Marry Now, Not Later

For my younger boyfriends birthday, I booked out the most luxurious hotel in the city to celebrate.
But when they wheeled out the cake, the spot where Happy Birthday should have been was instead iced with the words, Marry Me.
I thought it was his surprise proposal to me.
I never imagined that the moment he saw it, he would violently flip the cake over.
"Celeste, didn't I promise I'd marry you when you turn forty? What is this? You bring out a cake like this in front of all my friendsare you trying to force my hand?"
Seeing the fury twisting his features, a sudden sense of calm washed over me. I was finally free.
If he was so against marrying me, then I supposed I could just find someone else.
1
The cake sailed through the air and splattered directly across my face. A wave of laughter erupted from the surrounding tables.
Jeffs little protge, Amanda, was draped over his arm, laughing so hard she could barely stand.
"Oh, ma'am, you look just like a sad, wet puppy."
I pulled a napkin from the dispenser and began wiping the cream from my cheeks. "Amanda, isn't it? If I remember correctly, I'm only twelve years older than you. Calling me 'ma'am' seems a little rude, don't you think?"
Amanda was still giggling. "Sorry, Celeste. I guess I just assumed you were at least twenty years older."
"You should really get your eyes checked," I said, my voice smooth as glass. "Because from where I'm standing, I actually look younger than you. All that time in the lab must be taking its toll. Stress does age a person."
Amanda's smile tightened, though she tried to keep it in place.
"Well, I guess thats the difference. My face is all-natural. Not like yours, a masterpiece of science and scalpels."
I laughed, a light, airy sound. "I'm just grateful that at my age, I have the financial means to maintain my appearance. Not everyone will have that luxury when they get to be my age. You, for example."
That struck a nerve. "What's that supposed to mean? Jeff, did you hear what she said to me?"
The sliver of guilt Jeff might have felt for smashing a cake in my face vanished, replaced by irritation.
He slammed his hand on the table. "Celeste, we're talking about you trying to pressure me into marriage! Why are you attacking Amanda? She made a simple mistake with how she addressed you. Do you have to be so vicious?"
"Don't try to change the subject by dragging her into this," he continued, his voice rising. "We need to deal with this stunt you pulled tonight!"
"I didn't pressure you! I didn't change the words on the cake!"
"You ordered the cake. You arranged for the hotel staff to bring it out. Who else could it have been?"
"Then check the security cameras!" I shot back. "This hotel has cameras covering every public space. I guarantee we can find who did it."
At the mention of cameras, Amanda's bravado faltered.
"Jeff," she mumbled, "it was me. I changed the message on the cake."
Jeff stared at her, shocked. "What? Amanda, why would you do that?"
"I just... you and Celeste have been together for seven years. I thought I could give you a little push on your birthday," she said, her eyes welling up with tears. "I had no idea you didn't want to marry her at all. I'm so sorry, Jeff. I messed up."
Her performance was flawless. Jeff's anger melted away, replaced by pure, unadulterated sympathy.
"It's not your fault," he said softly, all his attention on his wronged little protge. "You don't know the whole situation."
He was so busy comforting her, he didn't even glance at his girlfriend, standing there humiliated and covered in frosting.
In that moment, I felt like a complete and utter fool.
I turned without another word and walked out.
2
By the time I got home, there wasn't a single call or text from Jeff.
He probably hadn't even noticed I was gone. Or if he had, he couldn't be bothered.
Jeff and I had been together for seven years.
I was twenty-eight when I met him. He was eighteen, kneeling on the cold floor of a hospital, begging the doctors to save his dying father. The astronomical medical bills had crushed the boy who had just become a man. I was walking by, and he grabbed the hem of my coat.
"Ma'am, please, help me," hed begged, his eyes full of desperation. "If you can lend me the money for my father's surgery, I'll do anything for you. I'll be your slave."
Maybe it was his beautiful, desperate face. On a whim, I paid the thirty thousand dollars for his father's medical fees.
And just like that, he became my younger boyfriend.
When we first started dating, he would hold me tight and whisper, "Celeste, I love you so much. I wish I could marry you right now, but I'm not even legal yet."
When he turned twenty-two, he said, "I haven't graduated yet, and I don't have a job lined up. Wait until I'm twenty-five and my career is stable. I swear I'll marry you then."
Now he was twenty-five, with a stable career.
And he said, "This is a critical time for my career. Just give me five more years. When you turn forty, I promise, I will marry you."
How many five years does a person get in a lifetime?
A storm broke outside, the rain coming down so hard it blurred the world into a grey watercolor.
My phone rang. It was Jeff.
"Hey, where are you? It's pouring out here. Can you come pick me up?"
In our seven years together, it often felt like our roles were reversed. I shouldered all the responsibilities typically expected of a man, while he lived comfortably as my pampered partner.
I braved the storm and drove to the hotel.
When Jeff saw my car, he waved for me to get out.
"I'll drive," he said. "I have to drop Amanda off first, and you don't know the way to her place."
He slid into the driver's seat. Before I could even get in, Amanda had slipped into the passenger seat beside him.
"Celeste," Jeff said, offering a weak smile, "how about I take Amanda home and then come back for you?"
He didn't wait for an answer. He hit the gas, and the car sped away, leaving me standing alone in the hotel driveway, stunned into silence.
An hour passed. Then another. No sign of Jeff.
I finally broke down and called him. "How much longer until you come back for me?"
"Amanda's stomach is hurting really bad, so I took her to the hospital," he said, his voice rushed. "She's on an IV drip right now, and I can't leave her. Just grab a cab and go home."
