In sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, I will love and respect her until death do us part. 

Beautiful words often accompany the happiest moments of a man's life. However, they can sometimes become part of his most painful memories.

“Lara, would you be willing to accept...”

The dazzling view of the full moon was reflected in the tranquil lake’s waters, disturbed only by a solitary wooden canoe. Small movements gently propelled the simple craft, driven by the determination of a boy in love. Fireflies surrounded a united couple, helping to dispel the darkness of the night, ensuring that not even fear could hinder their advances.

Black hair contrasted with the clarity of pale skin, deepening with every fiery word that escaped his lips. Dressed in a sparkling suit and topped with his charming navy blue top hat, Kai demonstrated his greatest act of courage yet, even after all twenty years of his life.

“Would you spend the rest of your life with me and grant me the honor of being your husband?”

Fireworks emphasized the sincerity of the declaration, as the light illuminated every detail of the speaker's face. The explosions in the sky served as a warning for the inevitable climax when the presence of a small object signified the culmination of a relationship.

With her long hair—spilling beyond the edges of the canoe and grazing the lake—the woman captivated her companion’s full attention. The companion rolled up the sleeves of a long dress in search of fingers that had once been solitary. The wedding ring was ready to join its intended, but its placement coincided with that of another accessory.

“Wow, Kai... I can hardly believe it. This is the most beautiful sight any woman could ever dream of seeing! Those fireworks are enchanting! Seriously, you even got the timing just right! The whole experience was incredible!”

“Alright, time for part two! You haven't seen anything yet, La-“

“But actually, I was planning to ask you to break up.”

The man checked his ears, quickly splashing his face with the water around him to ensure the wax hadn't affected his hearing. The refreshment didn't seem to have brought him back to reality.

“What did you say?”

“I happen to like someone else at the moment.”

“W-wait, Lara! I'm not sure I can keep up with this conversation.”

“To be honest, we're already dating.”

“ B-betrayal!?!? “

“He even proposed to me.”

“Adultery!?”

“So, I decided to accept it. Unfortunately, after that, he asked us to break up.”

“Divorce?!”

“I'm just not in the mood for any new marriages. I apologize, Kai.”

The pair's excitement was abruptly interrupted, devoid of the thrilling sound of celebratory explosions. The solitary moon emerged as the sole source of light in the area following the unexpected departure of the group of fireflies that once added vibrant colors to the monotony of the region. The party was winding down.

“If it's of any consolation, know that our relationship was perfect while it lasted!” added the woman.

In the absence of clouds, countless drops filled the boy's face, about to be overtaken by the unfortunate liquid. His hoarse voice preceded sentences that could never be spoken in a state of integrity, yet grew deafening in the face of irreparable wounds. 

“Argh!!! There were moments like those that I vowed would never happen again! I'll fix them, Lara! I'll fix every single one of them!!!”

A direct grab at the chest. Kai pressed into the source of all those shattered feelings that came from the sudden contact with his heart.

“What's wrong, Kai? Have you lost your mind?”

After his desperate action, he quickly recovered from the blow, but a sudden change in his expression altered any impression conveyed by his image. The boy's expression became deadly serious.

“Who are you, girl?”

“How cold!”

Disinterested eyes averted from all the beauty around them, be it natural or crafted by humans. Kai rolled up one of his delicate sleeves, directing his forlorn gaze at the watch on his wrist. 

“It's late. It's time to head home. See you later, young lady.”

“Hey, what are you up to?”

The young man dove into the lake's depths with an agile leap just as a competitor began the race. Without looking back, he swam toward the nearest shore, feeling the freezing chill of the late evening water.

Left alone in the boat, Lara tried to understand the latest sequence of events, gasping with indignation at the recurring absurdities.

“You're leaving me here all alone after everything we've been through!”

“Don't worry. One day, the canoe will come back to shore.”

“That's not the issue! Have you lost your mind?”

Heavy footsteps signaled the boy’s return to dry land. Kai's disheveled hair reflected his carefree nature, and his confident stance captivated the distant observer. Cold winds swept the boy away from others.

“Consciousness? That's definitely something I have in abundance. You probably wouldn't get me. After all, it seems like you’re in love with someone.”

“Wow! You look so cool when you're serious! That was awesome!”

❥ ❥ ❥

“That's really annoying!” screamed a young woman.

In the center of a busy square, the angry figure allowed her image to be used in an artist's work. The professional attentively observed the woman, whose complaints took the focus off the production entirely.

Red hair highlighted the heat of growing hatred, added to the chaos provided by the long intertwined strands of someone who seemed never to have been to the hairdresser. At the height of twenty years of frustration, Aimee was the young woman grumbling in front of the talented artist.

“What's with the lack of initiative, kid? Come on, ask me to be your girlfriend!!!-” 

“Girl, I don't understand this situation. Have I done something wrong?” asked the painter.

“You've been staring at me for an hour! How much longer are you going to keep this up?”

“You asked me to create a portrait of you. Isn't it natural for me to observe my client?”

The professional tried to keep his concentration but was constantly disturbed by increasingly provocative conversations.

“Don't give me that! You've been watching me since I set foot in this park!”

“I was painting a landscape when you walked in front of me in strange poses. My hands were about to call the police.”

“P-Police! How rude! This conversation is done! I would never date a loser like you!!!”

“Why did that come off as a rejection?”

Nearby, another man focused on Aimee. Through the camera lens, the world transformed into a dance of light and shadow as the skilled photographer perfectly framed each of the young woman's expressions.

“Hey, you back there! You've been staring at me all day, too! Ask me out soon, you coward!” she pointed at the guy with the camera.

“Girl, you hired me as a photographer. I need to see what's in front of me before I can use the camera.”

Again disappointed, Aimee turned to another man sitting on a bench in the square. The man facing her had long red hair and a familiar appearance. He was even wearing her clothes. Using a mirror, the man seemed to assess his appearance continually.

“And you, you slacker! You've been trailing behind me for a week now! When are you going to pop the question?”

“Miss Aimee, I'm your stunt double, and we’re on the clock.” 

“To hell with your professions!!!”

With long, determined strides, the young woman turned angrily away from her companions.