One Journey, the Final

Chapter 32:

I tried to shake off the nerves running through my body. I felt the air conditioning kick on, and the chill ran down my back. I shivered, but I felt a calming hand on my back.

                “Relax. It’s okay. Everything’s fine,” my dad whispered in my ear. I instantly became calm. He grabbed my hand and started rubbing it. I heard the music playing behind the doors, and I knew it was time. It was finally here. I had imagined this moment for a while, not fully expecting what it’d be like. But this was perfect. The French doors swung open and together in synch, my father and I walked down the aisle. I walked over the red petals as they were being swept up with my dress. I looked at all the smiling people on either side of the pulpits. Cameras were being flashed everywhere, and my smile was quickly becoming numb. Memories of my childhood flashed before my eyes in between the camera lights. I thought of the time I played “Ring Around the Rosie” with my dad, the time when my mother taught me how to draw. I spent hours upon hours after that perfecting my skills on drawing a house. Little did I know those skills would help me later in life. Then I rememberd when I won my first race at a running meet. The mile. I remembered getting accepted into New York Universtiy, going to college. I thought of when I first saw Harry, our first kiss, and how it made me feel. Bubbly. I also thought of our future. I was cradling a baby in my arms, Harry was singing to it. I thought of endlessly lying in Harry’s arms. I knew that our future wouldn’t just be that, I knew that we would hit some rough spots. But, who thinks of rough spots in your marriage on your wedding day? Last of all, I looked across from the aisle at Harry. I tried to memorize every outline of his face this way. He was beaming with excitement. His messy curls were swept in their usual hair-do, and his smile was wide, his teeth sparkling in the light. My heart quickened, and we were soon at the end of the aisle. My dad squeezed my hand, and with one last step of my and childhood, I stood next to Harry, the future in our hands. The minister cleared his throat, and in a deep voice said,

                “Who presents this woman?”

                “I do,” my father said quietly. The minister smiled and said in a booming voice,

                “Dearly beloved, we are gathered her today to celebrate the joining marriage of Harry Edward Styles, and Annabel Gertrude Price,” I heard Harry snicker at the announcement to the whole audience of my middle name. I groaned. No one was going to let that go without a tease or two, especially Harry.  “…this is positively a magical moment for the two, and now we are to be graced to hear their vows to each other,” the minister finished, letting the two of us start talking. Harry started.

                “Annabel, I remember the first time that I saw you. My soul shivered. I still get that shock whenever I look at you. I hope that never changes. I vow to love you with a fierceness that cannot be matched by anything. I vow to hold the tenderness of your soul in mine. Today, I’m extremely excited to take you to be my wife, and true love. I vow to love you in all of your forms, I also promise to laugh with you and cry with you. I was always amazed by Shakespeare’s play of Romeo and Juliet. These kids, already at a young age, had a poignant knowledge of love so deeply that it caused them to break every rule and ending imaginable. They knew that love carried on after all of this. Bell, our love is going to do the same thing. I love you Annabel Price, I love you, I love you, I love you,” he said poetically. I started crying when he first said my name. He grabbed my hand, and rubbed it between his fingers. Somehow, that gave me the strength to share with him my vows. I cleared my throat, and tried to say strongly so everyone could hear,

                “Harry. It hasn’t exactly been the easiest relationship with you. I don’t think it ever will be. But that’s one of the reasons I love you. I never pictured my wedding like this. I never pictured to be standing across from a man, who every teenage girl already knows. When I met you, they knew you better than I did! But what’s important now, is that I do know you. I know every aspect of your smile, your laugh, your pains and sorrows.  I vow to respect you, and to expect the unexpected. I promise to love you for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live. I promise to know the warmth of your heart, and always come back to it, because your love is my home. I’ll carry your struggles, and help you achieve your deepest dreams, no matter how unrealistic they might be. Love is the greatest emotion of mankind. It’s the strangest, the most unique, and completely mind blowing. Love is different for everyone, and it can never truly be understood. I love you Harry Edward Styles because, you never cease to amaze me,” I said. My hands were shaking as I was reading the paper. The words were becoming blurred and mushed together as I tried to read through tears. I looked up, and I could see through blotches that Harry was crying too. I could hear his sniffles. I wiped away my tears, hopefully not smudging my makeup. The minister continued.