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She smiles and heads to her closet, slipping on thick black leggings, a chunky knit red sweater, and her dark boots.

I hand her a coat and lead her outside, where a light snowfall speckles the golden sky, and evergreen trees sway in the gentle wind. When we reach the rover, I slide behind the wheel and we take off toward my planned destination.

“This isn’t the way to the farm,” says Azalea, tapping her chin with her finger and raising an eyebrow.

I say nothing, trying to keep my face neutral. It is harder than I expected. My heart is thrumming in my chest so loudly I fear it can be heard by Azalea.

She makes no guesses at plans however, instead falling into the familiar rhythm of telling me about her work. “Cultivating different areas of the planet will be useful. We can plant crops all year round and…”

I am only half listening, though I would not want her to think so. Normally I am as engrossed in the changes and growth of our little community as she is, but today is not about them. It is about us. She just does not realize it yet.

The sun is low in the sky when I finally stop, nervous energy coursing through me as I open the door for Azalea, and we stand together, overlooking the sea. The scarlet water is calm, glittering in the deep orange light. Purple clouds streak across the sky like watercolor. She looks around, her eyes widening. “Isn’t this…”

I simply nod, taking her by the hand and guiding her forward toward the cave. The cave where we spent our first night together. The cave where our spirits became one.

Inside, the darkness gives way to light. Dozens of glittering candles burn in every corner. A white cloth sits in the center of the cavern, holding a basket of fruit and two covered plates. Water rushes softly in the distance. Everything looks better than I imagined, and I silently thank the friends who helped make it so. Ivan, Lana, Astrid, Declan, and Robert. They all set the scene before our arrival.

“This…” Azalea’s words seem to catch in her throat, her eyes watery. “This is…”

She is breathless.

I have never been so nervous as I am now.

As I slip the small box from my pocket.

As I fall down to one knee.

“Azalea…” I meet her gaze with my own, opening the box. “You changed the trajectory of my life the moment I saw you trying to save your tree on that burning bridge.”

She giggles through unshed tears at the memory.

“I did not think I could afford the distraction of a lover. That I could only meet the needs of this community if I denied myself all other commitments. In truth, I thought…” I pause, trying to muster the courage to say the words I have not even said to myself. It is only by having Azalea at my side, that I find the strength. “In truth, I thought perhaps I no longer deserved love. For I had failed so many people. Failed our entire planet.” As soon as the words leave my lips, I feel their weight fall away, and in their place, blossoms immeasurable gratitude. “But you… You gave me hope. You proved me wrong. I could not have become the kind of man I needed to be without you.” I think of all those moments with Azalea, those moments that will stay with me forever. Her humor on the burning bridge. Our kiss in the observation room. The way she held my hand as we stepped onto Mars for the first time. The way she whispered my name as we made love in this very cave. My heart swells with a love and happiness I could never imagine and cannot possibly contain. “You are my everything. Moya lyubov. Now and forever. Azalea Clark, will you marry me?”

I take the ring out of the box. Soon, I will tell her of its origins. How Declan and a mining team found opals--or opal-like stones--in the lakes. How a jeweler offered to set it. How so many people came together to make this moment happen.

For now, I wait for the answer to the only question that matters in my life.

Tears spill out of her eyes and she throws herself into my arms. “Da!” she says. “I will marry you, Marek Volkav. Now and forever.”

Now and forever.

My heart is broken and remade by those words.

I am hers and she is mine.

30

ZAE & MAREK

1 Year Later

“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. If you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don't throw it away.”

? Stephen Hawking

* * *

Today I marry my soul mate.