Angels on the Moon:

Simone’s Notes:

Marriage can be recognized by a state, an organization, a religious authority, a tribal group, a local community or peers. It is often viewed as a contract. Civil marriage, which does not exist in some countries, is marriage without religious content carried out by a government institution in accordance with the marriage laws of the jurisdiction, and recognized as creating the rights and obligations intrinsic to matrimony. Marriages can be performed in a secular civil ceremony or in a religious setting via a wedding ceremony. The act of marriage usually creates normative or legal obligations between the individuals involved, and any offspring they may produce. In terms of legal recognition, most sovereign states and other jurisdictions limit marriage to opposite-sex couples and a diminishing number of these permit polygyny, child marriages, and forced marriages. Over the twentieth century, a growing number of countries and other jurisdictions have lifted bans on and have established legal recognition for interracial marriage, interfaith marriage, and most recently, same-sex marriage. Some cultures allow the dissolution of marriage through divorce or annulment. In some areas, child marriages and polygamy may occur in spite of national laws against the practice.

Not all love has turned corrupt.

There is still hope yet.

Yasmine lay on the bed, looking up at her husband. Steven leaned in for a kiss. He rested his hand on her eight-month pregnant belly. A small shiver of pride ran up his spine. This baby was their creation, a product of their love.

“I love you so much,” he whispered. He already had his future planned out with his wife. Paul was already away at college. It would just be Steven, Yasmine, Malachi, and the baby now. A nice little happy home from them all. He hoped that she would with for the same thing as well.

“I love you too,” she said. Steven pulled her into his arms.

“You don’t know how happy that makes me,” he whispered. Still, he didn’t notice the hint of worry in her voice until now. She noticed the glow fade from her face.

“What’s the matter?” he asked. His wife shook her head.

“It’s nothing,” she said, looking away. Steven turned her face to his.

“Come on,” he said. “Talk to me.” Yasmine couldn’t avoid the needy look in his eyes.

“What happens after the baby’s born?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Live happily ever after, I guess.”

“And then what?”

Steven gave her a strange look. “What brought this on?”

“Things just don’t feel right anymore.” She held up her hand when she noticed the hurt look on his face. “Not with us. We’re fine. I mean in general.”

“What do you mean?”

“Can’t you feel it?”

“No…”

Yasmine shook her head. “Of course you wouldn’t.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

She sighed as she pushed him away. “All I can say is that things will be getting harder around us from now on.”

“What do you mean?” Steven asked.

She shook her head. “That’s all I can tell you for now.”

“Yas…”

“Just do one thing for me.”

“What is it?”

“Please hold me.”

“Yasmine…”

“Please?”

He dropped his shoulders. “Alright.” Steven pulled her back into his arms. His wife took a deep breath.

“Thank you,” she whispered. He kissed her on the top of her head. This wasn’t much, but it would do for now.

“I love you,” Yasmine whispered. He rested his chin on her head.

“I love you too,” Steven said back. He felt so much better as she fell asleep in his arms. Not all love has turned corrupt. There was still hope yet. Luckily for Steven and Yasmine, they weren’t the only ones.