Lost

Five.

Once we were deep in the woods and far, far away from the city, I decided to ask him something that's been on my mind. It might be overstepping a bit, but I kind of didn't care. His relationship with Karina is so confusing to me.

"So, you're engaged to Karina?"

He glanced at me. "Yes, why do you ask?"

"Do you want to be engaged to her? Or at all?"

"My life has been planned since birth, Aston."

"Not quite answering the question."

"When I was younger, I imagined all of the ways I could propose. I didn't want it to be something I was forced to do, I didn't want it to feel arranged. Now, in a weeks time, it'll be announced and it's been nothing like I thought it would be."

"Kind of sounds like you wished you weren't engaged."

"Karina's great. She's been a good friend to me and to my family, but if I had it my way, no. I wouldn't be getting married yet."

"Grant, do you love her?"

"I have love for her, yes."

"But are you in love with her?"

"What do you mean?"

I laughed and shook my head. "I mean, is she someone you want to spend the rest of your life with?"

"I haven't given it much thought, to be honest."

"You've known you were going to be marrying this girl from a young age, right?" He nodded. "Was she the one you imagined doing the grand proposal for? Was it her face you envisioned?"

He thought for a minute. "No. It wasn't."

"Was it anybody's?"

"No."

I nodded. "I don't think you want to get married."

"I think you're right."

"You shouldn't have to get married if you don't want to."

"Unfortunately, that's how it is."

"Maybe it doesn't have to be. Isn't there something else you'd rather do? Anything else?"

"Nothing that I can think of."

"I can think of something."

"What would that be?"

"I think you want to travel more. You've said before that you've never really gone outside Matin, maybe you should start branching out."

"I can't abandon my family."

"Who says that's what you're doing? Shouldn't you be seen in these other kingdoms? It might help build and strengthen the relationships with other rulers and people."

He smiled. It was very small, but it was there. "I can take you anywhere you want to go in Matin. I wouldn't even need a map and I could create a map for anyone that needed it."

"But it's not enough, is it?"

"No. No Aston, it isn't enough, but I can't do that to my family. My mother would be heartbroken. Karina would be heartbroken. I can't abandon all of my obligations just to chase some childhood fantasy."

"Let me guess, that's something your mom has said before."

His brows furrowed. "I... think it might be."

"Wouldn't your father want more for you?"

"Should we discuss something else?"

Clearly I hit a nerve. "Sure," I sighed. "What do you want to talk about?"