ng seamlessly into the heavy Philadelphia traffic. I watch in th

A long, shaky breath escapes my l

l and uses the other to pull a clean tissue from the console. He

g the sweat from my forehead. "My mother... she was

t keeps his eyes on the road. "Disgusting

reet from City Hall. The massive stone b

ss my face. As we cross the busy street, a delivery

ch o

my shoulders. He yanks

past, missing

t radiating from his body seeps through my thin coat. I can smell that c

my touch burned him. He rubs his thumb against

says, his voice d

u is crowded with couples holding hands and kissing. Ethan an

d Agnes hands us a

he writes Financial Analyst. It makes sense. He drives a Ford, wears a plain s

"That will be thirty-five

y canvas bag, searching

plain, standard-issue credit card

" I insist, pulling

ce," he says, his tone le

judge can see you now for th

ach drops. "Rings

gonizing. Agnes

a plastic pull-ring from a water bottle he bought

and. His fingers are warm and sligh

e dropping an octave, sounding incredi

ring onto my bare fing

ying flutter in my chest. I stammer thr

he bride," the

ups my face with both hands. His thumbs rest gen

yes, my brea

strategically placed right over my mouth. His warm breath

ps. Agnes hands us the marri

air instantly shatters the illusion

ghtly. "I'll meet you here tomorrow at

w," Etha

quickly toward t

pears into the crowd, he reaches into his pocket