The clock showed 9:45 AM.
Emma and Marcus stood in front of the state registry office. The office was simple. A 2-story building. Pale white color. Old trees in front that were not well maintained.
This wasn't a nice place to get married.
But it was a legal place to get married according to state law.
Emma wore her black work uniform. The neatest and best outfit she had. But still, this was work clothes, not a wedding dress.
Marcus wore a gray suit and black pants. Marcus looked like someone who just came from a business meeting.
No one looked like newlyweds.
They didn't talk to each other. They just stood in front of the state registry office door. Waiting for 10 AM.
Emma felt nervous. Nervous like there were butterflies in her stomach. Butterflies flying back and forth at full speed.
Marcus looked calm. Calm like he was waiting in a line at a bank. Calm like this was just a normal thing.
"It's already 10," said Marcus.
Emma didn't know if he was just mentioning the time or if he wanted to go inside.
They entered together.
The waiting room of the state registry office was small. There were a few chairs. A desk in front. A door leading to the processing room.
The officer was a woman in her 40s. Her face looked bored. Like she had seen thousands of engaged couples.
"Name?" asked the officer without lifting her eyes from the computer.
"Marcus Harrison and Emma Claire Wilson," answered Marcus.
The officer finally looked up. She saw Marcus and Emma.
"Is this the couple we're waiting for?" asked the officer.
"Yes," answered Marcus.
The officer looked toward the door. "Mr. Thomas has arrived. He's waiting inside. Please come in."
They entered the processing room.
The room wasn't large. There was just a long table. Chairs on the sides. And posters about marriage law stuck on the walls.
Mr. Thomas was already there. Mr. Thomas wore a formal suit as usual. Next to him was Mr. Thomas's secretary. Her name was Patricia. Patricia was a woman in her 30s. Smiling warmly as always.
"You've arrived," said Mr. Thomas warmly. "Let's begin."
The state registry officer entered. He was a man in his 50s. His face was serious but not stiff.
"Let's begin the marriage process," said the officer. "Please prepare the documents."
Marcus and Emma handed over their documents. Driver's licenses. Social security cards. Letters stating they had never been married. All the necessary documents.
The officer read through all the documents carefully.
"Well," said the officer. "Everything is complete. It's time for the marriage ceremony."
The officer read some articles from state marriage laws.
The officer spoke in a monotone voice. Like he had read these articles thousands of times.
"Does Marcus Harrison consent to take Emma Claire Wilson as his wife?" asked the officer.
Marcus glanced at Emma briefly. Then he answered, "Yes, I consent."
His voice was flat. No emotion. Like he was answering a test question.
"Does Emma Claire Wilson consent to take Marcus Harrison as her husband?" asked the officer to Emma.
Emma felt everyone looking at her. Mr. Thomas. Patricia. The state registry officer.
Emma felt her heart beating very hard.
This was an important moment. The moment when Emma would say yes.
Emma thought about Lily. Lily's surgery. The money Emma would get.
"Yes," answered Emma in a small voice. "I consent."
The officer read more articles. About the rights and duties of husband and wife. About shared property. About children.
But Marcus and Emma weren't listening anymore.
They only heard a distant voice. A voice coming from the officer's mouth. But not entering their ears.
Then it was time to sign the documents.
Marcus signed in the section for the husband.
Emma signed in the section for the wife.
Patricia signed as a witness from the wife's side.
Another state registry office employee signed as a witness from the husband's side.
Mr. Thomas watched. Mr. Thomas didn't need to sign because there were already official witnesses from the office.
The officer also signed.
"Congratulations," said the officer. "You are now officially husband and wife in the eyes of state law."
The officer gave the marriage certificate to Marcus. The certificate was white. Printed on thick paper.
Marcus took the certificate with little expression.
When they left the room, Mr. Thomas and Patricia hugged Emma.
"Congratulations on your marriage, Emma!" said Patricia cheerfully.
Mr. Thomas extended his hand to Marcus. "Congratulations, Marcus."
They shook hands.
"Thank you, Mr. Thomas. For everything," said Marcus.
"No problem. This is my job," answered Mr. Thomas. "Now you're officially married. The marriage certificate will be ready to pick up tomorrow."
