Maria Would do Anything for Love

All Maria had ever wanted was to fall in love. To find someone who was her whole world, and she theirs. She pined over the romance stories she edited as a freelancer, swooning over the passion of star crossed lovers and forbidden romance. Oh, she had had her fair share of partners, lovers, and one night stands. But nothing that she would call ‘love’. All of that changes tonight, Maria thought to herself for the hundredth time. Tonight, I will find the one. She nodded at her reflection in the mirror, adjusting her purple-tinted hair and adding some finishing touches to her makeup. She grabbed out her cellphone and dialed her sisters number, engaging the loudspeaker as she put on her shoes and gathered her purse.

“Sarah!” Maria squealed before she even had a chance to say hello. “Are you ready? It starts in twenty minutes!” She fastened the clasp on her heels, cursing her false nails as she fumbled.

“Ah… about that sis. I can’t make it tonight.” Maria could almost hear the guilt in Sarah’s voice. “I got a last minute job interview, they want me on a video call in five minutes. Please don’t be mad at me?” her voice took on the pleading, babyish quality that they would use as children when they had annoyed one another.

Maria sighed. “Come on Sarah! There is more to life than work. You need to come out and have some fun! And who knows, Mr. Right could be at the event tonight!”

“Pfft. Yeah, right. I am sure he will be waiting there on a white horse, ready to ride me into the sunset. How are you so optimistic? You have tried every dating app, every speed dating service. Remember that drug addict you almost moved in with? You are so eager to fall in love that you ignore all the red flags and get screwed over. Every. Time.” Sarah emphasized the last two words, remembering how concerned she was when Maria had been taken in on drug possession charged and she had to bail out her frivolous sibling.

“This time is different!” Maria refused to be discouraged. “They are using that new neuro-tech. All of the applicants memories are scanned, and they find your most compatible match. Prince charming is just a brain scan away!” Maria twirled in her red dress, bought especially for tonight.

“Maria…” Sarah’s voice was strained, “You know that technology is still experimental. Not to mention expensive. How are you paying for this anyway?”

“Oh, I got another loan,” Maria replied nonchalantly. “I will be able to pay it back after I complete my next editing job. It’s no big deal.”

Sarah had long since given up trying to help Maria manage her finances. She lived job to job, spending money as fast as she could make it. But her bills were always paid, and Maria had always managed to find a way to dig her way out of an emergency. Sarah moved the phone away from her face for a moment and rubbed her temples.

“Well, good luck sis. I have to get online for this interview. Let me know how it goes, okay?”

“Good luck to you too! I hope you get the job!” Maria ended the call and danced out the door to the waiting cab.

***

‘True match applicants this way’. Maria followed the sign outside the brightly painted building, admiring the plush carpets and decadent decorations. Inside, a group of people all dressed in their first-date best were milling about enjoying the champagne and canapes. Maria adjusted her dress and walked in confidently, immediately scoping out the possible candidates for her future true love. Most were already making small talk in pairs or small groups, but one man stood off to the side looking shy and uncomfortable. He wore a basic pair of dark jeans and a purple button-down shirt. His hair was jet black, cut short and looked as if it had been styled by his mother. But what stood out to Maria was his eyes. A piercing green gaze that thinly veiled a look of vulnerability. He scanned the room, sipping on a glass of water and shifting nervously. Maria's heart went out to him, the only person standing alone in a crowd of happy people. Maria approached him and lent against the wall beside him.

“So,” she said casually, “do you come here often?”

The man looked confused for a moment, and then he began to laugh. “Well, that was certainly the cheesiest, most cliched opening you could have gone for.” His voice was mellow, and matched Maria’s humor.

“What can I say? I’m a sucker for the classics.” Maria smiled and held out her hand. “I’m Maria. Freelance editor and hopeless romantic.”

“David,” he responded, taking Maria’s hand and giving it a small shake, “Office lackey and socially inept. Good to meet you.” His laugh was nervous this time, and looked down into his drink rather than meet Maria’s eyes.

Maria brushed off his ‘socially inept’ comment. She was an expert at bringing people out of their shell. “So, what are you in for? Hot trophy wife, cute little side piece, true love?”

David gave Maria a sidelong glance, then shifted his gaze to his feet. “Actually, my mother signed me up.” embarrassment rolled off him in waves. “She thinks I need to ‘meet a nice girl, settle down and have kids’ as soon as humanly possible. Obsessed with becoming a grandmother, that woman is.”

Maria laughed, “A mommy's boy are we? That’s okay, mothers love me.” She met David’s gaze, a teasing smile on her lips.

