever experienced in my short years here on earth. Yes, we were barely adults, mere children still on their journey to becoming their best selves, but it didn't matter, not since I'd met her. Not since I'd loved her.

Macey grabbed my hand over her shoulder and squeezed, and when her frail shoulders began to shake, I knew she was crying. Before I could ask her what was wrong, she spoke up.

"How can you love me?" she asked. "How can you love me knowing that there's still a chance I'll die?" Her voice caught as the last word tumbled between her cracked lips, and I crossed around her until I was in front of the wheelchair and kneeled down, taking her frail hands between my own.

"If I ever have to live in this world without you," I said, forcing Macey's eyes to hold mine. "Then I intend to spend every living day-moment-with you. Forever."

"Forever isn't guaranteed," said Macey softly, swiping at her eyelids. "Why waste time with a woman who is simply shriveling away when you could be dating someone healthy...someone who will never give you this kind of scare again?" I looked away from her, shaking my head, wishing she could, for once, see herself how I'd seen her since the day I met her in the library at school. My eyes caught sight of the open water ahead of us, lapping at the dock under my feet. I turned back to focus on Macey.

"I was going to wait until we were in the room, but I don't think I can wait," I said. I reached into the pocket of my jacket, coming up a moment later with a small, baby-blue box.

"Cute," Macey said, glancing at the bracelet on her wrist as a reminder of the memory. She smiled playfully, looking like herself once again as she teased me. "Is it earrings?"

"Macey Kate Britton," I said, and I visibly saw the muscles in her body tense, a fear reaction I had come to know from her. But I didn't care. Not now. Not anymore. "From the moment I laid eyes on you, I've loved you. And even now, after everything, I love you even more. I think we've made it through hell together, and I intend to be by your side for the rest of our days. Through sickness and in health." I opened the box for her, revealing a diamond ring studded with topaz jewels, the very color that matched her eyes.

"Jayce," Macey whispered, but I continued to speak.

"This is was my mother's ring and her mother's ring," I said, reaching for her left hand. "My mother never had a girl, and this is what we both wanted. So, Macey, at the risk of being rejected—not for the first time, either-will you marry me?"