"Okay, sir," said Emma in a soft voice.
They all left the state registry office.
In front of the office, there was a space that was slightly larger. It looked like a small yard.
Patricia took a camera out of her work bag.
"Let me take a photo for documentation," said Patricia. "As a keepsake."
Emma and Marcus stood side by side. Marcus didn't embrace Emma. They just stood next to each other.
Patricia took their photo.
"Try another one. Closer together," suggested Patricia.
Marcus placed his hand on Emma's back. Just on her back. Not intimate. Not warm.
Patricia took another photo.
"Good," said Patricia. "This is a good photo."
But the photo wasn't good.
The photo was of two people standing side by side. Two people who didn't look like a newlywed couple. Two people who looked like business associates forced to take a photo together.
Mr. Thomas looked at the photo.
"You are now officially married," said Mr. Thomas with a slight smile. "From now on, you are husband and wife."
Emma didn't know what to answer.
"Yes, sir," answered Marcus. "Thank you again."
Mr. Thomas gave Emma a small envelope.
"This is the first payment from our contract," said Mr. Thomas to Emma. "150 thousand dollars. I've already transferred it to the account that Marcus provided for Emma."
Emma opened the envelope. Inside was a bank check. A check for 150 thousand dollars.
150 thousand dollars.
A lot of money. Money Emma had never had before.
Emma felt dizzy. Dizzy from suddenly having so much money.
"Before tonight, that money will go into Emma's account," continued Mr. Thomas. "Since today is a holiday, it might arrive tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Mr. Thomas," whispered Emma. Her voice was barely audible.
After Mr. Thomas and Patricia left, Marcus and Emma stood alone in front of the state registry office.
They were married. Officially. In the eyes of the law.
But they didn't feel like a couple.
Marcus looked at Emma.
"Now we have to go to my house," said Marcus. "We have to take your things from home. Then move to my house."
"Now?" asked Emma.
"Yes. Now."
Emma wasn't ready. But she couldn't say no.
"Okay," said Emma.
They went to Marcus's car. A black BMW car that was very luxurious and frightening for Emma.
Emma got into the car.
The car was clean. Smelled like expensive perfume. Inside the car was very quiet.
Marcus drove. Marcus didn't talk. Marcus just drove focusing on the road.
Emma sat in the passenger seat. Emma glanced to the side. Looking at Marcus who was focused.
Marcus looked like a machine. A machine running a program. A program that was already set.
The machine had no heart.
Emma thought: was Emma now part of that program?
They arrived at Emma's house around 11 AM.
Emma's house looked very small compared to Marcus's car.
Marcus got out of the car. Marcus looked at the house with an expression Emma couldn't read.
"Your house is small," said Marcus.
"Yes," answered Emma. "This is what we can afford."
They went inside the house.
Lily was inside. Lily was playing with toys in the living room.
Lily saw Emma and Marcus come in together.
Lily stood up. Lily looked at Marcus with curiosity. Lily had never seen Emma's boss at home before.
"Sister! Who is this?" asked Lily.
"This is a coworker of sister's," answered Emma. Emma couldn't say "this is sister's husband." Because that would be too complicated.
"Oh," said Lily. "Hello, uncle!"
Lily was still using child language. Lily called Marcus "uncle" as a child would.
"Hello," answered Marcus. Marcus didn't smile. Marcus just said hello.
Emma looked at Marcus. Emma wanted Marcus to be warmer. But Emma couldn't tell Marcus what to do.
"Lily, sister has to pack her things. Sister will move to a new house," said Emma.
"Move? Where?" asked Lily in panic.
"Sister will live in a new house. A bigger house. For you and sister."
Lily looked sad.
"But this house? Our house?" asked Lily.
Emma had to make a decision.
"We will still pay for this house. So this house is still ours," explained Emma. "But sister and Lily will sleep in a bigger house. A nicer house for Lily."
Lily didn't look happy. But Lily didn't protest.
Emma started packing her things. Not much. Just some clothes. Some personal items. Old photos.
Marcus just sat on the sofa. Marcus didn't help. Marcus just watched.
Emma felt uncomfortable with Marcus's presence in her small house.
Emma's small house felt even smaller with Marcus's presence.
Everything felt unreal.