Hair tangled, eyes wide and shiny with excitement, nail polish 

Chipping on the steering wheel. You fiddle with the rings on your left hand,

gifted and bought, acquired over years of swap meets and birthday presents. You mention that

You've never been to the countryside before, sheepishly, like the admission would

Offend me somehow. You've never been inspired to drive past the city limits until this summer. 

My eyes squint, the five o'clock sunlight glaring just too low for the shields to block. The

Ring in my bag feels like it'll burn a hole just as bright and hot through the canvas. I smile and

lean back, mentioning that I've never been more than two hours away from home. Just to

My aunt's countryside house, our destination. I'm grateful she lent it to me for the occasion. 

A weekend out of the city for you, a life-changing question for me, the future for us.