Embracing the Possibilities: Ereshkigal and Ishtar's Moment

"I thought you said this was a good idea?" Ishtar asked as she followed Ereshkigal through the woods.

"It is, I promise." Ereshkigal replied. "I've been to this place a million times and I think you'll like it." Ereshkigal had been dating Ishtar for almost a year now, and she had never seen her smile so often or so openly. She was glad she could do that for her, or she would be.

"How much further? I'm starving!"

"Not far! You're always hungry, right? Anyway, we're gonna have this picnic and then I'm gonna tell you something important, okay?"

Ishtar's stomach grumbled again, but she nodded her head. They were both as light as air, and they floated along the tops of the trees with ease. But soon they came upon a clearing where three trees stood in the center of a small lake. The lake itself sizzled and popped with steam from some hidden source beneath the lake bed. Ereshkigal landed on one of the trees, gesturing for Ishtar to land on the other two. Once both goddesses were settled and enjoying the view, Ereshkigal took Ishtar's hand in hers. "You know how we've been together for almost a year now?"

"Yeah..." Ishtar replied slowly, wondering where this was going.

"Well...you know how we've never really talked about marriage? Or kids? Or anything like that?" Ereshkigal's face grew redder as she spoke.

Ishtar looked at her curiously. "Yeah...why?" She wondered if Ereshkigal had met someone else who made her happier than she did, because she didn't want to lose her. She knew their relationship wasn't normal by any means, but she wanted it to be.

Ereshkigal pulled out a small box from behind the tree she was sitting on and slid it across to Ishtar's tree. Her hands shook as she opened it to reveal what lay inside: A beautiful gold ring with a sapphire in the center and diamonds encircling it all around. "Ishtar," Ereshkigal started before taking a long breath to compose herself. "Will you marry me?"