Time stood still when Maeve appeared in the doorframe. I couldn’t ever have prepared myself for what my Dark Fairy would look like in white. The only way I could describe the way I felt in that moment, seeing her right now, was humbled. Her beauty brought me to my goddamn knees.
The dress was simple, elegant, and conservative apart from a toe-to-thigh slit that revealed her sweet leg to me with every other stride she took. I was breathless. The satin dripped down her body, a sheen sweet like melted ice cream. Though there was little light, the dress somehow shone. Maybe the light beamed from her face. I’d never seen a smile quite like it.
It was even better than the one I’d promised her I’d give her. It was one I hadn’t even realized I had the power to give.
She seemed to float toward me. Her cheeks were bright pink, blushing from all the attention. Most especially mine, I imagined. My gaze had never been so ravenous.
I took her hands in mine, and we faced each other. I’d never really cried before. I’d come close. But staring into Maeve’s big brown eyes, my own stung and grew tight with emotion. How far we’d come to get here.
Koa began to sing a cappella, a Hawaiian wedding chant. “Onaona ka hala me ka lehua, He hale lehua no ia na ka noe…”
His voice, though on pitch, was not beautiful. It was raw and came from a place deep within, like the Earth’s first man calling out for someone to love. His chant filled the temple and echoed around us, elevating even further the epic feeling of this moment.
He finished and translated. “This is the sight for which I have longed. Now that you have come, love has come with you. We are gathered here today…” He dropped his head. Paused. Lifted it. “Before I move on, can I just get some appreciation for the fact that we are. Gathered. Here. Today?” His voice boomed in the space.
Jasmine was first to holler and whoop. The rest of the crew followed, and some of the random Uyu-goers who’d stayed to watch the ceremony joined in.
“Drake and Maeve invited us all here to this untamed place to show us how important their love is. For love to exist between two people, each person needs to allow themselves to be vulnerable. Allow the fear of giving love without the guarantee of getting it in return. No two people that I know are more powerful creators of love than Drake and Maeve. Since the moment these two met, right here at Uyu, they gave of themselves freely, expecting nothing in return but nevertheless finding, much to their surprise, that something of equal measure was returned.
“Never before have I met a couple so free to express themselves without fear of being judged or rejected. There is room for both of them to live. To experience joy and fear and everything human. Everyone here knows, theirs is the definition of true, unconditional love.”
Our friends nodded around us. My heart grew five sizes bigger thinking we could be seen in this way. Never before had I thought much what other people believed about our relationship. But now I knew why getting married was so fucking special. Validation. Seeing all these eyes on us, approving, rooting for us, we were in a circle of love.
Koa continued. “Drake and Maeve wanted to say their own vows, so I’ll hand it over to Maeve.”
Maeve’s hands shook in mine. I gave them a squeeze. She didn’t like being on display. But she’d insisted she wanted to use her own words today.
“People say…” Her voice cracked. She cleared her throat, gave a meek smile, and started again. “People say that you have to love yourself before anyone can love you. But that’s just not true. A couple years ago, I came to this place lower and feeling more down on myself than ever in my life. I’d never been so conflicted about right or wrong, having had my foundation torn from beneath me with the loss of my dad.”
She lowered her head then raised it, her eyes looking upward. “Love you, Dad. I know you’re watching, from right where I left you.”
Dixie sniffed behind her. Our gazes met. I gave her my warmest smile, and she returned one.
“So I came here at my lowest. Rock bottom. But you loved me, Drake. You loved me before I ever loved myself. You love the true me, unconditionally. You ask for nothing in return but for me to bare my soul. That was a lot harder than I thought it would be and more fulfilling than I ever could have wished. I will spend this life and every one after offering you the same.”
Another sniffle. This time from behind me. El brought a tissue to the corner of his eye.
Koa turned toward me, indicating for me to speak.
I took a deep breath. “The love we have isn’t the love of butterflies and knots in the stomach. It’s a blurring of two souls, the entanglement of two lives in such a way it’s hard to believe they were ever separate. Love isn’t soft. It’s fierce. It’s fiery and a blazing passion. It’s infinite. Love is omnipotent and is never afraid to make the first move. When we left here last, I told you I loved you first. And that will forever and always be the case. In the morning when you open your eyes, I’ll love you first. When we fight, I’ll love you first. I’ll always see you with the same eyes, heart, and soul as I see you now, even when we’re old and gray. No matter where we go when this life is over, you better believe I’ll find you. And I’ll love you first.”