marble steps of the

t the fabric was worn thin at the elbows. She clutched

He wore the same dull expression, but today, he held a

t scent of the petals hit her nose, and the tight k

way was packed with couples. People were laughin

feet apart. The space between the

the counter. The clerk looked at them with tired eyes

eath. "Yes," she said, her

was clipped, efficient, like he

out a plain, silver-colored band. Flora glanced at the inside of the ring. Ther

g air, his skin felt unnaturally warm, sending a sudden, grounding heat straight up Flora's ar

mething heavy and intense flared in his pupils. Then, h

d the paperwork

rk said, already looking

osiah's name were printed side by side. Her stomac

d off the concrete. They stood on the steps, the silen

separate ways from

d through Flora's chest. She swallowed t

oward the su

ward the curb, its tires splashing a puddle of

th a face carved from granite stared out at them. His

at Flora, then shifte

turn," Cornelius said. His voice was low, ca

g back from the vehicl

cle," Josiah said quic

ugh. He reached out of the window an

gift," Corn

t was thick with old, wrinkled bills. It

," Flora said, try

or her to argue. The window rolled up, and the v

warmth blooming in her chest. At least som

scle feathered in his jaw. He turned b

ils of today," Josiah said. "Espe

nd the white roses to her chest, turned aroun

ill until he could no lon

d out hi

ccess the City Hall's public server for marriage licenses. I need our entry

ncing poor man, Boss, but your hacking requests are

billboard towering over the street. The

y started. Now, he nee

he looked one last time down the street where Flora had vani