10 Minutes While My Girlfriend-s Mother Is Doin... Link

In four minutes, I’ll be a fiancé or a cautionary tale. She emerges. One eyebrow raised. Lipstick perfectly applied — the color of authority.

My girlfriend’s mother. Mary. Retired school principal. Keeps a list of “approved topics for male guests” in her head. Sports. Weather. Real estate. Nothing about emotions, careers that don’t involve a 401k, and definitely nothing about marrying her daughter. 10 Minutes While My Girlfriend-s Mother Is Doin...

I open my mouth.

But here I am. Sweating through my nice shirt. The ring box in my jacket pocket feels like a live grenade. I rehearsed this. In the car. In the shower. At 3 a.m. staring at the ceiling. In four minutes, I’ll be a fiancé or a cautionary tale

But what if she asks me my five-year plan? What if she says, “You’re not good enough”? What if she laughs? What if she just keeps doing her eyeliner in terrifying silence? Lipstick perfectly applied — the color of authority

She sits down across from me.