“Well, that will depend on this neuro-tech won’t it? We could both end up paired with any random person in this room. Our ‘perfect match’ according to some AI database.” He scoffed at his own mention of AI. “Honestly I would rather be alone for life than paired up by some computer program, but my mother wouldn’t get off my case until I agreed to at least give it a try.”

Maria thought for a moment, torn. She had just met this man, and like so many in the past she liked him immediately. It had never ended well for her before, although she tried to convince herself differently. Why am I so easily enamoured, she thought to herself furiously. I came here to have the choice taken away from me, so I don’t fuck it up again. Now I am considering asking this random guy to get out of here with me. No, she told herself firmly, I came here to try the program. To be paired up with my perfect match. I won’t…

Her thoughts were interrupted by David clearing his throat and looking at her while ringing his hands. He met her eyes, and she could see a mixture of hope and despair in his expression.

“Look, this may sound ridiculous but… Do you want to get out of here? Maybe try a normal date?” His voice was barely above a whisper. “If we hit it off, we can go on another. If we don’t, then no hard feelings. I can tell my mom that I tried the program and it wasn’t for me, and you can try the program again next month. I’ll even pay for it for you.”

Maria looked at David, her expression unreadable. Thoughts swirled around inside her head, her impulsivity battling against the memories of every failed attempt at love. David shifted uncomfortably, his eyes still hopeful as he waited for Maria to respond. Finally, she nodded.

“Alright,” she blurted out, “Let’s go.”

David looked surprised. “Really?” he asked, “Just like that?”

“What can I say,” Maria grinned, “I am the queen of impulse decisions. But I do have one condition - dinner is on you. After all, I am giving up a once in a lifetime chance to meet my true love. You owe me big time.”

David returned her smile. “Right,” he agreed, offering her an arm and walking her out of the building.

***

Maria threw herself onto her bed with a happy sigh, relishing in the aroma of the fresh batch of flowers that had been left at her door. Her first date with David had been fun, if a little awkward, so they decided to go on another one. And another after that. Now, six months later, they had met each-others families and spent every spare moment they had together. Sarah, the protective older sister that she was, had been dubious at first. She thought Maria was up to her old tricks again, jumping into the arms of the first guy to flash her a smile. She still harbored memories of Maria’s last ‘boyfriend’, a drug addict who had almost roped Maria into substance abuse. Her impulsivity had led her down a rocky path, her mindset “one time won’t hurt”. Sarah had managed to talk her sister into leaving him before she went to a party with him, where three of the attendees had overdosed. And now here was David, a random stranger that she had skipped out of a very expensive program with. How could she trust someone she didn’t know so quickly? Sarah was sure Maria was being manipulated in some way. However, her opinion had quickly changed when she met David over dinner at Maria’s house. Sarah had seen how infatuated they were with one another. How much he cared for and respected her, and the positive impacts he had already had on Maria. She quickly embraced David’s presence in her life.

David’s mother had welcomed Maria with open arms, complimenting her purple hair and tattoos. She didn’t judge Maria, but embraced her. They hit it off right away, talking through dinner until David had to practically drag Maria out of the restaurant. They began stopping in for dinner almost every week, and Maria would always bring David’s mother a copy of the latest romance book she was editing, or a sample for an upcoming series. They brushed of the comments about getting married and starting a family with the promise of “one day”.

Maria picked up the card that was nestled in the flowers and read it excitedly. ‘Meet me under the maple tree on top of the hill at Pleasant view park. 5pm SHARP. Don’t get distracted by your TV show again.’ Maria giggled as she remembered how she had turned up to one of their date nights dishevelled, makeup half done, after falling into the rabbit hole of a new romance series. David had scolded her lightheartedly, telling her she was still as beautiful as ever. He never let her live it down, and teased her relentlessly. She sang in the shower as she got ready, put on her (and David’s) favourite floral dress and skipped out the door to meet the surprise that awaited her.

***

The sun was setting as Maria climbed the hill, puffing slightly at the effort. Then, she was rendered breathless at the sight before her. The maple tree was draped with fairy lights, a picnic rug laid with her favourite snacks and bottle of wine. David stood in wait, two glasses in hand and the wind tousling his hair. He smiled as soon as he saw her, and gestured her forwards. Maria took a moment to appreciate the view, her heart full of joy, then ran to his arms. David knew to put the wine glasses down before they would be broken from Maria’s dramatic leap into his arms. Their bodies met with a thud, knocking them both over in a mess of giggles and tangled limbs.

“What’s the special occasion?” Maria asked slyly, “Don’t tell me you are proposing already. I know I’m awesome, but it’s only been six months.”

