A Sequel To "Eternity"~ While She Was Sleeping.

Chapter Thirteen~A Heartbreaking Wedding Anniversary.

-Joe-

My eyes squinted open as a stream of light illuminated my face. I yawned and glanced at the clock, 10am, I then glanced at the calendar next to my alarm clock, Sunday 14th July, 2024, this is when I started to cry, today was the anniversary, the five years anniversary of marriage to Elena, and she wasn't here to wish it to. She was still in that hospital bed, unconscious and unknowing. That was the hardest thing to comprehend in the world. I was sobbing quietly when I heard a knock on the bedroom door. Gracie walked in, she was wearing her favourite pink and blue patterned pyjamas, she smiled and sighed. "It's your anniversary, isn't it?" She wondered. I nodded. She walked over and climbed into the bed with me to give me a hug, she hadn't done this since she was very little, I felt like I had my baby princess again. I kissed her on the crown of her head as she cried in my arms. "I'm sorry that she's not here dad. You're so brave." She said. I hugged her again and felt the tears stream down my face.

I followed Gracie down the stairs to the living room to find that she has already got Chrissy and Sam up and ready. "Daddy!!! Can we watch the wedding thing? Pleaseee?" Chrissy begged excitedly. "Sure thing beautiful." I beamed before looking for the DVD. I opened up the dusty cupboard door and grabbed it before putting it in the player. Butterflies filled my stomach as Elena appeared on the screen. She looked absolutely beautiful that day, just as always. Her hair was curled up into a bun and her dress lace was made purely out of lace. "How are you feeling Elena honey?" Her mother asked. "Like the happiest girl in the world. I'M MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND IN AN HOUR!!" She replied happily. I laughed and watched as it skipped to my interview with Alfie and Caspar. Our suits were white and sky blue themed with the jacket and trousers being a dark grey shiny material. "I'm about to marry the girl of my dreams and I'm a nervous wreck." I told the camera. Time skipped to her walking down the floral aisle outside with her father and Zoë and Niomi in front of her. She had a very warm smile on her face. Little three year old Gracie was toddling after Elena, she looked absolutely adorable. I took Elena's hand. They zoomed in to show her crying. Okay, I was crying too, but hey, it was an emotional day. "Grow Old With Me" by Tom Odell stopped playing when it was time for the vows.

I watched myself wipe the tears away that were brimming on the surface of my eyes before taking a very deep breath. "I'm so nervous!! Um okay, right... Elena Jane Deyes, many people spend their lives searching for their soulmate, their one true love. Some people are lucky to find the person they can truly call the better half of themselves, while others spend the rest of their lives searching and never finding the right person. I am happy to count myself among the lucky ones, because I have found you. I love you and I know that you are the only one for me, my one true love. I am happy and I am grateful that you came into my life, that where others have spent their entire lives looking for the one, I have found you. And now that I have found you, I shall never let you go. I promise you, Elena, that I shall hold you and cherish you and give you all of my heart, that I shall support you and care for you in the worse of times. Faithfully, I shall always stand at your side with your hand in mine, regardless of what life would bring to us. I promise not to be a pain in the ass and to make you laugh everyday. I take you now as my wife, and I shall remain so for the rest of my life." I cried. Elena kissed me on the cheek before I placed the ring on her finger. "I love you so much. How am I going to top that? So romantic. Well. I'll give it a go shall I? Joseph Sugg, you once told me years and years ago that you are afraid of growing old. You told me then that to grow old means to be alone, and that it frightens you. But I want you to grow old, Joe. I want you to grow old with me. I want to watch the wrinkles form on your face and every strand of your hair turn white, because to me you would be the most beautiful, even when you are all wrinkled and grey. You do not have to fear being alone, because I shall be with you with my silver hair and my walking stick and blankets. From now and onwards, I promise to love you faithfully, to care for you and to cherish you, to provide you with support and everything that you need, to respect and honor you. All my days left to me, I vow to spend them all loving you. You're the light of my existence and you're my world and I'm not longer afraid of the future, because I know it will be with you, my love." She sobbed. Her hands shook slightly as she placed the rings on my fingers. We sealed our marriage with a kiss before we had our reception. I turned the film off as Zoë and Alfie arrived to look after the kids so I could visit Elena.

I brought a massive bouquet of flowers on the way to the hospital and a card. I greeted the nurses as usual and walked into her room and kissed Elena on the forehead before sitting down beside her, holding her cold hand. "Happy five year anniversary my love." I said softly. I picked up her flowers and placed him in the vase before opening her card so I could read it to her. "Elena, my beautiful wife, five years today I made promises to you on our wedding day. I promised that I would always stand by your side and support you through hard times and here I am. I've tried my best to stay strong, but these past five months have been so hard without you, especially today. I miss you so much. You are everything that keeps my heart beating. Without you I am lost and completely broken. I love you more than you will ever know. I miss your smile, eyes, singing in the shower, head banging to rock music and the sarcastic look you give me when I ask a silly question. Without seeing all them things is tearing me apart. I find it hard to breathe. I need you to wake up now okay sweetheart, I don't know how long I can deal with his anymore. I'm in so much pain. Love always, Joe." I read to her. I kissed her cheek again and put the card on her table. I carried on talking about our wedding before it was time to leave. I took out a CD from my bag and smiled at it. "I have to go now. I'm sorry. I thought I'd play you our first dance song for you. It always made us laugh whenever we thought back to everyone's reactions. I love you so much. Wake soon. Bye Elena." I stated before pressing play and kissing her lips. I left the room as "The Unforgiven II" by Metallica played.