Perhaps the seemingly endless array of weddings we have attended in the past 6 months inspired me. Perhaps the years of playful sledging, subtle hints and not so subtle threats, and once proud men tumbling like dominoes all around finally wore me down. Or, more likely, I simply felt the time was just right…
On a fine summer’s Sunday, which also happened to be M-A’s birthday, I led her on a bike ride to a mystery location (although the fact that she started leading the way makes me believe she may have figured our destination).
The destination was the University of Queensland’s Great Court; metres from where we first met; where we spent much of our early time together, studying, working, and playing; and surely a beautiful spot in its own right. We shared a picnic lunch on a shaded patch of grass, before I asked M-A if she would like her birthday present. I handed her a poem I had composed in stolen minutes over the preceding week.
I had attempted to have the poem pose the question. Evidently, it was too subtle, for when she had finished reading it, M-A simply smiled at me expectantly. I suspect she realised she may have missed something when I handed her the distinctively shaped box.
But still she made me ask the question. She answered in the affirmative.
