If This Works

31

Aki and I were in the back parking lot of his apartment. I was holding a bottle of lighter fluid and a lighter. He was carting out journal after journal. We are making a bonfire. We took some lawn chairs from Grandmother and Aki got some wine. Apparently he needed to be wasted for this. I don't think I could blame him.

He came out with the last set of books. He gave me a nod. I sprayed the lighter fluid on all the books. I'm starting to wish that we had hot dogs and marshmallows for this.

"Are you ready to get rid of all of this?" I asked.

"I'm ready to have a new life. I'm ready to forget all of this shit and get a real job, maybe even go to college." He said.

He stood next to me. He put his hand over mine with the lighter. I pulled the trigger and a small flame came out of the spout. We inched it closer to the books and lit them all. It was a beautiful sight. We sat back in the lawn chairs. When the sun set the fire was still roaring.

"I can't believe it's all gone. It's over. I'm free to do what I want." Aki said. Throwing his bottle of wine in the mix.

"You don't have to be afraid anymore." I said.

"I'll be back. I'm going to get up some sodas." He went to his apartment.

When he came back we sat in silence for a while. Just enjoying the fire and one another's company not to mention the soda. I could see all the relief he had now. He doesn't have anything left to pent up. He really is free.

"I have something to ask you." Aki said after a while.

"What?"

He turned in his seat to face me. "Mouse, will you marry me?"

I did a spit take. He asked me that now!? Of all times now!? He must be in crazy!

"Of course I'll marry you!" I yelled.

He came over to me and knelt down in front of me. He laid his head in my lap. I stroked his hair as we watched the fire burn.