Page 122

And then it is our time to speak. To exchange vows and rings and promises.

I speak.

Azalea speaks.

I slip the ring onto her finger.

She slips one onto mine.

“With this ring, I thee wed,” we say.

A glass is placed between us, a white cloth over it. We crush it with our heels.

Captain Elspeth introduces us as ‘wed in body, mind and spirit, for as long as their paths align and inspire one another’.

It was language we discussed at length, a commitment to each other, predicated on our bond always being mutually healthy. Neither of us wanted to pull outdated beliefs or ideas into our new world. We took the best of her culture and of mine and we sprinkled in some new and made the first Mars wedding.

And then we kiss.

* * *

ZAE

His lips on mine are warm, soft, made of magic and hope and love. I am kissing my husband.

My husband.

Everyone cheers as we walk down the center aisle hand in hand. When we pass Ivan and Robert, I reach over to take Tilly. I want her to be part of this, even if she’s too young to remember.

I kiss her soft head and Marek looks down at us, his face shining with love.

Taking cues from Russian tradition, we will spend the next several days celebrating.

Core work will be done in rotations, so everyone can participate. Everything else will be put on hold.

It seems extravagant, but I’ve come to realize it has given our community something to look forward to. Something to hold onto. To cling to.

We all need something, or someone, to cling to.

My eyes well up with tears as Marek, Tilly and I walk through the center of the crowd gathered to celebrate with us.

Ivan and Robert have worked to set up food and beverages for the many days of festivities planned. I’ve heard rumors of live theater, poetry slams and live music as well. While it all sounds amazing, nothing compares to holding Marek’s hand as he turns me to face him for our first dance as newlyweds.

I relinquish Tilly to the waiting arms of Lana as the music starts.

Marek and I hold each other close, barely moving, this one embrace encompassing everything we have endured. Our improbable meeting, our forbidden affair, the times we nearly lost each other, and now this moment of absolute unity.

The song ends. The music shifts to a catchy tune, and everyone joins in the dancing, Tilly now in the care of a doting Grandma Elspeth. As I listen more carefully to the music selection, I can’t help but laugh as I walk over to Lana. “Did you pick the playlist?” I ask, accepting the wine glass she hands me.

“Oui. It is perfect, no?”

I laugh again. “It is,” I agree. She’s chosen songs from bands that all have Mars in their name. The Mars Volta, Bruno Mars, 30 Seconds to Mars. It’s a delightful touch to the first Mars wedding, even if some of the songs aren’t entirely on brand for the event.

I return to Marek, who’s talking to Ivan. He takes me in his arms, and swings me around for one more dance before we sneak away for the night.

Everywhere I look, I see hope. Laughter. Dancing. Celebrating. A community that has come together to make an impossible dream a reality.

After so many years of fighting to find a silver lining, I now bask in the feeling that we can survive. We can do right by each other, by this world, and by all the various forms of life that share this planet with us.