London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 81. Daniel

Six months later

The sun is sinking, illuminating the sky with a golden color. This day turned out to be unusually clear and warm. I button up my shirt and look at myself in the mirror. My nerves are at their limit. And after all, I knew what I was going for, I wanted it myself, but now...

I suddenly look back at everything I've been through in the past year, so many changes. Alex came into my life then... At first I thought it was going to be a simple adventure, and then I believed in happily ever after. Our story was beautiful, very emotional, but it's different now...

- Are you sure you still want it? - Liam asks, leaning on his cane. He's done a lot of work to get back on his feet. It hasn't been easy. There were breakdowns, alcohol, there was even a suicide attempt, if it wasn't for Stella... After the accident, I took a completely new look at her. She went from a pompous doll to a woman, a loyal friend and an incredibly strong person. She never gave Liam a break. Even when he was unbearable, and he was. She stood up to him on an equal footing, and that earned her respect.

- Help me roll up these bloody sleeves, Dany, - my friend grumbles, holding up his sleeve. He's wearing light trousers and a thin white shirt. In six months, Liam has grown his hair and now it's in a silly ponytail at the back of his head.

- Dude, I don't think it's your day to be nervous, - I grin slyly, helping my friend.

- I'm helping you to relieve tension, otherwise you look like a corpse. You should have run off with Alex when she suggested it, but you're a stubborn jackass, - he sighs, thinking about something.

- Let's not talk about it, okay? It's the way it should be. The fact that Alex was then afraid to go into a relationship is her problem. But she's always been bloody stubborn.

- I'm not gonna argue, man, I'm not gonna argue. But anyway, you're about to get married, heh. I don't even know what to tell you. If anything, there's a couple of cars parked here, we can get out of here.

- Nah, I didn't catch her for that, - I chuckle, buttoning up my shirt.

The day has come. The day I get married. How exciting. Then I think about how excited she is, and a smile slides across my face.

When we were discussing the wedding, she said she wanted it on the shore of some scenic spot, at sunset. So that we would be surrounded by nature and not have any prying eyes. She described to me in great detail what she wanted, and I got carried away by this picture myself. After all, a wedding is always done for the bride, so I made it just as she dreamed it would be.

- Are you painting your eyelashes? - Max giggles as he enters the room. - Well, it's about time. Daniel, why are you so pale? You want your fiancée to marry a corpse?

- Did you and Liam conspire? - I grumble unhappily. - How's it going in there?

- It's fine, - Max replies. His phone vibrates. He looks at the screen and hangs up.

- Is that him again? - I frown, and Max nods, - He's not calming down, is he?

- Yeah, first he didn't say anything for months, and now he's calling to apologize for what he did to my mother. I'll never forgive him for that. This is the third number he's tried to call.

- It'll be all right, don't worry, - I pat him on the shoulder. - It could be a lot worse.

- OK, everyone, I'm setting up the video call, - Max says.

He connects and starts talking in Russian, I wave politely at the screen and move towards the exit.

It starts to get dark, and a bunch of lights illuminate our registration area. Like a flock of fireflies in the night they illuminate the space, creating a kind of cosiness and magic. Thick white candles in the glass line the path to the register. That's it, Dany, a new phase in your life begins. I think I've started to sound like a complete romantic. Ridiculous, even. But everything looks so different.