“I will,” I say in a small voice.
“Tell me again.”
I make him wait. His hands grip mine, caging my small fists inside his larger palms. I let the sound of his voice echo through me, hearing it over and over and over again.
Finally, when I can't stand it anymore, I give my answer.
“I will. I will marry you, August Berner.”
I hadn't even noticed people are watching us. All I could see was him. Now as he stands up, everyone breaks into applause, circling us and smiling, congratulating him. Men reach out and shake his hand, but he will not let me go. His hand is covering mine, holding me gently, keeping me close to him.
I never realized exactly how lost I was until he found me. And now everything will be different. I feel utterly complete.