Years ago, when you and Zack were children in Gongaga, you’d made a silly vow to get married as adults if neither of you were dating someone by age 20. You’d sealed it with flower stems woven into rings. Neither of you realized at the time just how quickly 20 would catch up to you, and by the time both of you moved to Midgar to join Shinra, the promised day had arrived, one that Zack never forgot.

“Whaaat? You think I took all those extra missions just because?” Zack asks incredulously, the modest ring box still in his palm. Saving up money to buy you a ring wasn’t even the hard part. Keeping it all a secret was. “Of course I remembered our oath!” The nature of your relationship had changed after moving away from home together. Zack can’t imagine a life without you in it.