HOME | DD

Description
We ran down the road a little, took some turns. Then we came to a beautiful gray stone house, complete French doors opening to a balcony on the second floor. We walked up the drive, and as I looked around I noticed that there were tons of other houses around- houses that looked exactly the same.
We were in the Victor's Village.
"Um, Cato..." I began, but we had reached the front porch, the door had opened.
A oddly large-muscled woman stood there, glaring at Cato like he'd brought a stray dog home. But she said nothing about me, didn't even acknowledge that I was there.
Then, she finally spoke.
"Bring the girl inside. Then we need to talk," she said it sternly, no emotion on her face but pursed lips and small, severe-looking eyes.
Cato's hand still hadn't left my wrist, and he grabbed it tighter as he led me into the house and up the stairs. I was exhausted, it was clouding my thoughts, so all the rooms sort of blurred together until we reached one and he opened the door. It was a standard bedroom- dresser with a mirror, bed, bedside table.
He let go of me, and I crossed over the room to the bed. All I wanted was to sleep.
"Hey Clove?" he said, standing in the doorway.
I was tired and all I really wanted to do was cry. My mom was gone. How was life supposed to keep going? Why is everyone functioning perfectly fine, while my world completely crashes down and flips around all because of one man?
"Yeah?" I said quietly.
"It'll be okay," he said, looking straight into my eyes.
I didn't have anything to say, so I just looked down.
"I hope," I murmured.
He closed the door, and I let the tears fall.
END FLASHBACK
I was still staring at him, my mouth hanging open a bit in shock. Cato stood up from the ground, and walked over to me. His eyes were so desperate, like he was hanging on to every second, every feature of my face.
Then it hit me. Cato wanted to marry me. My face broke into a smile, and I all but leaped into his arms. He picked me up, and spun me around, one hand holding me up and the other holding my head to his shoulder.
I started crying before I realized it. I began choking on sobs and I pulled my head back from his shoulder and looked at him.
"Yes! Yes, I'll marry you, Cato," I said, smiling with tears streaming down my face. His face lit up, his smile wide and genuine. He leaned in and kissed me, still holding me. I was crying of pure happiness, and he smiled against my lips.
He pulled away just enough so that our foreheads touched. He looked up into my eyes.
"I love you. I love you so much," he said, and the intensity of his voice made me sob harder. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he stroked my back.
When he spoke, I could hear slight laughter in his voice.
"Shh, Clove, it's fine baby, calm down."
"I..can't!" I said, done crying.
"Why not?" he asked.
"I...just...I love you!" I said, knowing I wasn't making any sense.
He laughed.
"I love you too, Clove. I love you too."