Hey guys, sorry I haven't updated really recently. And sorry as well, the chapter today is a little short. Will try to update soon so I don't leave you hanging again. Hope you like the chapter. :)

I took a look over at my dad, who was sitting next to my mom, his hands over hers as she was lost in an inescapable sleep. Mom had another heart attack, it was unheard of for someone to have another so soon. His eyes were bloodshot and he had dark circles living underneath them. I had never seen my father so torn, so upset. If I hadn't known my father so well, I wouldn't have been able to make out that he kept muttering, "Please don't leave me. I need you." to my mother. Small sobs racked his large body, he rested his head in their intertwined hands.

"Daddy?" I whispered. He looked up at me, his face stained with old and new tears. A couple tears fell down my face, but the second I hit my father's lap, I started sobbing, "I don't want her to go, Daddy. I need her."

"I know, my darling, I know," he cried. His hands still with my mom's, he squeezed me in between them. "I don't know what I'd do without her."

We sat together, crying with each other, not knowing how else to express our emotions.

Once our eyes ran out of tears to shed, and we calmed down a little, I told my dad, "I don't know how much longer I can hold out this Selection dad."

His eyes fell even more, if at all possible. "We have a deal, Eadlyn. Three months. You have to try-"

"Because I know who I want to marry." I blurted out.

He stopped talking and mumbled, "Oh."

"I don't want to have to worry about anyone else anymore, daddy. I just want to be his."

"Who is it?" he asked nervously.

"Kile." I said, looking down. This was incredibly awkward. I knew that someday I'd have to talk to dad about marriage, but the circumstances right now were not what I imagined to go along with them.

"I see. The boy you 'can't stand and hope that he falls off a cliff." He joked. There's my dad for you, even in the worst of situations, he knew how to make me smile.

"I was so young when I said that dad!" I exclaimed.

"That was only four months ago." he said. A small giggle escaped my mouth and he gave me such a weak smile that I thought he would shatter into a million pieces. "You have my blessing." I smiled and squeezed him tighter. I couldn't ask for a better dad in the whole world.

Two days later

I walked into the hospital, seeing my dad with my mom. Naturally, his hands were closed around hers, his mouth near her ear whispering words of wisdom. "Mom?" I asked, my voice wavering. She looked over at me with such a weak smile that it felt like my heart would be the one to shatter.

Her eyes were so dark against her pale, sickly skin. Her usually fluorescent hair was dull, dead looking. This was not my mom. This was an imposter. My mom was beautiful, strong, independent. "Hi honey." she croaked. I ran over to her and cried in her lap. I hated seeing my mom this. She was supposed to be the strong one, now I was. She brushed my hair, soothing me with small hushes.

"It's going to be okay." she whispered, rocking me in her arms.

"No it's not, Mom." I cried. "You're in the hospital, you've had two heart attacks and you're not even old. Nothing is okay."

"I know. I know, baby. But it is going to be okay. No matter what happens." She said calmly, her usually melodious voice now weak and strained.

"Mom. I already talked to Daddy, but I'm going to propose to one of the Selected soon. And by soon, I mean in a few days." I said.

"Oh darling, I knew Kile was the one!" she said, a small burst of energy flowing through her.

"How did you know?"

"How could I not know?" she said warmly. I buried myself in her arms, not getting enough of my mother.

"Mommy," was the only thing I could say. Maybe because I didn't know how much longer I would have to call her that.

Three days later

I walked around the gardens, waiting for Kile to show up. My hands were white and clammy, there were billions of nerves rushing through my body and brain as I tried to comprehend what I was about to do. I paced back and forth, questioning whether or not I should do this. Cameras were being set up, ready to capture the moment it happens. I saw Kile walking down the garden path. I quickly stopped pacing and smoothed out my lavender sundress. Everything had to be perfect.

He smiled that crooked and dorky smile at me as he greeted me for a hello kiss. It lasted longer than I expected, his sweet mouth moving up and down against mine as we embraced each other. He left me breathless, standing by only the support of his arms. "Hello to you too." I whispered.

"How's your mom?" he asked softly, his lips not but a centimeter from mine.

"Better. She's awake...she's just...not well." I left it at that. "But I don't want to talk about that. Not today."

He nodded and stole my lips one last time. We then walked down the garden paths, enjoying each other's silent company before I said, "Kile?"

Cameras around us zoomed in and clicked. I swallowed hard before saying, "I love you."

"I love you too, Eadlyn." he said, lifting our hands to his lips for a gentle kiss. "I wish there was some other way to show you or tell you."

"I know exactly how you feel. I don't feel like three words could ever suffice as a way to show you how much love I have for you. So maybe two words will work. Marry me?" I said quickly. Nerves shook my body as he stopped walking. I searched his eyes, finding so many emotions. I couldn't pinpoint the one he was really feeling.

I felt so exposed, as if every barrier I had ever built around myself for protection was knocked down with two simple words. He put his hands on his forehead, covering his eyes, causing my stomach to drop to my feet. Oh no. It was too soon. I knew it was too soon.

He removed his hands quickly and looked me straight in the eyes, "You stole my line." His lips were on mine so fast I could barely comprehend it. I melted into his arms, which were wrapped around my waist and the other around my back. He held the back of my neck as I laced my fingers into his hair. Relief washed over me like a tsunami, all the regret and pain gone and lost forever. "Yes," he breathed, "A thousand times yes."

I laughed, my lips still dangerously close to him, letting tears roll down my cheeks. I cried in his arms, laughing all the while. He lifted me off the ground and laughed with me, spinning me around in circles. These tears weren't ones because of sadness. They were because I was so happy, I didn't know how else to react. I hadn't realized how much I needed and craved love when I didn't have it. But when I got my first taste, I couldn't have enough. It was a hunger that was never ending, a fire that never stopped burning inside me. The flames of our love were setting a fire so big inside me I could barely survive. But I wouldn't want anything else.