Page 80 of If You Go
The first grey reef shark bumps him hard, testing. Another follows, circling tighter. Then the water explodes.
“And this,” Elliot states in a reverent tone, “ is a frenzy.” Brenden and I don’t say anything. We just stare into the tank.
Foam. Thrashing. A burst of red clouds the glass.
I flinch but don’t look away. Brenden’s reflection joins mine in the tank–our faces pale in the glass as chaos turns the water pink.
Gavin disappears beneath the frenzy.
The sounds muffle through the barrier. Dull thuds, the slap of tails, the churn of water. My pulse slows. The noise fades until all that’s left is the low hum of the pumps and the whisper of waves against glass.
For the first time in eleven years, the world feels quiet.
The frenzy fades fast. Sharks don’t linger–they strike, feed, then vanish. The water calms again, and the blood dissolves into soft, clouded ripples.
Beside me, Surry hasn’t moved. She’s staring into the tank, face ghostly white in the glass. For a moment, she’s completely still. No trembling, no anger, no fear. Just… peace. The kind you don’t get in this world without fighting for it.
I take a step back, giving her some well-earned space. She deserves this quiet. Deserves to feel what it’s like to breathe without demons clawing at her throat.
When she finally turns, her eyes find mine. They’re clear again–storm-wrecked, yes, but alive. Whole.
I reach for her hands, still cold from the glass. “Surry,” I say, her name low in my chest. “I know this isn’t how it’s supposed to go. No candles. No ring. Just us, salt in the air, a shark tank full of karma, and…Elliot.” Surry giggles, but it sounds nervous.
Elliot blinks, then nods in understanding. “Right. I’ll, uh–leave you to it.” He disappears into his office once again, door shutting softly behind him.
I exhale a small laugh, then turn back to the love of my life, my thumb brushing over her dainty knuckles. “But I don’t need perfect,” I continue quietly. “I just need you. I want to spend the rest of my days worshiping you, laughing with you, fighting for you, loving you.”
I take a step closer before dropping to one knee, voice roughening. “Will you do me the immense honor of being my partner for life?” I pause, clearing my throat. It has gone dry with nerves. “Surry, my sweet Siren… will you marry me?”
The sound of the tank echoes off the walls–steady, rhythmic. The glass between us and the water glows faintly, a heartbeat of blue light flickering along the walls, reflecting in her long, beautiful hair.
Just then, a soft melody plays through the speakers.Jaws, by Sleep Token, I think. Surry gave me a full history and discography of them today. Thank you, Elliot.
And just like that, the sharks are forgotten. The world narrows to her hands within mine, the warmth of her skin, the peace I never thought I could deserve.
When she whispers yes, it feels like the first sunrise after a decade of storms. I stand, pulling her into my arms and pressing my lips to hers. The kiss is passionate but calm. Romantic, loving, closing a chapter in our lives so we can turn to the next one. It is filled with relief and love and so many other things.
We turn, leaving the aquarium–and everything it buried–behind us.
At last, hand in hand, we step into our own forever.
Surry
“Wow, the weather is surprisingly nice today,” I say as I look out the window of our new apartment overlooking the city. Brenden and I ended up picking the penthouse in his tallest building. It’s massive, but I started making it feel like home the day we moved in. I painted all the walls, black as you would expect. The ceilings I kept bright white to give height to the walls. Although they are already fifteen-foot walls, so it’s not like I needed to make them look any taller.
The living room is a mix of black, white, grey, and greens. Deep greens, emerald one could say. Brenden swears that emerald green is his favorite color. The kitchenand the rest of the main spaces follow the same color patterns. But the guest rooms, we have three, each has its own theme. I thought it would be fun, and it would satisfy our different decor ideas. Brenden surprised me with his keen eye for design. I was shocked, actually.
In one room, it is themed all pink. I needed to have a girly room in the house. I don’t wear pink, or decorate with it much. But I wanted one room that was entirely pink. I channeled Selene’s theme of cotton candy. The walls are a warm blush color, the bedding and rug are a mix of soft pinks, hot pinks, and blacks. The little desk meets vanity is black, with little cutesy decor from different craft stores. The artwork is sweet and lighthearted. Bunnies, birds, a few skulls and random designs, but my favorite is the sign that is the largest. It has a white background, in a black wood frame and in a beautiful cursive that says “Live, Laugh, Lobotomy.” Just because it’s a girly room doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a touch of our dark humor.
The second room, Brenden was in charge of. It is very manly. Steel grey, deep blues, and dark greys. It is verycozy and warm feeling in there. Leather and other rough textures are strewn about. The bed is black with blue accent pillows, and the headboard is made of steel.
The final room, we decorated together. It is the perfect mix of us. It is primarily just a deep blue. The walls are painted the dark blue, the headboard, doors, and casings all painted the same color. The bedding is varying shades of dark blue, and the decor is all blue and blue glass. The large floor to ceiling windows lighting up the room. This one is my favorite, because we made all the decisions together.
Brenden came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle and placing his nose in my ear. He has been so lovey since I said yes at the aquarium. Yes to forever with the man who loves me more than anyone loves anything, I think. Except for maybe how much I love him. I will always claim to be the winner of that.
Together, we are a formidable pair, and no one should cross us. Or they will see exactly what it is like to have the both of us as enemies.
“It is, I am excited to have everyone over for Thanksgiving today. Your food all looks delicious.” I turn my head and kiss his temple, one of the only times I am able to since he is so much taller than me. He is dressed and ready for the day, looking so hot I think I should be burnt just by touching him. He has on black dress shoes, black jeans, and a black long-sleeve silk button-up that is undone to his upper chest withthe sleeves rolled up past his elbows. His hair is down in a rare display, as he usually keeps it up in a low bun. But I am sure I don’t look as I normally would either.
