“You refused to take no for an answer and demanded a chance. It was the biggest risk of my life going on that first date with you, but it’s one I’ll take a million times again. You swept my feet from under me, and I’ve been soaring ever since.” Emotion overwhelms her, and she takes a moment to regain control. Lifting her eyes back to mine, she continues with a quivering voice, “You are my strength. You are my every heartbeat. You are the only one I worship. I will follow you to hell if that’s what it takes to be with you because there’s no one I love more.”
David clears his throat. “Tristan, do you take Hana to be your wedded wife, to live only for each other? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?”
My eyes are locked on Hana’s as I answer, “Yes. I do.”
The easiest answer I’ve ever given.
“Hana, do you take Tristan to be your wedded husband, to live only for each other? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him, for as long as you both shall live?”
Hana nods, and swallowing hard, she says, “I do.”
David takes the wedding rings I had made for us from his pocket and holds them out in the palm of his hand.
I pick up Hana’s wedding band, and she takes mine.
“We’re doing this together,” I say, and holding my left hand out to Hana, we slip the rings on at the same time.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” David smiles at us. “Congratulations. I’ll be at the car.” He’ll take us back to the resort where we’ll sign the marriage license in front of him and another witness. Hana can have the biggest reception when we get home, but this moment was meant for just the two of us.
The second David steps away from us, I yank Hana to my chest, and then I kiss my wife with every fiber of my being.
When I finally end the kiss, I smile down at her. “My wife.”
Hana begins to cry, and burying her face against my neck, she whispers, “My husband.”
Wrapping my fingers around the back of her neck and my arm around her waist, I hold her tightly, giving her time to process what just happened.
When she pulls back, she covers her mouth with her hands, gasping, “Oh my God. We just got married.”
I begin to laugh, and then my eyes land on the rings on her left hand.
“Us until the end,” I murmur as I pull her back against my chest.
“Even then, I’ll find you in the next life,” she says, making my heart burst with love.
“You won’t have to.” Framing her face and nudging her up so she’ll look at me, I wait for our eyes to lock. “I’ll already be waiting for you.”
The End.