Page 61 of Partnering with the Artist

Do I want any pets?

Where would I plan a vacation?

Would I be willing to join him at the frays that are comic cons for his work?

Do I foresee having any work-related events that I might ask his support or presence at?

Am I planning to pursue a professional career as a seamstress, or am I planning to pursue some other career?

Do I want to attend college? If so, for what majors and minors?

How public do I want my involvement with him to be once we’re official?

Do I want a wedding?

How big?

Do I have any medical history that might be important toshare?

It just goes on, and on, and on.

Pet peeves. Trauma. Core beliefs. Love languages.

There’s an entire page dedicated to an argument plan of action, which starts: In the event we have a disagreement, what is the first step we will take toward reconciliation?

It lays out pertinent information, asking questions about how I react to dissonance in a relationship, what my first instinct is when I’m angry, how I find closure in the aftermath, how he can make sure I know I’m still loved throughout the conflict.

It’s just…

All of it.

It’s so good.

It’s so mucheffort.

Zakery is falling asleep on the floor next to me because he was up all night putting a ton of energy into making sure we were approaching the idea of a relationship together in an educated manner.

This form asks for vulnerability, sure, but I think I definitely prefer transparency to whatever confusion and uncertainty I was living in when I was with Harry. Having a game plan, knowing how to most effectively tackle issues, understanding Zakery’s triggers and how they might antagonize mine…

It’s setting us up for success.

I don’t know how many hours pass before I reach the last question, but I am glad it’s an easy one:Is there anything else you’d like me to know, questions you’d like to add, or topics you’d like to discuss?

I don’t have anything to add, but I would really, really like to make this work. Thank you so much for putting this much time and effort into a relationship that has barely started. I cannot explain how much it means to me.

I cannot explain how it is, already, more than Harry would have put into our relationship if it had lasted a lifetime.

Being with Harry was always a little scary, a little like jumping, a little like falling, a little like the dread of waiting to be caught while knowing you’d probably have to hit the ground on your own.

In contrast, Zakery’s holding my hand. We’re jumping together. And as we free-fall, I’m not concerned where we’ll land. Because he’s not letting go.

Chapter 22

?

My bride-to-be.

Zakery

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