The Dark

Maisey, 2010

December 31, 2012. 10 a.m. Athens Greece.

Today is the day. The day that little girls dream of, the day that I never thought I would get. I stepped in front of the mirror for what I hoped would be the last time in the next hour.

The girl that stared back at me didn't remind me of... well, myself. I was never the one to wear white but I think I can make an exception for this. The dress was simple, just the way I wanted it. The top was beaded with pearls and tinted with rose gold thread. The rest of the dress flowed down to my ankles and wasn't too lose but not tight. The ends were like the waves out in the ocean that was outside my door. The only thing that was wrong with it was the dress shows the hundreds of scars that I have along my back. I was trying to reassure myself that I was making the right choice by not covering it up.

My hair was half up and half down. It was still the same white that I earned almost a year and a half ago. The curls fell lightly around my collar bone and my back. I asked Kate to do my makeup for me because my precision wasn't the best. It wasn't much, quite the opposite. I never really did like makeup but this is another exception I'm willing to make.

I was pulled out of my thoughts as someone knocked on the door. Kate opened the door and smiled at me.

"It's time." I could feel the nerves start to come back.

"Already? I don't think I can do this." I sat down on the bench beside the table. I don't know why I was so nervous to do this. I've jumped from buildings without a parachute before, I've fought against hundreds of people at once but yet this was making me more nervous. Kate and Taylor walked into the room.

"You'll be fine Maisey. All you have to do is walk out there and get it over with."

"You make it sound so easy." Taylor and Kate looked at me and together told me that it was that easy. I suppose they would know, they've both done this before.

"We'll give you another five minutes but if you aren't waiting by the door then we'll come back and grab you. Okay?" I nodded and they left me alone. I got up and wandered around the room. They're all waiting on me. For me. I looked out the window and watched the waves on the beach. I nodded to myself and reached for the handle on the door.

I walked out into the hall without shoes on. I didn't need them anymore. When I reached the final door Cal and Conor were waiting for me. Taylor and Kate stepped out signaling that we were ready. I offered my arm and Cal took my left and Conor took my right. They opened the door on either side of me as the music began to play.

The sight was beautiful, the aisle was covered in white rose petals from Azul who walked down before me. She looked beautiful in her white and red dress. Her waist was wrapped by a ribbon that had glitter on it. As I walked out of the door people stood up for me. There weren't a lot of people here, just the ones that mattered. I could see Liam at the end.

I caught his eyes and he smiled at me. He never took his eyes off me once. I looked around at the people in fancy clothes as they all stared at me. Kate, Taylor, Miley, Hannah were in bridesmaid dresses waiting for me, Azul was there too. Derek and James were waiting beside Liam. They had all grown close in the past year. Finally we reached the sand. Conor and Cal left me to stand by their brother.

I thought that I could see tears in Liam's eyes as I took his hand. It took everything I had to not ruin my makeup by crying. The priest went through everything he had to, droning on for the sake of the ceremony. When it came time for our vows I recited what I practiced in the mirror every night since I wrote them.

"Liam, we've known each other for the longest time. Whenever I think back on that time you were always right there beside me. If I ever needed you, you were always on time. We've done everything together, we've lost together, we've won together. I'm ready for what comes next together if you are." I wiped away a tear from his face.

"Maisey, I love you with everything I have. I can't wait to find our next adventure together, to see what the future holds for us. When we're together all that matters to me is you. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, I promise you that you will always come first to me. I will always be there for you, no matter what. I promise that I love you, all of you no matter what." The priest continued to talk until it was time for us to make this official.

"Do you Maisey Grace Harper take Liam James Jackson to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

"And do you, Liam James Jackson, take Maisey Grace Harper to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"Then with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride." Liam picked me up and spun us around as he kissed me. The crowd behind us erupted in cheers. When Liam sat us down I grabbed his hand and he pulled me closer to him.

"I didn't get to tell you this earlier but you look absolutely stunning right now. Not that you aren't beautiful everyday."

"Thank you, you look very dashing." He laughed as we walked back down the aisle getting congratulations from people. I didn't want a reception for my wedding because I didn't want to be around a lot of people at once. We headed out the back door to the car that was rented for us. Taylor handed Liam the keys as I stuffed me and the dress into the passenger seat.

When Liam got in the car we followed the directions to the hotel that Kate picked out for us. When we pulled into the driveway it was apparent that we were not going to be staying in a hotel. It was a tiny cottage at the end of a long dirt road. I wonder how she pulled this off.

"This is beautiful." I got out of the car and waited for Liam to join me walking up the steps. He wrapped his arms around me and picked me up.

"You're right, but it's not as beautiful as you." He carried me through the door and I kicked it shut with my foot. All of our bags were laying on the floor in the living room. He set me down in the kitchen as I looked through the stack of papers on the counter. I found the note from Kate that she left,

Dear Maisey,

Welcome home. I knew that you didn't want to stay in that town forever so we all made sure to give Liam and you the right home. I hope you both like it, plus you don't have very many neighbors so you can be as loud as you want. It can be your permanent home or a summer home but don't worry about that now. Make your honeymoon as special as it can be.

Love Kate.

So thoughtful. It really was a beautiful house, and it was large enough for a family but she was right, worry about that another day. Liam joined me in the kitchen and we watched the sunset through the backdoor.

"So I know that we kind of failed last time but do you want to try..."

"If you want kids Liam, I want kids. I'll just have to be more careful this time around. This is our family and no one is going to take it from us now." He nodded and we left the kitchen to explore the rest of the house.

I realized today that no matter what I did, Liam would still love me. No matter what Liam did, I would still love him. This is my past. This is my present. This is my family. This is my story. For once I will stand with pride and not let anyone try and tear down what I have fought so hard to earn. This is mine.