Of Wolves and Oranges

Chapter 26: Elizabeth

"Bull shit." He stands there and glowers down at me. He is huge, and he is dangerous. I blink back my tears.

"You cannot live your fucking life just waiting to die." he grabs the chain of beads in his fist, "You could have died last Friday in the hijacking, then bang, youre gone. We could have been involved in an accident on the way up here, or you could have choked on a piece of steak at the braai. But that doesn't stop you from living. You still study, you still go out every day, you still allow yourself to love."

He grabs the back of my neck and bends down, so we are eye to eye, "That's bullshit. If I could be married to you for just one day, never mind 25 years, I would be the happiest man, and I would thank the stars and the goddess for allowing me to be with you, if only for a moment.

"So, Elizabeth Barnes, will you be my wife for the next 25 and whatever extra years the Fates may grant us."

I laugh. And look up into his big blue eyes. "Fine, you crazy wolf, I will think about it."

He howls and lifts me in the air, spinning me around.

"And don't think that that counts as a real marriage proposal, Jaco Van Rooyen! I still want the honeymoon suite at the Oysterbox hotel, not naked in my room in bloody Ingwavuma.