Always By Your Side

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"which dress is better" i ask him holding up two dresses in the store 

" i like the red one" he says 

"of course you do, but which one is more appropriate for my mothers wedding" i say 

" the red one" he says 

"fine ill wear the red one if you drink a rebull and let me take a picture" i say 

"deal"

i buy the dress and he looks happier than a child that just got ice cream, we walk home and i start getting ready for the wedding 

"so who's at the wedding" he asks as he gets dressed 

"us, my mother, and her side of the family, she probably invited my dads family too just to add the chery on top of the cake. oh and how could i forget my replacement family" i say as he helps me zip up my dress and he wraps his arms around my waist from behind and kisses my neck 

"you know they are going to be your family too" he says placing his head in the nook of my neck 

"yeah no" i say 

"You're going to have to accept it one day" he says 

"what if i dont want to" i say turning around to face him 

"oh come on please try to for me" he says with puppy eyes 

"ugh how could i say no to that face" i say before i kiss him 

"my charm always works" he says winking 

"Je t'aime beaucoup char" i say to him 

"je t'aime aussi mon cœur" he says kissing me

i put my shoes on and grab my bag and car keys 

"You're driving?" he asks 

"yeah i feel like it will help me calm down" i say 

"its going to be fine lynn, and if it isnt we can just leave and come home" he says 

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The early morning sun cast a soft golden hue over the quaint village church, illuminating the momentous day ahead. My mother, a woman who had given her heart and soul to raise me and my brother, Jules, was about to embark on a new chapter of her life. I stood outside the church, conflicted, my heart torn between love and grief. My father, who had been my rock, had passed away several years ago, leaving a void that seemed impossible to fill. But now, my mother was getting married to someone new, and I wasn't sure if I could bear to watch her pledge her love to another man. The thought of her marrying anyone but my father, who had been taken from us too soon, was difficult to accept. His memory lingered in every corner of our home, from the family photos adorning the walls to the warm embrace of his leather armchair. And the pain of his absence was amplified by the loss of my beloved brother, Jules, my best friend and confidant, who left this world far too early. Jules had been the one who helped me navigate the stormy seas of grief when our father passed away. We leaned on each other, our bond growing stronger as we shared our pain. Now, without him, I felt adrift, struggling to find my way through the waves of emotions crashing down upon me. The only anchor in my turbulent life was Charles. He had been a source of comfort and solace, a kind and understanding presence who felt like a lifeline in this sea of uncertainty. Charles was the only person my brother would have approved of, had he been here. we all  had shared similar interests in racing, they shared sense of humor, and an uncanny ability to make me laugh even on my darkest days. As I stood outside the church, my heart pounded in my chest, and my breath came in shallow gasps. The weight of my emotions, the whirlwind of memories, and the fear of the unknown had triggered a full-blown panic attack. I clutched the car door, unable to take that fateful step toward the church's entrance. Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought back to the time when Jules had left this world, and my mother had seemingly left me, too. I was just 18 years old, grappling with grief and a sense of abandonment. She had started a new family, leaving me feeling like an outsider in my own home. Now, as she was on the precipice of beginning yet another new chapter, I couldn't help but wonder if history would repeat itself. Would I be left behind once more, forced to confront my feelings of abandonment and loneliness all over again?