The next afternoon, a cool breeze flowed through Elizabeth's window. She sat on her bed, flipping through the book Ada had given her. The words about the Keepers and the river's secrets swirled in her mind, but she wasn't really paying attention.
Her phone rang beside her.
She looked at the screen, an unknown number.
She hesitated. Who could it be?
The phone stopped ringing.
A few seconds later, it rang again.
Curious, she picked up. "Hello?"
A deep, familiar voice came through. "Elizabeth, it's Samuel."
His voice was soft, calm.
Elizabeth sat up. "Samuel? How did you get my number?"
"You gave it to me, remember?" He chuckled lightly.
She blinked, then smiled. "Oh… right."
There was a brief silence. Then Samuel spoke again. "Elizabeth, I want to marry you."
Elizabeth almost dropped the phone.
"Wait… what?" she asked, thinking she heard wrong.
"I want to marry you," Samuel repeated. "I know we just met, but last night felt different. You made me feel something I haven't felt in a long time—peace. And I don't want to let that go."
Elizabeth was speechless.
"Samuel, you don't even know me."
"Then let's get to know each other," he said. "I feel like we met for a reason. I don't want to waste time anymore."
Elizabeth's heart pounded. This was crazy. People didn't just meet one night and decide to get married.
And yet… wasn't this what she needed? A chance at love?
"Elizabeth?" Samuel's voice pulled her back.
"I… I don't know what to say," she admitted.
"Say yes," he said simply. "Or at least, say you'll think about it."
Elizabeth exhaled. "I'll think about it."
"Good," Samuel said, sounding relieved. "I'll call you later. Maybe we can meet up?"
"Maybe," she said, her mind still spinning.
"Alright then," Samuel said. "Talk soon, Elizabeth."
She hung up, staring at her phone.
Is this fate? Or am I about to make a mistake?
Elizabeth sat on her bed, staring at her phone long after the call ended. Her heart was racing.
Did Samuel really mean what he said? Was he serious about marrying me?
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She had expected a simple conversation—not a marriage proposal.
A knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Come in," she called.
Boma stepped inside, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Who were you talking to? You look like you just saw a ghost."
Elizabeth sighed, rubbing her forehead. "It was Samuel."
Boma's eyebrows shot up. "The guy from last night? What did he say?"
Elizabeth hesitated, then took a deep breath. "He asked me to marry him."
Boma's mouth fell open. "What?!"
"I know, I know," Elizabeth said quickly, holding up her hands. "It sounds crazy."
Boma sat beside her on the bed. "And what did you say?"
"I told him I'd think about it."
Boma shook her head. "Elizabeth, you just met this guy. How can he already want to marry you?"
"I don't know," Elizabeth admitted. "But something about him feels… different."
Boma gave her a skeptical look. "Are you really considering this?"
Elizabeth sighed. "I don't know. But… what if this is what I need? What if this is how I find true love?"
Boma frowned, clearly worried. "Love isn't something you rush into, Lizzy. You need to be careful."
Elizabeth nodded, knowing Boma was right. But deep down, something in her heart told her that meeting Samuel wasn't just a coincidence.
Her phone buzzed again. A message from Samuel.
Samuel: I hope I didn't scare you. I just wanted to be honest about how I feel.
Elizabeth stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.
Am not ready for this?
She took a deep breath and started typing.
Elizabeth: Let's meet and talk about this.
She hit send.
Elizabeth looked at Boma and said whatever happened next, i know one thing for sure—my life has already changed it's future.