David grinned back and gave her a playful shove. “I’m not that desperate, you know.” he teased. “But it is a special occasion.”

Maria looked back quizzically, wondering what he had planned this time. Last time he had surprised her, she had found herself sprawling over the ice in a skating rink. David had barely been able to contain himself as he watched her clinging to the guard rail, terrified out of her mind. He eventually swooped in and held her hand like one would a toddler taking their first steps.

“Well, no time like the present.” David took a deep breath. “Maria, the last six months have been the happiest of my life. I had no idea what I was getting in to, leaving that trial with you. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. So, I thought tonight I would… well…”

“Spit it out you goofball,” Maria folded her arms expectantly.

“I love you Maria,” David blurted out. “I am utterly, completely and fully in love with you. I know it’s only been six months, but I needed to tell you. I wanted to make it special, but if it’s too much we could…”

David’s words were interrupted as Maria’s lips crashed against his. When they finally came up for air, Maria looked at David with tears in her eyes.

“I love you too, idiot.”

***

“Happy fourth anniversary my love,” David swung Maria in his arms as he returned home from work. “I have a surprise for you.”

“As usual,” Maria grinned, remembering the previous three extravagant anniversary dates. Booking a whole cinema for the two of them to watch Maria’s favourite movie, a dinner at the fanciest restaurant in town, and even skydiving. David had clung to Maria that day, scared out of his whits as Maria cackled like a lunatic. She had laughed the whole way down, both from the thrill and from the sound of David’s dramatic screams as he came down beside her. She had comforted him after, telling him she finally had payback for the ice-skating incident.

“I'll need you to put this on,” David stated mysteriously, holding up a black velvet blindfold.

“Oooooo, kinky,” Maria grinned, laughing at her partners awkward expression. David tapped her playfully on the rump as he turned her around and secured the blindfold, leaving Maria in complete darkness.

He guided her to the car, smacking her hand whenever she attempted to sneak a peek. After a short drive and what felt like an endless walk, he told Maria to stand and wait. She was left with strict instructions not to touch the blindfold until she was told. Maria tapped her foot with mock impatience, a grin plastered on her face. I wonder what it is this time, she mused. An escape room? Maybe dinner on a yacht? I could really for for some lobster right now.

“Okay, now.” David’s voice was soft, hesitant.

Maria ripped the blindfold off and looked around. Her hand sprang to her mouth when she realized what was happening. They were back under the maple tree at Pleasant View Park. The fairy lights were back in the tree, twinkling in the growing twilight. The picnic rug was laid out just as it had been almost four years ago. Only one thing was different. Instead of standing with wine glasses in hand, David was down on one knee. He held an open box, a diamond sparking on a white gold band.

“Maria Clifford, will you m…”

“YES!” Maria squealed, tackling him to the ground and plastering his with kisses. “Yes,” she repeated more calmly. “Nothing would make me happier.”

Without getting up off the ground, David fumbled around for the box and slipped the engagement ring onto Maria’s finger. Then they sat, watching the sunset with their picnic and wine. Maria had never felt so happy, so special and so loved. She snuggled against her fiance’s chest, admiring her engagement ring. Her heart swelled with emotions, overflowing from her eyes in tears of joy.

“You have made me the happiest woman in the world,” Maria sighed as David’s arms wrapped comfortingly around her shoulders. He reached over and gently tilted Maria’s chin into a passionate kiss.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

***

“The mem-dream implantation was a success. We re-wrote from the day before the incident and replaced the last four years. You can access the transcript of the events from this drive.” Sarah was handed a small plug in drive.

“We will leave the program to run overnight, then we will unplug the life support at 9am tomorrow morning.” The doctors’ voice was gentle as she delivered the news and left the room, gently closing the door behind her.

Sarah’s lip trembled as she looked down at Maria’s comatose body. For four years she had held out hope that her sister would finally wake up and have the opportunity to turn her life around. She didn’t want to believe that the drug overdose that had put Maria in this condition was her last conscious action on this earth. Two teardrops landed on Maria’s cheek, and Sarah dabbed at them delicately with a fresh tissue.

“Damn you, Maria,” she sobbed, placing her head on Maria’s barely moving chest, “you never did know how far was too far. You had so much love to give, you just never gave it to the right people. I hope you find some peace in my final gift - the dream you always wanted. You’d better appreciate it, it cost me a fortune.” Sarah laughed darkly as fresh tears welled up in her eyes. She stood, her hand lingering on Maria’s. “Dream well.” She kissed her sister gently on the forehead and went to fetch the doctor.

All Maria had ever wanted was to fall in love. As the machine continued its long, monotone beep, she died with the faintest hint of a smile on her lips.