Baby

ten

September 17th.

Is there anything greater in a woman's life than her wedding day?

When I saw him standing on the altar, every single memory of us rushed past my eyelids.

The first time we met at the fair, back when his hair was long enough to flop into his eyes. The first kiss, first date, first time we went all the way. Our first fight, though I was less keen to remember that. I still remember when his apartment was bare and cold, before I came along. I remembered when I moved in as clear as day. God the day we got Jupiter, that one had a special place in my heart and I visibly smiled thinking about it.

And most recently, the day he proposed.

Though it was several months ago, I don't imagine I could ever forget that night. Everything was so perfect, so dream-esque.

But today trumped everything that came before.

Walking down the aisle, I felt ecstatic. My fathers arm was laced with mine as we walked and I was relived. If I didn't have him supporting me, I surely would've collapsed by now.

Stepping under the arch, I gazed at my man. He smiled at me, a small smile. His suit was perfect, his demeanor was relaxed. It was like he had been ready for this his whole life, like it was just as easy as 1+1.

Whereas my nerves ate away at me.

I didn't quite hear what the priest was saying, it didn't register for me. The blood rushing in my ears was so much louder than even the choir singing.  

I only zoned in when I saw my man's mouth moving, forming the words," I do."

In a daze of sorts, I echoed him. "I do. 'Til death do us part."

"You may now kiss the bride." The elderly priest said with a joyful smile.

My man looked at me, looked through me. It was one of those looks that really makes you feel see, makes you feel raw. Tears welled in my eyes, I couldn't contain them and they ended up falling down my cheeks.

Lifting my veil with reverence, he gazed into my eyes. He looked at me with such longing that for once I didn't hate the color of my irises. His thumb pads brushed away the stray tears and he leaned in close. His lips, feather light, barely brushed against my cheek. "You're my Baby now, officially."

The rest of the ceremony was celebratory.

My man. Now, he really was my man. I wasn't sure that there was anything more satisfying to me than that knowledge. The knowledge that he was mine 'to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'Til death do us part.'

I wasn't sure there would be a better day in my life than September 17th.