Love conquers all

"Why are there traces of dried tears on your face?

The rain had stopped when Valerie entered Mr. Aston's street, and the child was there as usual.

Valerie smiled.

"Aston, my friend! No, my little friend."

Aston smiled.

"How are you?"

Valerie sat down on the bench next to him.

"I'm not alright," she said softly.

"I'm sorry to hear that, but why aren't you alright?" Aston asked affectionately.

"The pains of the past also make the present sorrowful," she said, taking a deep breath.

"You won't understand."

Aston nodded.

He seemed wiser than his age. Sometimes Valerie felt like he had lived many lives.

"How do you remain so calm?" Valerie asked, changing the subject.

Because sometimes children of this age are more engaged in play.

"When I was born," he said with a smile.

"I mean, everyone is born, but when I was three years old, my mother left me. I didn't live here then, my father used to come to the village far away to meet us."

He was silent for a few moments.

Then Valerie asked,

"So that's it! When mother left, father brought me here. My father is a joker," Aston's voice softened.

"I see," Valerie nodded.

"So my father wants to hide this from everyone. They don't want my school friends or neighbors to know that I'm the son of a joker."

"What's wrong with that, Aston?" Valerie was surprised.

"Nothing special, it's just that my father thinks it's not a good thing."

Mr. Aston peeked out the window of the room

and took a deep breath.

"Lazy girl! Those who talk nonsense never have a future."

"Oh, madam, you're in trouble," Aston laughed and went into his house.

Valerie took a deep breath.

Now she'll have to listen to this all day, "lazy girl"...

--------

"On a night of torrential rain, the priest joined William and Mariana in matrimony at the church.

At that instant, angels with white wings offered prayers for their protection.

William grasped her hand firmly and said,

"Lord, keep them together until eternity."

The priest closed the holy book, and the congregation prayed for the success of their union.

Edward, seated on the right side of the front pew, gazed at his beloved daughter with tears in his eyes. Many memories flashed before his eyes,

and he recalled the day William stood silently in his garden.

It was a sweltering day, and Edward was gathering dry leaves when he noticed William standing there. "You shouldn't be standing in the sun," Edward said, and William replied,

"I need to speak with you."

Edward's hand trembled momentarily, and William gazed at him.

Edward was a handsome man with white hair and a kind face.

He smiled and said, "You can share anything with me."

William hesitated, then declared,

"I wish to marry Mariana."

Edward was taken aback but remained composed.

"Why you?" he inquired.

William responded, "I offer no guarantee that your daughter will find happiness with me, but I promise to cherish and care for her."

Edward chuckled and said, "Love emboldens a person. You are intriguing and charming."

He rose from the sofa and stepped outside, saying,

"I shall discuss this with Mariana, her mother, and brother."

William's mother, Karen, sat on the left side of the front pew, appearing displeased.

She averted her face and muttered, "Our family and social standing are incompatible with this girl! What's wrong with William?"

William's father, Wilson, overheard her and laughed.

"You should rejoice that your son has found his love," he said.

Karen glared at him angrily and said, "You are always content, but I am not."

Wilson replied, "I am a kind person, and my partners are always happy with me, except for you." Karen turned away and gazed at William, who was smiling at the priest's words, still holding Mariana's hand. She then looked out the window at the trees swaying in the wind.

A memory flashed before her eyes. "William, my son! How long will you remain angry with me? You haven't spoken to me for a whole year. Your behavior hurts me."

"What pain?" William responded harshly.

"You are drifting away from me, and that's the least of my concerns." Karen grasped his hand tightly and said,

"Mother, please consent to my marriage to Mariana, for I desire no one to be unhappy when I begin my new life." William's eyes brimmed with tears, and the raindrops on the church window seemed to reflect his sorrow. Karen said,

"You are dearer to me than my own life, and I shall never forgive you for causing me sorrow for an entire year."

The church was enveloped in dark clouds."

The dark of the evening had fallen when Mariana saw William standing at the church door.

Everyone had left, and in the sacred silence of the church, they were holding hands, watching the gentle rain falling.

"I'm happy that we are together,"

Mariana said with a smile. William moved closer to her and lovingly said,

"Not just you, I, God, the holy Mary, and Christ, all are very happy. Look!" William gestured towards the inside of the church. In the painted image on the wall, the holy Mary was holding a little child, and angels in white robes were praying for protection around her. Mariana's white gown fluttered in the gentle breeze. The soft sound of the light rain was very soothing.

"God is with those who love from the heart. God is merciful," William said, holding the raindrops in his hand.

"We will always stay together, no matter what happens. We will always trust each other, William."

"Yes, always!"

"Let's establish some principles," William said enthusiastically.

"What principles?" she asked, surprised.

"Like, if I ever get upset, you will make me happy, and when you are upset, I will make you happy," said William.

"Yes, I will do the same. And one thing, William, if I ever get upset and don't want to be appeased, you should bring me white flowers," she said.

"Alright, after that," William asked.

"You should remind me of those moments by giving me those white flowers, the moments when we were together. Until I am happy and embrace you," Mariana said, feeling shy.

William chuckled, "I promise you, I will never let you be upset with me," he said with loving eyes.

"We should go home," Mariana said, wanting to reach home before the rain intensified.

"You are in a hurry, Ms. William, to go home," William said mischievously.

Mariana laughed,

"Because I don't want to fall ill from the cold on the first day of our marriage." William chuckled and said,

"Let's go, Ms. William, I am your servant."

They both stood drenched in the light rain with twinkling eyes.