//------------------------------//
// Marriage 
// Story: Doing Loving Things 
// by HeideKnight 
//------------------------------//

You both stare at the box. 

You look at Starlight. She’s red again. You stroke her back. 

You had a speech prepared. You’d thought it over for weeks. It changed daily. You refined it, abandoned it, recovered it, and perfected it. Now you’ve forgotten it. These have always stripped the superficial. It’s you and your mare. Simplicity suits you; you’re breviloquent.

You lift the box. Her eyes follow it. You press your thumb to the lid. It slides forward. A single, golden ring rests atop a bed of shredded paper. Starlight pushes away. Tears gather at her lids.

“No,” she whispers. Your chest drops.

Your hand trembles. You will it still, then lower the box. 

Starlight looks at you, disbelief stretched across her face. She blinks, then her eyes widen. “No!” She repeats. 

You nod and push the top closed. Her aura wraps your hand. You look to her again. Tears stream down her face. She shakes her head and chokes a laugh. She returns her hoof to your lap.

“No, I didn’t mean no,” she says. 

Starlight lifts your hand. She opens the lid and takes the ring. You see the words engraved in the band. She seems unaware. You hope they remain hidden. They’re foolish. This venture was foolish.   

Starlight stares at it. She’s smiling, crying still. Your pulse speeds. You dare a hope. 

She directs her smile toward you. The ring turns, shimmers, and slides down her horn. She presses against you. “My answer,” she says, voice trembling, “is yes”.

You put down the box and look at her. You smile. It grows into a grin. It’s unstoppable. You throw your arms around her. She brushes her nose against your ear and then against your neck. 

You pull from her and look into her eyes. Your living dream. Those are the words inscribed in her band. Later she’ll see them. You press your lips against her horn. She twitches. She’s cute when she does that.