Living Without A Heart

Will You Marry Me?

Time is a curious thing- everyone wants it but never uses it when they have it. They say time has the power to heal, apparantly it also makes the heart grow fonder- amazing and romantic no? Alice certainly didn't think so...

Over the year that had passed: Alice thought more of FP and Charles, of the life she could have had but instead was stuck with the life she inadvertantly chose.

She drove home from the Riverdale Register where she and Hal worked, Hal had left earlier on in the day. Alice always worked late (even if it would have been more convenient to work from home.) The nineteen year old had received just five messages from the mystery number over the last year about breaking up with Hal, each angrier and more impatient than the last. Sometimes she replied to the messages with comments like "What are you gonna do about it?" or "What's wrong? You jealous?". If Alice said she wasn't afraid of someone- she meant it! In fact, she smiled every time she got a message from them.

Clambering out of her car, she walked up the front porch steps expecting Hal to be in bed but was surprised to see him stood waiting for her. Looking around, she saw the living room and kitchen lined with flickering, golden candles, blood-red rose petals were scattered across the sandy carpet, and Hal stood in a smart, blue tux with his hair slicked back.

"What's going on?" Alice questioned, uncomfortable. Hal just took her gentle hands in his and lowered himself down onto one knee...

"You make me so happy Alice. I know we don't have the closeness, the intimacy other couples have but we have something better; we have stability and respect, we have a thriving business, a beautiful home and we've already been together two years which is longer than most relationships last! We've been through a lot together and it has made us stonger for it."

"Hal-"

"Alice- what's your middle name?"

"Susanna?"

"Alice Susanna Smith, will you do me the biggest honour and be my wife?"

"I- I just. I don't..." she stammered

"Alice say yes... there is no reason for you to say no." he pleaded.

"okay... you're right, as always." she replied deflated. Slowly but forcefully she pulled her hands out of Hals grip. "I'll grab us a drink..." she whispered as Hal stumbled to his feet once again.

Trembling hands reached for the wine bottle as tears slowly made their way down her ever-pale face.

"Are you okay?"

"yeah" she replied breathless.

"I don't believe I got engagement kiss..."

"Oh Hal, I'm not feeling very well..."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing you just shocked me- I never saw it coming..."

"It makes sense us getting married."

"I know but it's just... a lot. By the time I'm 21 I will have done everything people take like 50 years doing. I had a baby at 16, start a business at 18, and married at 20!"

"I know, you're an inspiration Alice."

"That's not what I wanted to hear,"

"You could just say thanks!" Hal laughed in response.

"Also I don't want to worry about telling people yet..." To Alice everything still seemed so unreal.

"I'm going upstairs..." Hal interrupted "Wanna join me?" he said suggestively