when she still lived in montreal, she would help me over the phone with the database problems. i was handling all the rma's, registrations, and mail for the company. at the time, we were only 38 people. a third of those were developers, another third tech support, and the rest of us were the sales people, administrative peions, and executives.

we were always flirting through email or on the phone. i had never met her, but we had a kinship that was instantaneous and solid.

i actually forgot that she was going to be visiting the austin office. i had been so excited about it the weeks prior, but that day i was preoccupied with the album and what needed to get done in the studio. when i came in, i heard everyone in the back sales office. they had spilled out into the hall and were talking and laughing. there was a voice inside the office. a voice i recognized. she was here.

i poked my head around the corner and she smiled as she turned to look at me. only one thought filled my head.

i'm going to marry this girl

the large prismatic stone glared off her left hand.

i'm still going to marry this girl