Chapter Six – Tobias
All I can think is she said yes.
I look up at Tris, who marvels at the plain band wrapped around her finger.
Every moment of the day leading up to this I had spent worrying and over thinking. But now that I sit here with Tris – my love – with the sounds of the roaring chasm around us, and the smell of freshly picked flowers, I know this is right. I've never been so sure of anything in my life, than I am of spending every last day of mine with Tris.
She takes my hand, linking her fingers between mine, moving her thumb along the back of my hand. Then she stands, dropping it, and I watch her take careful steps toward the wall of flowers. She smells one, and closes her eyes.
I stand, and quietly make my way to stand behind her. I think of all the moments burned into my memory that we shared during initiation. I wrap my hand around her torso, pressing it to her stomach, and she freezes, as I whisper,
"Remember, in initiation, when I did this?"
She sighs, turning around in my grasp.
"And when I did this." She responds, taking my hand again, flicking her eyes up to meet mine.
I see a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, which triggers a smile on mine.
"Or how about when I did this?" And I lean in close, so I feel the faint brush of her lips on mine, without fully touching them.
Tris lets out a shaky breath, and breathes in the air I breathe out. Then I lean an inch closer, pressing my mouth to hers, eliminating all space between us by wrapping my arms around her. Her hands slide up to my hair and fold in it.
I step forward as she steps back, pressing her back into the wall behind her.
But then she parts her lips, says something I don't catch, and runs toward the edge of the river where I can't quite see her.
She leans over, and stays that way for a minute, and then recovers, wiping her mouth.
"Tris?" I say, worry cracking my voice.
She drops to her knees, moving her hands to her hair and shaking her head.
I sigh; why is it that she is constantly getting sick?
Tris stands, wipes her hands on her dress, and comes back to where I stand.
"I don't mean to cut our night short," I say. "But I think you need to go to the hospital. Just so we can see what's going on with you."
Tris – being stubborn as she is – starts, "Tobias, no. I'm totally fine, I just –"
"Need to get checked out. I totally agree." I finish for her.
She rolls her eyes, but doesn't argue anymore. I kiss her forehead, take her hand, and lead her back up the path heading toward the hospital.
/
Tris and I sit side by side in a brightly lit, cream coloured waiting room, with a circular desk at the other end of the room. Her hand is limp in mine, as she's relaxed in her chair, and her head on my shoulder. I glance down at our hands loosely twisted, her new accessory flaunting her finger. I begin to think about our future together, and how incredibly amazing it will be with Tris as my wife. My mind wanders, as images of our wedding – us kissing at our ceremony – pop into mind, and us standing side by side, cooking breakfast, Tris wearing a t-shirt of mine that hangs down to her knees. I smile, as more scenes flood my mind. I see Tris lying on our couch by the fire sleeping, her pulling her mouth to mine and kissing me softly.
I can see her holding her stomach as she looks at me with smiling eyes, carrying a child inside her. I had never thought of becoming a father; with Tris now though, I feel like it could be a possibility in a few years time.
"Mr. Eaton?" A low voice says, making me open my eyes – though I didn't realize I closed them.
Tris lifts her head from its place against me and sits straighter in her seat.
"Yes, hi." I say standing and shaking his hand – awkwardly as usual.
The doctor's eyes shift from mine down to Tris, and he nods.
"Ms. Prior can come with me now."
I turn to Tris as she touches her feet to the ground and stands.
"Hey." I say. "You'll be fine, I know it. I'll see you soon." I smile without showing my teeth.
"I know, Tobias. There's nothing to worry about, seriously." She touches her fingertips to my arm, reassuring me. I don't know how she can be so calm, when she's the one who is constantly getting sick.
"I love you." She adds.
"And I love you." I respond, as she drops her hand from my arm, turns her back to me, and follows the doctor down the hall, disappearing around the nearest corner.
As the last bit of her goes out of sight, so do my imaginations of our future together.
I sit back down, feeling restless now that I feel the absence of Tris' head on my shoulder and the silence now that I can't hear her slow breaths anymore.
I'm sure she'll be fine; she probably just has food poisoning or maybe the flu.
But what if that's not the case and it's something much worse?
I slump into the backrest of my chair, and lean my head back and over the edge.
I suppose only time will tell.