Two Different Things
Written for the 10_quotes community at LJ, inspired by the quote "What I like and what I need are two different things," from the movie "The Wild Bunch".
"Why are you marrying him?" he asked her as they quietly strolled through the park, her arm tucked securely in his. Her diamond engagement ring glinted in the late afternoon sun.
"Bert," she sighed.
"Mary, darling, you can't marry him."
"But I have to," she said as he led her to a bench. They sat there, her left hand held tightly in his so that he would not have to see the engagement ring she wore on her finger.
"Why?"
"Because you never asked me to marry you," she whispered.
"Would it have changed anything if I had?"
She looked down. "I don't know."
"You know that I love you, don't you?"
"I do," she replied.
"Then why are you marrying him?"
"Because what I like and what I need are two different things," she whispered. "And I need a home when I'm not following the wind. You've made it quite clear to me that you'll only marry me if I can be yours and yours alone."
"I can't help it, Mary. I need you to belong to me and only me."
"If you truly loved me, Bert, you'd marry me even though I couldn't always be with you."
"I do love you," he whispered.
"I know you do," she whispered. "But he loves me too." Gently removing her hand from his, she left him sitting on the park bench.