Ethan laughed under his breath, remembering her whacking him."You enjoyed that part too much," he whispered teasingly.
Tara smiled but kept explaining, her voice even softer, more serious.
"And the sacred items... they believe when you exchange them, you're exchanging your burdens too. Sharing each other's happiness and pain for life."
Ethan fell silent.
Something about the way she said it—so quietly, without jokes, without forcing anything made the words feel heavier.
Real.
Tara lowered her eyes shyly, her fingers brushing the edge of the red cloth binding them.
"And the last ritual..." she whispered, "tying us together..."
She swallowed softly.
"It means... our souls are now tied too."
Ethan stared at her for a long moment.
The noise of the world around them—the shouting, the music, the clapping faded into nothing.
There was only Tara in front of him, small and brave, explaining old traditions with such care.
Ethan felt his throat tighten strangely.
