the various chances

bonus chapter - one

Jeremy

My nerves were reckless. I was feeling anxious and ready to throw up any moment. It was like what more than over a month or something after proposal and here I was, at altar, waiting to get married.

Shit, I was getting married!

No doubt I had crazy bachelorette party thrown by Lorenzo and Aaron. I was sober as fuck for my wedding but the excitement was on a whole new level. I was totally drunk on the fact that I was getting married to that girl in whom I bumped while going to Maths classes in school.

Fate may have been a little cruel to us but we ended up together. I remember seeing her for the first time and being left speechless. I was numb and so was my heart, we stopped in sync for a second and then it beat again; it beat so hard I think I was going to have a cardiac arrest. It was certain we had something in us, I knew it and I took the chance, even if I was way too much late yet I took it and here we are or I could be more specific, here I am waiting to marry her.

The ceremony was kept private, only friends and family were invited and though Lizzie said to keep the decorations low-key I went a little far. The thick red carpet was laid for the aisle; the gazebo of the church backyard was decorated with all the exquisite and royal colours of peonies with the twinkling lightings of the night sky arranged for our evening wedding.

Everyone from the family had gathered. Lizzie's grandmother also flied from London a week ago so she can be with her. The chairs behind me had been empty because people had flooded my personal space. Lorenzo and Aaron were standing beside me along with my parents and Julie.

"God" –Aaron shakes his head- "17 year old me would've never believed that in future you'd marry Lily." "Ayy, same", Lorenzo says. I sigh, "Who has the ring?" The two of them look at each other, I watch Aaron gulp. "Where is the ring?" I ask. Aaron turns his head to me, raising a hand to my chest, "Look, don't get mad" –he laughs awkwardly- "we kind of...."

"YOU WHAT?" I almost shout.

"Here" –Lorenzo holds the velvet box up in his hand- "found it." Aaron sighs, "Dude, you gave me a heart attack." I snatch the box form his hand and give it to my mother. This people, I swear to God. She takes it from my hand with a huge smile on her face, "Jeremy, calm down." "Why are you pale on your own wedding day?" dad says. I shrug it off. Aaron nods to me with a grin on his face, "don't worry, he'll be all blushy blushy when he sees Lily."

I smack him on his head, "you idiot." People laugh. The pastor announces it was time. Everyone heads out to take their seat. Mom pats my arm, "chill out, boy." Dad pats my shoulder, "I am happy you found the one." Julie had her hands clasped in front of her chest, "my big bro is getting married, what the fuck!" "Julie", dad warns. Mom shakes her head with a smile on her face and asks the other two to get back to their seat.

People were settled in their chairs. The pastor starts the ceremony, I was facing him. His words were bullshit to my ears but I focused anyhow because fuck it, I was getting married. He reads some line and pauses. The music starts and the time slowed. I hear the squeak of the wooden door, it opens. I turn around. Grandma Pierce, Hannah and the bridesmaids walk out. My heart rate goes up. Any minute now!

There she was dressed like a goddess who owned the ground she places her feet on. The dress white in colour showed off her slender shoulders and doing justice to her curves, the veil covering her pretty face was too long for my liking. The beauty of hers was so intoxicating that I might pass out any moment. I was totally fist bumping myself in my mind, I was so in love and I was marrying her. Tears form at the corner of my eyes, I blink once not wanting to get caught but fuck if I cared about anything other than the fact that this stunning woman walking towards me, in a few minutes will be my wife.