Andrew thought Maribel was the smartest person he had ever met and was terrified of making a mistake in front of her. 

Maribel thought his black and white water bottle looked cool. 

Maribel and Andrew met in graduate school during an in class project. Andrew was terrified to talk to her until he found out they knew some of the same people and eventually Andrew worked up the courage to ask her to a platonic dinner. 

The dinner was a series of talks he had with people he met in school and wanted to know better. It centered around being an unfilmed talk show that always contained James Lipton’s version of the Proust Questionnaire from Inside The Actor’s Studio. Maribel was the first to reply and the only one to follow his needlessly specific rules. 

Their first dinner went on for hours until it was night time.

It was months before Andrew would reach out to meet up again over the summer. After a few friendly coffee hangouts, Andrew asked Maribel to dinner again, and it would be the last time he was nervous how she would answer. 

 

***

 

One thousand, one hundred and eight days later and three hours into the drive down California One, Andrew pulled over to use the restroom and checked the breast pocket of his coat. When Andrew emerged, Maribel asked if he wanted to check out the waterfall nearby. 

Feigning ignorance Andrew agreed and Maribel discovered the recently reopened McWay Falls. As Maribel gazed at the water falling into the Pacific, Andrew got on one knee. 

Maribel said yes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bride

1. What is your favorite word? Panache 
2. What is your least favorite word? Tender
3. What turns you on? Daydrinking on vacation
4. What turns you off? Performative social justice
5. What sound or noise do you love? The popping of a bottle of champagne
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Loud sneezes
7. What is your favorite curse word? Bitch
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Cultural critic
9. What profession would you not like to do? Morgue attendant
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Shantay, you stay

The Groom

1. What is your favorite word? Fair
2. What is your least favorite word? Loser
3. What turns you on? People who get excited about things
4. What turns you off? People who are dismissive
5. What sound or noise do you love? Chopped onions hitting oil
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Glass breaking
7. What is your favorite curse word? Farts
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Movie producer
9. What profession would you not like to do? Paramedic
10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Welcome! Everything is fine.