“It’s not optimism, just simple truth.” He returns my smile. “I will spend the rest of my days at your side, so long as you will have me.” “It would be my life’s joy to spend every breath in your company.” “Then it shall be so,” he says. “It shall be so,” I echo. As I speak, there’s a gentle tingle—like a thousand butterflies settling upon me and then lifting all my hopes and wishes on their rainbow wings. Evander feels the same, I think, as his gaze softens into something akin to elation.
