From the moment I laid eyes on him at the church, to our short walk down the aisle, then our brief encounter at the park while taking photographs, I take every opportunity possible to stare at his handsome face.
Lex has always been beautiful in a masculine way, but today, I have no words to describe how seeing him makes me feel. His presence, even though he’s cautious with his actions around me, still dominates me but in a way I yearn to be owned by only him. Dressed in his black tux, a crisp white shirt with a bowtie to complement his outfit, my thoughts wander off to places they shouldn’t wander off to inside a church.
I feel unholy and ready to be thrown to the gates of hell for thinking about him in a sexual way.
But now, standing in front of everyone, I block out all the noise and listen to only him, desperate for his words.
“They say love is a noble act of self-giving, offering trust, faith, and loyalty…”
Throughout his entire speech, I clutch at my pendant. My stomach flutters as his emotions speak loudly through the words he voices. He raises his glass, and everyone cheers. Adriana stands, embracing him with a tear sliding down her cheek. I memorize his words, every single thing he said.
He said…
It was a challenging road.
But well worth the journey.
And to love like there’s no tomorrow.
Live like today is the end.
The MC announces the final speech for the night as Elijah takes to the stage. Sitting here, I’m unable to focus until unknowingly, I tilt my head to catch a glimpse of Lex.
Emerald eyes shine back at me, blanketing me with all its warmth and love.
And just like that, I know it will be okay.
“First of all, I want to thank you for attending this very special day of ours. Each one of you in this room holds a special place in our hearts, and it has brought us joy to be able to share this with you. I want to take a moment to thank my mother. Momma, you have sacrificed so much for me, and you gave me the strength to follow my dreams. Your love and support will forever be the reason why I am the man I am today. To my poppa, I know you are looking down on us, and as we take a moment to look up at you, just know that I love you and can feel your presence with us. You didn’t miss out, Poppa… you’re right here.” Elijah’s voice slightly quivers, Adriana beside me is drowning in tears.
I pass her the napkin, grabbing my own to dab the corner of my eyes.
“To Andrew and Emily, you have done nothing but welcome me into your home and your family since the first time I met you. You have been with me through my darkest moments, given me the ray of hope that I needed. And now you have given me the greatest gift, the pleasure of marrying your daughter. I promise to spend my life making your daughter the happiest woman alive, but only if you promise to stop nagging about grandkids for a few years.”
Laughter fills the room, both Dr. Edwards and Emily beaming with pride as they listen on.
“To my newly crowned brother-in-law, Lex, I just want to say that I never had any siblings growing up, but had I been given that gift, I’d have wished for someone like you. You are the strongest, most determined person I know. Without knowing it, you have touched so many peoples’ lives and have never let me down. In fact, the only reason why I’m standing here today cancer-free is because of you.”
I wipe the tear which falls down my cheek, the emotions of the entire day too much to hold back.
“To my beautiful wife, Adriana, my best friend and the future mother of our children, you have shown me how to love, shown me how to better myself, and most importantly, you’re my reason for taking each breath. I love you, Adriana. A toast to the wonderful journey we are about to embark upon.”
He lowers his face to meet hers and kisses the tears falling down her cheeks before kissing her on the lips. The applause in the room echoes as everyone cheers the amazing couple.
Lost in my own thoughts, I hadn’t noticed the music filtering throughout the room as Elijah extends his hand like the true gentleman he is and asks Adriana to join him in their first dance as a wedded couple.
With a smile gracing her entire face, she stands and follows him to the dance floor. Like two perfect souls, they sway their bodies to the soft sound as the band sings ‘Unchained Melody.’
It’s their song, and in their perfect moment, I watch in awe as these two people have finally become one, and I was there from the beginning. Memories of them meeting for the first time at our local football game, the way Adriana would talk endlessly about him, and the way he looked at her, not like your normal high school boy. It truly was love at first sight. It’s like a happy ending to a movie you spent a lifetime watching, and so I sit back and watch, willingly holding back more tears wanting to escape.
As the song almost reaches the end, the inevitable is near, and that feeling which buries itself in the pit of my stomach has tangled itself into a large knot riddled with nerves.
The MC finally announces the wedding party is to join the bride and groom as Bryan Adam’s ‘Everything I Do, I Do It For You’ begins to play.
I can do this.
I have to do this.
Lex is by my side almost immediately. Placing my hand into his, it shoots through me again, that wild jolt of electricity which reminds me why it has always been him. But this time I don’t flinch, my body craves it so very much.