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Drift sounds like she’s grinning as she starts to describe their surroundings. “Okay, well, we’re on a cliff…”
The rest of Drift’s words fade away as Shelby feels the breeze on her skin. Even behind the blindfold she can still see the sun and—
“Okay, just a few more steps back…stop! Perfect! Alright, I’m gonna turn you around now.” It’s Shelby’s betrothed behind her, the man she will spend the rest of her life with.
There a strange feeling in her gut and it almost feels like something is jumping her chest. She’s fine, she’s fine. This is just the proposal. He loves her and she loves him and their life is all planned out together. They’ll be fine.
His hands are by her hair.
“I’m taking off the blindfold.” He whispers in her ear. She’s giddy with anticipation. He brought her here to the most beautiful view in the city.
She’ll have a moment of peace to enjoy it and then he’ll propose. Then they’ll plan the wedding. Then they’ll have children. Then she’ll spend the rest of her life taking care of them.
That’s what she’s meant to do. It’s all been planned out for her. It’s all been determined.
Just like her betrothed. Not that she doesn’t like him! He’s caring, he’s kind, he chose to give her this grand proposal, one that he knew she would like. It’s just—
There’s a crack of thunder, a bright light that would most certainly blind her if she weren’t wearing a blindfold. All of the sudden she feels like she’s floating above ground. Her feet aren’t on the earth, there’s nothing holding her down. She’s falling.
She tries to scream for help but there a weight on her shoulder and something shaking her and a voice—
“Shelby! What’s wrong? Just answer me—please.”
“What? I—“ Her feet are on solid ground and without seeing she still knows that Drift is the one holding on to her.
“Shelby! Oh, thank the gods you’re okay, you just didn’t answer me and I started to get scared and—“
“Drift, it’s alright.”
“What happened?”
“I—I don’t do well with cliffs. I guess this just reminded me of…”
“Oh gods, Shelby I’m so sorry, I forgot. Would you like to get down?”
“I don’t…I think I’m fine, it was just when you started to describe everything it just felt so familiar and—yeah.”
“Oh.”
They stand in silence for a moment.
“Can you describe the scene again? Just—hold my hand?” So it doesn’t feel like I’m falling she doesn’t say.
“Of course,” Drift agrees easily and grabs her hand steadily. “There’s a beautiful sunset, full of hues of yellow, orange, pink, and purple. We’re looking down at a fountain built out a crumbling stone, worn down by time, where the water is a bright blue reflecting the setting sun. To our left there’s tall spruce tress speckled across a mountain side. There’s different bridges and paths building up to the mountain top. And to our right there’s another—uh,” Drift pauses for a second, hesitant.
“Cliff like this one?”
“Yes…although, it’s actually less a cliff and more of a small plateau or ridge and then further right there’s a plain, with a few more spruce trees. There’s a long path leading around our plateau.
Shelby takes a deep breathe. “Wow, you’re good at describing things.” She almost wonders if this is what the view was when—when they were on the cliff.
“Thanks, I’m glad I could show you what I see.”
Maybe she can’t change her fate, but she could at least enjoy this time here.