“I looked at his face, and suddenly my mind was reeling. Images upon images flashed by- images of… Us? Us now, as were are. Us in a couple of years, at prom; a few years later, eating and laughing in a restaurant; later, in our twenties, with myself walking down an aisle in a white dress, and with him- him standing at the end, waiting. Even more images, flashing faster- him lovingly kissing my bulging belly; holding my hand in the hospital as I was handed a baby boy; him playing with his son, teaching him to walk and play catch; us in the hospital again, this time being handed a tiny girl; teaching her to walk and dance; taking them on outings, vacations, watching them grow; taking them to visit our parents and siblings; the children going to school, graduating, learning to drive, and, eventually, moving out. The children visiting us with their babies; large family gatherings on holidays; then- us again. Old and grey now, on our rocking chairs, and, eventually, our graves. These images all rushed through my mind with a blinding speed, and I blinked- I was lookingat him now, smiling warnly at me, seemingly expecting an answer.
‘I’m sorry- what?’ I asked.
‘Would you like to go to the mall with us on Friday?’ he repeated, smiling bigger still.
‘Yes,’ I said breathlessly, happily. ‘I would.’
And we smiled.”
