30 July 2012
-TIFFANY-
"Are you ready?" Will said to me, linking his arm through mine. "Just about. Thanks for doing this" I said, kissing him on the cheek. "Not a problem. I'd like to say I was more suitable for the role than he is anyway. Now, are you sure about all this? I have to ask, because there's still time to--" "Will, I'm certain this is the right thing. I love Nate" "Almost as much as me?" he joked. "Hmm almost!" I said, hugging him. "I can't believe my baby girl's getting married before me!" "Bleh! Just because you're filling in for him doesn't mean you have to pretend I'm your daughter!" I protested, as he wiped a fake tear from his eye. "You two! Cut it out! We need to go in there. You're getting married, remember?" Mollie said, growing slightly tense. "It's okay! Calm down!" "I never thought Mollie would be more nervous than you at your wedding!" Will joked, which was greeted by a playful punch from Mollie. "Go! Now!" she said, as the music started playing, shoving Will gently forward. I managed to make it through the door, ceasing my laughter as I was visible to everyone, and as soon as I saw Nate turn around, all the laughter stopped anyway. Instead, the wide mouthed grin I'd been sporting, following my brother's foolishness, was wiped away, and replace by a bashful and overwhelmed smile, that spread slowly across my lips until I was beaming in ecstasy. He matched my expression, but his was more in awe than anything else. I walked as slowly as I could, crushing the desire to run straight for him and to embrace him. I felt the eyes of the onlookers on me, but I continued staring straight forward. It was almost as if I'd put my blinkers on, before beginning a race towards my goal: Nate. I felt towards my ring finger once more, knowing this would be the last time it was without a second ring. I ran my finger along it, registering the fracture under the surface, remembering back to that day when everything went wrong. And as I continued down this walk of faith, I found myself envisaging every memory Nate and I had shared together; from the first time I'd kissed him to the few seconds before I was comatosed; the way he looked at me at prom when I descended the staircase, the way he'd proposed, the look on his face when he realised when we were having a child; the way he reacted when he found out about the miscarriage, and the way he's supported me everyday since. Then I finally saw images of the one person I wanted to be here more than any other member of the audience: my aunt. But these thoughts all faded away when I realised I was finally approaching Nate. Mollie was still walking behind me, and so were my three other bridesmaids, but they began to trail off into their positions alongside the alter as Will lead me towards my future husband. "Good luck" he whispered to me "I'll always be here, I love you sis" "Love you too" I said, hugging him tightly before he turned to Nate and shook his hand. Nate smiled gratefully at him, before his gaze met mine. His grateful expression was swapped for what I can only describe as a look of love. His eyes were melting as he studied every inch of my face, before glancing down at my beautiful dress. "You look so perfect" he said, taking my hand in his, before we took the leap of faith into marriage.
-NATE-
"We are here today to witness the union of Tiffany and Nate" the priest began, holding an aged book in front of him. I looked across at Tiffany and breathed in every inch of her dress; pure titanium white. It was made entirely of silk, that ran from a sweetheart neckline tightly across her torso, until it splayed out into a small meringue skirt which wasn't too overdone but it certainly wasn't minimal. The whole dress was embellished with small pearls and diamonds that sparkled everytime she shifted positions, Above the neckline was two pieces of white translucent chiffon that passed from each part of the neckline up over her shoulder and pinned at the bottom, creating a sexier take on the shoulders of a dress. Her hair was lightly curled so it fell in waves past her shoulders and half way towards her chest, where it bounced whenever she took a step. Her hair had various small strands pinned back with the same small pearls on hair clips, which were helping to pin on her veil which is just pulled off her face to reveal her silly smooth and even complexion, glowing with happiness. There was the tiniest indication she was wearing makeup: her eyelids were a rich creamy gold colour, and her eyelashes had small amounts of eyeliner and mascara on them. She looked so natural though, as if she could have easily woken up looking this perfect, and I knew that most mornings she did. As the service continued, I didn't pay much attention. I just gazed at my bride through my peripheral vision, taking in every moment of her presence alongside me. "Nathaniel, do you take Tiffany to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the priest said, making me snap out of my day dream and turn to Tiffany. I gazed into her eyes, which were beaming with happiness, a few tears threatening to fall. "I do" I said, after this pause. As I said so, her eyes welled up, and I found it appropriate to place my hand on her cheek and wipe them away. "And Tiffany, do you take Nathaniel to be your lawfully wedded husband?" "Yes, I do" she said, "Nathaniel, please repeat after me: I Nathaniel" "I Nathaniel" I said, still capturing this girl's gaze in mine. "Take you, Tiffany" "Take you Tiffany to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse" I repeated, pausing to think after this last statement. She looked at me in the same way, and understood why I'd stopped. I'd started to think of the baby, and as I tried to clear that thought from my head, I remembered the picture in my pocket. I hoped no one but Tiffany and perhaps the priest would notice if I pulled it out and held it against my leg, almost hoping for her presence at the wedding. "For richer and for poorer" the priest prompted. "For richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part" I said, still feeling miles away. I barely heard Tiffany repeat those same vows, and I was only brought down to earth when she grabbed my hand and squeezed. "Does anyone know of any reason why these two should not be wed?" "Their relationship started as an affair. Does that count as a reason?" a male voice suddenly spoke from the back of the audience. "What? Please be quiet, unless you know what you're talking about" Mollie snapped to Jeremy, who'd just entered the church. "Actually Mollie, it's strange you try to defend them. It involves you too" "What?" she said, turning to us. "What is he going on about?" I looked at Tiffany, who's eyes were wide and panicky. Her expression proved that it was too late to make something up now: the truth was the only option.
Love You Too: PART SEVENTY FOUR • Opuss № I