Marriage, Commitment, and Fear

After We Collided

Tessa and Hardin’s disagreement about marriage reveals different meanings of security, freedom, and lifelong commitment.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Tessa’s Expected Future Tessa’s Expected Future from "After We Collided". Tessa’s Expected Future A planned life Tessa leaves home imagining a stable path through college, a career, and eventually a committed family life.

Tessa’s Expected Future from "After We Collided". Tessa’s Expected Future A planned life Tessa leaves home imagining a stable path through college, a career, and eventually a committed family life.

Tessa’s Expected Future A planned life Tessa leaves home imagining a stable path through college, a career, and eventually a committed family life. Hardin disrupts the plan Her relationship with Hardin changes the future she expected, forcing her to decide which parts of that plan are truly hers.

Hardin Rejects Marriage Hardin Rejects Marriage from "After We Collided". Hardin Rejects Marriage A blunt answer Hardin tells Smith that he never wants to marry or have a baby with Tessa.

Hardin Rejects Marriage from "After We Collided". Hardin Rejects Marriage A blunt answer Hardin tells Smith that he never wants to marry or have a baby with Tessa.

Hardin Rejects Marriage A blunt answer Hardin tells Smith that he never wants to marry or have a baby with Tessa. Tessa hears finality He means to reject the institution, but Tessa hears that he has not imagined a future with her at all.

Tessa Explains Security Tessa Explains Security from "After We Collided". Tessa Explains Security The real issue named Tessa tells Hardin that she does not demand immediate marriage, but she does want him to take her future…

Tessa Explains Security from "After We Collided". Tessa Explains Security The real issue named Tessa tells Hardin that she does not demand immediate marriage, but she does want him to take her future…

Tessa Explains Security The real issue named Tessa tells Hardin that she does not demand immediate marriage, but she does want him to take her future seriously. A question of mutuality She is asking for shared planning, not surrender. The distinction exposes how often Hardin mistakes her needs for an attempt to control him.

Natalie’s View Natalie’s View from "After We Collided". Natalie’s View A different example Natalie describes her engagement as an honored commitment to the person she wants beside her.

Natalie’s View from "After We Collided". Natalie’s View A different example Natalie describes her engagement as an honored commitment to the person she wants beside her.

Natalie’s View A different example Natalie describes her engagement as an honored commitment to the person she wants beside her. Hardin considers another model Her words unsettle Hardin’s belief that marriage can only lead to disappointment, but he does not immediately promise Tessa the future she wants.

A Future Still Negotiated A Future Still Negotiated from "After We Collided". A Future Still Negotiated Seattle and England collide Tessa’s opportunity in Seattle conflicts with Hardin’s wish to return to England.

A Future Still Negotiated from "After We Collided". A Future Still Negotiated Seattle and England collide Tessa’s opportunity in Seattle conflicts with Hardin’s wish to return to England.

A Future Still Negotiated Seattle and England collide Tessa’s opportunity in Seattle conflicts with Hardin’s wish to return to England. Love cannot make the choice alone Their relationship requires negotiation that neither has completed. The question of marriage is part of a larger issue: whether they can make room for two futures.

Before she begins college

During the babysitting visit

After the eleven-day separation

During Hardin’s return from England

Near the ending