Beautifully Broken 1: If You Stay

“Are you ready?” he asks as he holds out his elbow.

I nod and Madison kneels to gather my long, white train.

Of course I’m ready.

I’ve never been more ready. 

As we position ourselves in the back of the church, the church that I have seen so many times in my dreams, I am filled with hope and boundless joy.  This church that housed my parents’ funeral is also hosting my wedding, illustrating once again that life is full of all kinds of good and bad.  Pax and I have been through it all and we’ll continue to go through it, because that’s how life works.

I stare at Pax and suddenly, I am filled with peace.  Like his mother before me, he is my peace now.

His eyes meet mine and he smiles, beautiful and radiant in the morning sunshine as he waits for me at the front.  He’s so handsome, so tall and strong, that it takes my breath away.

I take a breath.

The music starts.

Each step that I take brings me closer to him.

And when I finally get there, his fingers entwine with mine.

I look up into his eyes, eager to become his.

I repeat my vows after the minister and end with, “I will love you all of the days of my life.”

And I know that I will.

Because true love never fails.

It never dies.

It just goes on and on and on.

Forever.