Page 50 of Love in Times of Contempt

"Love you, Liam."

He smiled, pleasure overcoming his confusion. "You too."

"Let's do this," she said. "Ready?"

"Ready."

"Do you miss the stars, Liam?"

They talked about his journey to almost becoming an astronomer, and how he made the jump to acting. Liam learned that Ana had managed to interview Julia Hunter, who'd discovered him, but he didn't know what she had said about the moment that changed his life.

After chatting for about an hour, Ana brought the conversation to a close.

"Thanks, Liam. That was awesome."

"Now?"

"Now we watch a Planetarium show together."

The corner of her mouth held a hint of tension but, before he could ask about it, she directed him to lie back and relax.

The light in the room lowered progressively until it became dark, and the show began. Warmth ran in his veins, memories mingling with his present. He flew through space in first-person point of view, his stomach dropping as if he fell into the void alongside the camera, or feeling lighter as he flew faster than the speed of light among distant planets.

The section for constellations began, and a smile split his face. He learned again about the many cultures that had seen shapes in the starry sky, admiring the Mach’acuay of the Incas, the Melipal of the Mapuche, and the K?ttika of India.

The journey through the constellations continued with a line connecting unnamed stars to create words out of the fake constellation.

Some folk believed one could see the future in the way the stars journeyed the sky.

Ana moved by his side, likely finding a more comfortable position, but he kept his eyes on the dome. Words faded, to be replaced with new ones.

And some put their hope in the stars.

These faded too, replaced with words that took his breath away.

Liam, will you marry me?

He startled in his seat, hands grabbing the arm rests and tension pinching his shoulders. He turned to Ana, seeking answers.

She stared at him, eyes shining, biting her bottom lip again. She showed him a small box in her hand.

"Ana," he said, voice strangled. "Did you… is this…"

She nodded. She checked the dome and he did too; the words remained shining bright on the dark ceiling. Music had lowered, now a hint in the background.

His heart resumed operations, but his chest had become goo, melted like warm wax, and it struggled to keep up with the rest of him.

"Liam… you said once that you're the romantic one in the relationship, and I'm afraid you were right— I'm not good at this kind of thing and I worried for ages that I was making a mistake. Maybe I'm overdoing it? Maybe you'll be disappointed that I took away your thunder? I don't know." She shook her head. He sat up to come closer to her, but didn't interrupt her.

She opened the tiny box, displaying a silver faceted ring inside. The line of her shoulders straightened, resolution clear now in her features. She continued, "But I wanted to do this. To show you how much I want to make this promise to you, that we'll be together always. You said you wanted to ask me one day to marry you and—" she chuckled— "I really really hope that is still the case. Because I'm here askingyouto marryme. And I really hope you say yes."

Liam's smile split his face, just like his joy stitched him all back together inside of him, even the tiny corners that he didn't know had still been torn and hidden away.

He lifted his hands and cupped her face, staring deeply into her eyes. He saw nerves there but also resolution, and a love as big as the one he had for her.

"Ana, this is a surprise."

"Welcome? Or unwelcome or…"