She answered that he had spent the entire day being questioned, ordered around, and shouted at.
She wasn't going to make him explain himself before he was ready.
Daniel looked at her now.
“You didn't ask me anything.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
She smiled.
“Because I knew you'd talk when you could.”
He pulled her closer.
“You were right.”
“I usually am.”
He laughed.
She rested her head against his shoulder.
After a while, she asked, “What happens now?”
Daniel thought.
There were still investigations.
Still reports.
Still policies to improve.
Still people whose cases had never received proper attention.
His work wasn't finished.
But something had changed.
He no longer believed the success of the investigation depended on him carrying every burden alone.
There were other investigators.
Attorneys.
Witnesses.
Community advocates.
Honest officers.
People willing to do difficult work.
He could contribute without allowing the work to consume his entire life.
“I keep doing my job,” he said.
Natalie nodded.
“And?”
He looked toward her.
“And I marry you.”
She froze.
For one wonderful second, her expression became completely blank.
“What?”
Daniel smiled.
“I said I want to marry you.”
She stared.
“Daniel Carter.”
He laughed.
“That's usually how my mother starts a lecture.”
Natalie hit his shoulder gently.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
He reached into his pocket.
Removed a small velvet box.
Natalie covered her mouth.
He opened it.
Inside was a simple diamond ring.
Not enormous.
Not flashy.
Beautiful.
Daniel looked at her.
“I've spent a lot of my life believing I had to be strong all the time.”
Her eyes filled.
He continued.
“You taught me I could be frightened and still be brave.”
She began crying.
“You taught me I could ask for help without becoming less capable.”
His voice softened.
“And you reminded me that life is more than the worst thing that ever happened to us.”
He took her hand.
“I don't know what every future day will bring.”
He smiled.
“But I know I want to come home to you.”
Natalie laughed through tears.
“Yes.”
Daniel blinked.
“I haven't asked yet.”
“I know what you're asking.”
He laughed.
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger.
Then she wrapped her arms around him.
From the kitchen window, Daniel's mother watched.
She immediately began crying.
Then shouted through the glass.
“I knew it!”
Daniel laughed so loudly that the neighbors' dog barked.
For the first time in months, the future felt larger than the investigation.
Not because the past disappeared.
Because it no longer occupied every part of his life.