Population Control

Matthew VIII

Forelsket – a euphoric feeling experienced when you start falling in love.

0o0

We've been in the A.T.E base for a month now, learning lines, media-training, presentation. Currently, me and Sami were relaxed on a sofa, Sami leaning against my chest while a show played on TV. It was an English soap his parents loved, but the only part that interested me was last episode where the blonde woman fell off the pub. However, if Sami enjoys it, it's good enough for me.

Some other people they rescued play a five-a-side match every Saturday, and I started to join them. We didn't qualify for the Euros, what a shocker, but now I can support Portugal publicly. My leg has been fine. The day we accepted Carol's deal, I checked it out in the floor length mirror in the bathroom and it's like nothing ever happened. There is a green bruise running up where the cut was, but there's no evidence I was stabbed. Even running my fingers over it, the skin is as smooth, maybe even smoother, than the day I was born.

"Oh my gosh!" Sami whispered, leaning forward. He was so engrossed in the TV. Looking at him here, between my arms, like a lazy Sunday evening in our own house after working all week, I knew. Around my neck, the cool metal of my parents' wedding rings kept me going, but now I had another reason. "Sami."

"Yeah?" He didn't look at me, which was fine, because I was looking over his head unable to look at him.

"I have something for you." I made him sit up.

"Matthew no, it's OK, I don't need anything. I haven't got you anything!"

"Relax, I didn't buy it. Just... close your eyes and give me your hand." His long eyelashes fluttered closed, and he held out his hand ready for something to be placed on his palm. Since dad gave it to me, I hadn't taken this chain off. Without the chain I felt two people lighter. Quietly, the ring (my dad's) slipped free, and I levelled it with Sami's hand. I turned his over, so his knuckles were between my thumb and fingers and slid my dad's band on his middle finger (I'm not particularly ready for marriage yet). "Open them." I was so quiet; I didn't immediately register my own voice.

"I can't accept this." He looked torn: agonizing pain and joy. "This is your dad's, the only thing you have left. I don't- what if I lose it? I lose everything, I lost the final edition of Broken Planet yesterday, remember? Took me hours to find and in the end, Jason found it in his bed!"

"I don't need a ring to remember how important my dad was to me." I took both his hands in mine, praying I was conveying my feelings well enough. "But that I've found someone worthy of his approval. It's a promise, and a declaration. Sort of."

"A declaration of what?"

"That I love you."