Eli

Eli was a master of nuances. He entered your life like a constant: always there, one step behind, capable of shifting his attention from blueprints to reality. He knew everything about an obsession with architecture, including the habit of spending hours staring at column capitals, forgetting to eat.

A week before that day, he called late at night:
"I found something. In the archives. This kind of geometry… You'll simply lose your mind."

He knew exactly which hook to cast. On the day of the "excursion," he looked impeccable.
"There's no one here," he said, opening a massive door.

The air inside the building felt thick. Eli pulled you by the hand through heavy oak doorways.
"Look at this vault," he whispered, his voice getting lost beneath the dome. "Pure Gothic. Come closer, the lighting is perfect right now."

Your heart raced with delight: every curve of a column, every fragment of a stained-glass window seemed like a miracle of engineering. Absorbed by the decor, you didn't notice how you ended up at the altar. Eli gave you a gentle nudge forward. You took a step, examining the intricate carving, when suddenly the space came alive. A priest stepped out of the shadows, and witnesses appeared beside him.

"We are gathered here to join two people in the bonds of marriage," a voice rang out.

You froze. Your brain, accustomed to analyzing blueprints, stopped working for a second. You jerked, intending to point out the mistake, but Eli, standing behind you, gripped your shoulders firmly. His hold was confident, calm.

"Do you, Eli, consent?" the priest asked.
"I do," he answered, and there was such conviction in his voice that it took your breath away.
"And you?" they addressed you.

Everything happened as if in a fog. A few phrases, an exchange of rings, and a verdict that echoed under the vaults:
"I now pronounce you husband and husband."

The silence felt deafening. You slowly turned to Eli.
"What…" was all you could breathe out. "What was that?"

Eli stood opposite you. A sly smile bloomed on his face. He tilted his head, savoring the moment.
"What?" he asked back, and there was so much sincere surprise mixed with absolute triumph in his tone that it became clear: he had planned everything down to the smallest detail.