My Beloved

He only needed her. She had to stay alive, healthy, and happy and he could die to keep her like that.

They had this mutual understanding.

Even if they didn't tell each other "I love you" frequently or show affection in front of others, they knew what their partner was thinking.

Their love was expressed with action – caring, affection, trust, desire, peace, and friendship.

However, never in his life had he thought that she would attempt suicide if he was gone.

This recklessness surely could be done by her.

However, something about this tugged at his heart string and he didn't know what to say.

His beloved, who never expressed her love properly, showed him her most vulnerable side. She made him realize that he was the most important existence in her life.

How could he not love her deeply?

When he thought about a life without her, he knew he would choose the same as hers.

He simply couldn't live a life without her. 

Wasn't that the reason he ran after her to get her back?

He suddenly felt helpless.

"We can't live without each other, can we?" Mo Yuan asked her.

"We cannot," Han Luo declared. "If I die before you and I see you with another woman, I'll come back to earth and torment her until she leaves you. I can't let other women have you just because I'm gone."

Mu Yuan chuckled. "That's so like you."

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The train finally stopped and they went out. Both knew a bit of Russian. Using that knowledge, they talked to the locals. Mo Yuan was able to detect a church.

Looking at the young tourists, the priest asked, "May I have your ID? I'm sorry I cannot oversee a marriage between0 a couple who might be less than eighteen."

"She is eighteen. I'm twenty," Mo Yuan told him.

When the priest still hesitated, Han Luo stepped forward and begged, "Please Father, we don't have much time. There is a group of people chasing after us. They might kill my fiancé and force me to marry a middle-aged man. Our parents are in London. We can't even ask for help. Please help us!"

Droplets of tears fell from her eyes as she pleaded. Her innocent face with sorrowful expression was irresistible.

The priest wavered. He observed the young couple more. They did seem like they were being chased by someone. Finally, he gave in to their pleas.

He let out a deep breath and said, "Very well, I'll marry you two. Since you came for my help, I shall believe in you. God will be the witness. You may fool me but you cannot fool Him as He knows everything. Do you need some time to think about it?"

"No!" both Mo Yuan and Han Luo replied in unison.

"Just make it quick," Han Luo added.

"Let's proceed then." The priest opened a book and started to read, "Mo Yuan and Han Luo, have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?"                 

"I have."

"I have."

"Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?"                     

"I am."

"I am."

"Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"

"I am."

"I am." Han Luo's voice shook as she replied. Mo Yuan noticed it but didn't say anything.

The priest looked at Mo Yuan and asked, "Mo Yuan, do you take Han Luo to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honor her all the days of your life?"

Mo Yuan replied, "I do."

Afterward, the priest turned to the bride and asked her, "Han Luo, do you take Mo Yuan to be your husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and to honor him all the days of your life?

Han Luo glanced at Mo Yuan. She was nervous. He squeezed her hand and slightly nodded. Feeling assured, she replied, "I do."

She could feel her heart beating so fast that it could get away from her ribcage. She firmly held his hand.

Mo Yuan was no different than her. Although he regretted that he couldn't give her any fancy wedding in this situation. He always wished to give her the best.

"Repeat after me," the priest said,

Mo Yuan did as he was instructed, "I, Mo Yuan, take you, Han Luo, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

Han Luo did the same, "I, Han Luo, take you, Mo Yuan, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

The priest asked the groom, "Mo Yuan, do you take Han Luo for your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

Mo Yuan deeply gazed at Han Luo's black pearl-like eyes and answered, "I do."

The priest then turned toward the bride and asked her the same, "Han Luo, do you take Mo Yuan for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do." Tears tickled her eyes but she held back her tears. She didn't want to shed tears on this occasion.

Both took off their engagement rings in advance. Since they had no other rings with them, they wanted to use their engagement rings as wedding rings.

Afterward, the priest said a blessing over the engagement rings.

Mo Yuan placed her ring on her ring finger and announced, "Ah Luo, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Right after that, Han Luo placed his ring on his ring finger with her trembling hand and announced, "Big brother Yuan, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

The priest declared, "Now I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."