Flauraan, Abigail is 24, Sophie is 26

The decision gets made - but it's not easy.

I burst into the room, grip Abigail's hands, and implore her, "Let's get married."

"Sophie, I don't-" she says but-

I stare forlornly at the plans in front of me. So much has fallen into place before, but I don't think I can make this work.

She finds me later. She clearly has been doing a lot of thinking. "I've been thinking, ever since we went to Halapatov, it reminded me so much of the last time we were there,-

I don't know how to bring it up to her. I wouldn't even know where to start.

"Oh." She says, and pauses for a second before an almost shy smile spreads across her face. "Well, then, of course. Let's get married."

I know how to make this feel right. I consider if there's a correct etiquette to the proposal and then decide to go with something simple and straightforward.

“They expect me to move to Halapatov, oversee the Alliance centre there day to day.”

-Sophie, I used to think I could never go back there, but we did, and it was so good. So much has changed since then. If you're open to the idea, I'm seriously considering it. Can we-

“I'm going to have to get out of it.” But then what will I do with myself? I don’t say.

Something pokes at the back of my brain. Something she said to me years ago. Something I put in my research because I thought it was so interesting.

"Because of the move." I say insistently. "You know how paladanian marriages often mark big life changes?"

-I cut her off. I know. Of course I know. Does she think I don’t realise how difficult this must be for her?

-move to Halapatov?” she says.

"Just let me sort out my thoughts and we'll talk about this later, okay?" I nod, feeling useless.

"What?" she laughs, startled. "What do you mean?"

I stare at her, open-mouthed, not quite believing that this is what she wants but find myself saying anyway, "Yes."