"How am I supposed to find a cab in this downpour?"
"Then just buy an umbrella from a convenience store and walk. It's not that far. Look, I have to go, Amanda's in pain again."
He hung up.
I stood there, watching the relentless rain, and felt a wave of bitter laughter bubble up inside me. It was at least an hour's walk home, even on a clear day.
By the time I stumbled through my front door, I was soaked to the bone.
I rushed into a hot shower, but it was too late. A fever was already setting in.
I called Jeff. "I'm running a fever. Can you pick up some fever reducers on your way back?"
He just grunted an "uh-huh" and hung up.
I collapsed into bed, drifting in and out of a hazy sleep. When I finally forced my eyes open, the clock read 3:00 AM.
Jeff still wasn't home.
I tried his phone. It went straight to voicemail.
3
A dry, self-mocking laugh escaped my lips. I dragged myself out of bed and poured a glass of hot water. Back in the bedroom, I cranked up the heat, burrowed under two heavy comforters, and finally broke into a sweat. The shivering subsided.
At nine in the morning, Jeff finally walked in.
"God, I'm exhausted," he mumbled, "I'm gonna crash for a bit."
He fell onto the bed and was asleep in seconds, not even sparing me a glance.
"Where's the medicine I asked you to bring?"
Jeff stirred, blinking. "Oh, damn. Babe, I'm sorry. I was so exhausted from taking care of Amanda all night, I completely forgot. But you look fine today. I guess you're feeling better, right?"
He rolled over, and soon, the sound of his snoring filled the room.
I looked at my calendar. There was a lucky day early next month. Perfect for a wedding.
As dusk settled, Jeff finally woke up.
"Celeste, you didn't make dinner? I'm starving."
I was on the couch, watching TV, and didn't respond.
He finally seemed to realize I was angry and trotted over, nuzzling against me like a puppy.
"Babe, come on. Yesterday was an emergency. Don't be mad at me, okay?"
He rubbed his head against my shoulder. "I'm so hungry. I could really go for some of your homemade pasta."
He only ever called me 'babe' when he'd done something wrong and wanted forgiveness.
I pushed his head away, my eyes still fixed on the screen.
"If you're hungry, order takeout. I'm not obligated to cook for you."
Jeff sighed dramatically. "Fine. I'll just go out and eat."
His patience for even pretending to soothe me had dwindled to about three minutes.
After that, we lived like strangers, two roommates who just happened to share a bed.
Two weeks later, Jeff came home with a crowd of his friends.
"Celeste! Surprise! Today is our seven-year anniversary! I invited everyone over to celebrate with us!"
I glanced at the people behind him. They were all his friends. I barely knew any of them.
And of course, Amanda was there.
"Celeste," she said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy, "I heard you've been giving Jeff the silent treatment ever since his birthday. I wanted to come today and clear the air. Jeff was just taking care of me that night because I had a sudden stomach flu. Nothing happened between us. He just sat by my bed all night."
I let out a soft chuckle. "You don't have to protest so much. It only makes you sound more guilty."
Jeff's face immediately darkened. "Celeste, stop picking on Amanda. You know you're the only woman for me."
They had brought supplies for a barbecue and soon the apartment was filled with smoke and the smell of grilled meat.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, someone suggested a game of Truth or Dare.
Jeff lost the first round. Amanda's eyes lit up. "Truth or Dare?"
"Truth," he said.
"Okay, I'm gonna ask," she chirped, her eyes darting mischievously towards me. "Jeff, you and Celeste have a ten-year age gap. Have you ever, even once, thought she was old?"
She leaned in, adding playfully, "You have to tell the truth! I'll be mad if you don't!"
Jeff hesitated for a beat too long before finally sighing. "Yes."
The room exploded with laughter.
Amanda howled, slapping his arm. "Wow, Jeff, you're so honest! No wonder you called her an old crow! I thought you were just saying it because you were angry, but you really think she's old!"
My face flushed hot, as if I'd been slapped. My heart hammered against my ribs.
"You called me an old crow?"
4
Amanda immediately covered her mouth with her hands. "Oops. Did I say something I shouldn't have?"
Jeff took a deep breath. "Celeste, that was just something I said in the heat of an argument."
Amanda jumped in to defend him. "Exactly! You can't take things people say when they're angry seriously."
She grinned. "Hey, maybe we should all call her an old crow a few times. You know, to desensitize her."
And then, led by her, they all started chanting, like a cruel joke.
"Old crow! Old crow! Old crow!"
Amanda's voice was the loudest.
Jeff just sat there, a weak smile on his face, making no move to stop them.
In that instant, I felt like I had thrown seven years of my life away on a stray dog.
I stood up, walked back to the bedroom in silence, and packed my bags.
When I emerged, dragging my suitcase behind me, Jeff was still laughing with his friends.
Amanda noticed me first. "Where are you going, Celeste? You're not actually mad about a little joke, are you?"
I looked at Jeff. He glanced over his shoulder at me, then turned back to his friends.
"Just ignore her," he said dismissively. "She's too old to take a joke."
That was it. That was the final, definitive end to seven years of my life.
The moment I was in the car, I dialed the number of my childhood friend, Kevin.
"I've made my decision," I said, my voice steady. "I'll accept your family's marriage proposal. Set the date for the first of next month. If you have no objections, start planning the wedding."
There was a three-second pause on the other end. "Are you sure you want to marry me?"
"If you don't want to, I won't force you."
"I do! I absolutely do!" he said, his voice suddenly full of energy. "Then it's settled. No turning back!"

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