Long Live Us
Fifty-Four
My hands are starting to sweat and my heart is pounding so hard I could hear it in my head. In just a few short moments, they would open the doors. Dad keeps sending me glances, making sure I'm ready to do this and also to remind me that it's almost go time - as if I could forget. After a life time of waiting, the door opens, but I can't see Stella anywhere. Instead, Aubree comes out with Tom. They both look happy, Aubree of course looks like the princess she's always been made out to be. I flash them a smile as they take their places. Even though Aub looks great, she's not the woman I'm waiting to see. No, I only care about Stella.
A few moments later and the song starts.
I stand up as straight as I can, tilting my head slightly to see over the crowd who is now on their feet to watch Stella reveal herself. I inhale a deep breath, waiting, waiting.. Finally, she comes into view, and oh my God, she is perfect. My mouth hangs open for a moment, my head trying to think of any time I've ever seen her more beautiful than this, but there is none. The only thing that can come close are those lazy mornings when she first rolls out of bed, confused and messy, gorgeous with no effort. She locks her eyes on my own, making my heart swell with joy as a foolish grin comes to my face. I'm smiling so hard it hurts, but I'm just so... Happy, about the woman walking my way, knowing that she will be mine forever.
Stella takes her place, once she manages to slip away from Alex. Aubree attempts to hand her some cards, but Stella turns them away, instead focusing on me and only me. She starts to speak, words that make me laugh and words that make me realize how lucky I am to have found her. By the time she's done, I'm wiping tears from my eyes. Now it's my turns, so I start by saying exactly what I'm thinking:
"How did I get so lucky?"
Stella sniffs, a smile coming to her lips, and I could my dad and her own laughing gently from their seats, but I don't care. No one else is here but Stella - she's the only one my heart can see.
Speak, Jack.
"Stella," I reach over and grab both of her hands, making sure that her eyes are looking straight into mine. "First of all, you look stunning. Absolutely flawless. You are the most beautiful girl in the world, I don't tell you that as often as I should. Secondly, it's not just your dress, or your hair, or your make-up that makes you flawless. It's that look in your eyes, the smile on your face, the way your emotions take a toll on every single person in the room. You just have one of those personalities that sucks everyone in, just like you did with me."
You're getting off track, Jack. Stop being the guy with the short attention span!
"I remember when we were kids and you were so upset because Tom and I could both ride a bike without training wheels and you couldn't," I chuckled, earning a laugh from Alex as well. "You wanted your dad to teach you and I remember being so disappointed that you didn't have that kind of trust in me, but now I understand it. We were both too young to focus on more than one feeling at a time, and honestly, I think that's something you've never grown out of. That's one of my favorite things about you, Stell. When you feel something, you feel it so hard it almost hurts, that's how I know you love me, that's how I know we're meant to be. My life wouldn't be the same if you didn't fall asleep in my arms, if your heart beat wasn't my lullaby. I wouldn't want to wake up in the mornings if you weren't going to be there when I rolled over. Everything you are is the best part of my day."
She blushed lightly and looked away from me. Crap, I need to stop rambling and marry this girl already.
"Now we have this precious little girl, our dream jobs, this whole new life to look forward to, together. I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, made some mistakes that I shouldn't have. You are the force that keeps me grounded, even if sometimes your love just makes me want to float away. I promise you, Stell, I will spend the rest of my life protecting you and loving you more and more each day. I will be there whenever you need me, I'll give you anything that I own. I will wipe your tears, I will make you smile and I will never go a single day without kissing you goodnight. You are the love of my life, Stella. You may not have been my first, but you'll be my last, and that's more important anyway."
Fighting the desire to bend down and kiss her right there, I simply gave her hand another squeeze and wiped a tear from her cheek. In just a few short moments, I will be a married a man. I'm the luckiest man alive.
A few moments later and the song starts.
I stand up as straight as I can, tilting my head slightly to see over the crowd who is now on their feet to watch Stella reveal herself. I inhale a deep breath, waiting, waiting.. Finally, she comes into view, and oh my God, she is perfect. My mouth hangs open for a moment, my head trying to think of any time I've ever seen her more beautiful than this, but there is none. The only thing that can come close are those lazy mornings when she first rolls out of bed, confused and messy, gorgeous with no effort. She locks her eyes on my own, making my heart swell with joy as a foolish grin comes to my face. I'm smiling so hard it hurts, but I'm just so... Happy, about the woman walking my way, knowing that she will be mine forever.
Stella takes her place, once she manages to slip away from Alex. Aubree attempts to hand her some cards, but Stella turns them away, instead focusing on me and only me. She starts to speak, words that make me laugh and words that make me realize how lucky I am to have found her. By the time she's done, I'm wiping tears from my eyes. Now it's my turns, so I start by saying exactly what I'm thinking:
"How did I get so lucky?"
Stella sniffs, a smile coming to her lips, and I could my dad and her own laughing gently from their seats, but I don't care. No one else is here but Stella - she's the only one my heart can see.
Speak, Jack.
"Stella," I reach over and grab both of her hands, making sure that her eyes are looking straight into mine. "First of all, you look stunning. Absolutely flawless. You are the most beautiful girl in the world, I don't tell you that as often as I should. Secondly, it's not just your dress, or your hair, or your make-up that makes you flawless. It's that look in your eyes, the smile on your face, the way your emotions take a toll on every single person in the room. You just have one of those personalities that sucks everyone in, just like you did with me."
You're getting off track, Jack. Stop being the guy with the short attention span!
"I remember when we were kids and you were so upset because Tom and I could both ride a bike without training wheels and you couldn't," I chuckled, earning a laugh from Alex as well. "You wanted your dad to teach you and I remember being so disappointed that you didn't have that kind of trust in me, but now I understand it. We were both too young to focus on more than one feeling at a time, and honestly, I think that's something you've never grown out of. That's one of my favorite things about you, Stell. When you feel something, you feel it so hard it almost hurts, that's how I know you love me, that's how I know we're meant to be. My life wouldn't be the same if you didn't fall asleep in my arms, if your heart beat wasn't my lullaby. I wouldn't want to wake up in the mornings if you weren't going to be there when I rolled over. Everything you are is the best part of my day."
She blushed lightly and looked away from me. Crap, I need to stop rambling and marry this girl already.
"Now we have this precious little girl, our dream jobs, this whole new life to look forward to, together. I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, made some mistakes that I shouldn't have. You are the force that keeps me grounded, even if sometimes your love just makes me want to float away. I promise you, Stell, I will spend the rest of my life protecting you and loving you more and more each day. I will be there whenever you need me, I'll give you anything that I own. I will wipe your tears, I will make you smile and I will never go a single day without kissing you goodnight. You are the love of my life, Stella. You may not have been my first, but you'll be my last, and that's more important anyway."
Fighting the desire to bend down and kiss her right there, I simply gave her hand another squeeze and wiped a tear from her cheek. In just a few short moments, I will be a married a man. I'm the luckiest man alive.
Notes
FREAKING AWE.Plus, I'm sorry it took me so long to write this, guys! I'm part of Courtney's writing contest, so I've been working on that as well. Mucho love<3.
11/4/13