I'm just a boy, standing in front of a girl

Today was long overdue. It felt like years since Pyrrhic and Riva had had any meaningful alone time together. Sure, she'd been by his side when he'd been sick but mopping up a loved one's vomit wasn't exactly quality time. Her work had been tireless and unending for seasons and to top it off, she'd been pregnant or mothering for the most of it. Now more than ever Pyrrhic was convinced that Riva had been a literal godsend. He owed her a great deal.

A trek through the desert probably wasn't what she had in mind when he'd asked her to come away with him. Hopefully what he had in store would make up for it if she had been secretly disappointed by his choice. He didn't know if Riva had ever been to the oasis but he was hoping she hadn't. If she had she would know what was up ahead. If she didn't, by now she was probably wondering why he had drug her out into the middle of nowhere.

Panting hard, he said, "We're almost there, promise." In the distance he could just barely make out a line where he thought the oasis was located. It was no more than an inky, shimmery smudge at this stage, but Pyrrhic was fairly certain he knew what he was looking at.