ABRACADABRA

...Tia. 

No, we decided we preferred being childless forever. 

Izzie: Yay! Thank you! Okay, I've been asking the questions one by one, but I think you'd appreciate a longer-form one-and-done survey. So here you go:

1. In the time since you've made your commitment, have you been intrinsically happier? Y/N. Please explain.

2. Since making your commitment, have you felt like you've lost any part of yourself? ie, your freedom, independence, or identity? Y/N. Please explain.

3. Has your decision caused you to feel ostracized by other people your age, who are not at that point in life yet? Y/N. Please explain.

4. Would you recommend this commitment to other people your age? Y/N. Please explain.

5. And lastly, what is your #1 pro and #1 con about the commitment you've made? Can be as detailed or vague as you'd like.

Izzie: Thanks so much Annie! This means so much.

Annie: 1. Intrinsically? No. But I've never not been happy with Teddy. It's not like I got monumentally happier since I've been married because I reached peak happiness when I met him. Marriage itself doesn't officially make you a happier person, it's the other person that's important.

2. Also no. I've been with Teddy for 7 years so if anything our identities have grown stronger together. We don't stress if one of us is doing something different than the other because we know at the end of the day we're coming home to each other. That's the important part.

3. If anyone is ostracizing me it's because I wear all black and hoodies in the summer, not because I'm married. Teddy's parents like me and I don't talk to my mother. And our friends don't think anything differently of us.

4. I'd only recommend it to people that take it seriously. I don't think you're ever too young to know who you love, but I think you can be too young to understand what actual love feels and looks like. I married my first boyfriend ever, but that doesn't mean I'd recommend it to everyone.

Izzie: Hi! If you've received this text, then I am reaching out to you to inquire about the choice you've made with your life to be in a lifelong, committed relationship. Whether that be a marriage, raising a child, or some other situation. I'd like to ask you some questions for my senior thesis, which is centered around marriage and how those decisions before the age of 25 can affect our psychology.

Izzie: Do you consent to being part of my project?

↳INSTAGRAM @anniedemons uploaded a new photo.

we probably won’t get married a third time...probably @teddymilne

Aw, that’s so cute! Small wedding parties are like, ultra exclusive, it’s like being in a secret club except one that everyone sees and knows about. Speaking of secrets, are like, the deets of your wedding one, or can you like, give a sneak peek of what kind of vibe you’re going for? 

No, it’s not a secret I just haven’t had anyone really ask. Halloween is a very big holiday around our house, so we wouldn’t pass up the opportunity for a Halloween wedding. And costumes are just automatically more interesting than church clothes, so we’d rather everyone dress up in that. And there’s no religious figure marrying us either, I think I’d burst into flames on the spot.

Why even have a second wedding? You guys don’t seem like the party type anyway. I mean, I’ll go, and I’ll wear a costume that steals the show, but I say just take an anniversary honeymoon and call it a day.

We didn’t really have a first wedding, so this is completely different. We were barely outed as a couple when we got married the first time so now that everyone knows we figured we could have a real ceremony. Plus, our anniversary being in the summer was unacceptable in terms of seasons. Don’t get too excited, you were only a courtesy invite. But yes, costumes are encouraged and the bloodier the better. 

Ew, why are you doing all of that like, by yourself? Tia’s way good at this stuff, you should totes hit her up for more help, I bet she’d have like, mega-fun doing it and like, have more fun doing it than she did with Charlie because you won’t try to make bridesmaids wear sneakers. 

She is helping me, but ultimately the decisions are all mine to make. All Tia can do is point me in the right direction. Yeah, I don’t have any bridesmaids other than Tia so I really do not foresee that being a problem. 

Tia: Which is super weird! You're both gorge and nice, that's like the easiest way to have a shizillion friends! I don't know how to not go grand! Especially when it's for someone I love as much as ILY! The most i can do is like...lowkey amazeballs. Yay!!! I cannot believe I get to be a Best Maid and a Maid of Dishonor all in one year!

Tia: I don't always know what every word means. But I'm pretty sure unnecessary isn't the right word?

Tia: Fully getting divorced only to have a super itty bitty wedding is so cray. But I guess thats v on brand for you and Teddy too so like whateves. Also what kind of long lost rich sister do you think I am? You're not spending any money on your wedding! I'D LOVE TO BE YOUR MAID OF UMM DISHONOR(????)!!!!!!

Annie: Either way we haven’t discussed in detail.

Tia: Why? You randomly running into buildings was too scary for Teddy too?

Tia: Gotcha, the weirdest possible option is fully on brand for you guys. But having another wedding so everyone can come is so fun! And I can totes do lowkey! Lowkey spooky scary would be so amaze for you! Unless you want to do traditional????? We gotta go dress shopping ASAP!

Annie: No, it just caused a lot of unnecessary concern so I just want to make sure he KNOWS I’m literally 100% fine before I bring it up again.

Tia: Oh bummer. Also....what even?

Tia: You do know that vow renewals are like...a thing? But omg, YES OF COURSE! You're my sister, I love you and I KNOW you and Teddy aren't going to change your minds at the literal last second. CAN I HELP YOU PLAN IT? I am getting so many ideas for you already 🤯

Annie: Yeah, the whole getting caught in a fire kinda put a damper on the whole pregnancy thing.

Tia: YOU'RE PREGNANT! YAY! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!

Annie: No, not pregnant. Sorry. Actually Teddy and I got divorced!