When our fingers touched, something tender unfurled slowly inside me.
I looked up at him and smiled, knowing there was nowhere else in the world I would rather be.
Around us, our families gathered—Jack’s, Elle’s, Liam’s.
Elle stood nearby, my best friend, my maid of honour, her eyes already shining as she took the bouquet of lilies from my hands. She looked stunning in her lavender dress, standing beneath the beautifully decorated lattice arbour adorned with flowers, greenery, and soft linen drapes.
Everything was perfect.
The priest began, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Jiya Flores and Cole Harris.”
I looked at Cole.
He mouthed,I love you.
My chest squeezed.
I was pulled back to the night I had spent alone, angry and broken, standing in a quiet church with no one around.
How could you do this to him?I had cried.How could you take him away from me? I was finally happy. He was finally happy. Why are you doing this?
And then…
That whisper.
It’s not the end, Jiya. This is just the beginning.
I had turned around, searching for someone—anyone—but there had been no one there.
Now, standing here, looking at the man I was about to marry, I finally understood.
Thiswasthe beginning.
No matter how much time we had.
I mouthed back,I love you.
“Now for the vows. Jiya…”
My hands tingled as I held his.
“I, Jiya, take you, Cole, to be my husband. To love and to hold from this day forward. I see these vows not as promises, but as privileges.”My chin trembled, but I didn’t stop.“I choose to live with you… as your lover, your companion, and your friend… loving you when life is peaceful and when it is painful.”My vision blurred slightly.“I promise to be there with you every step of the way… every day, every minute, and every second. I love you. And that’s the beginning and end of everything.”
I looked up at him.
His eyes were moist, glistening in the fading light.
And he smiled.
I smiled back, even as tears threatened to fall.
“Now it’s the groom’s turn. Cole…”
“I, Cole, take you, Jiya, to be my wife, to love and to hold from this day forward. Whatever time I have left, I want to spend it with you. You are beautiful inside and out. I vow to kiss you every day as we do today. I vow to love you from today until my last breath.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
“I vow to love our children and spend every waking moment with them. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that I pledge myself to you till death do us part.”
