Against the Odds

4

Miranda stood in her wedding dress looking at herself in the mirror of her dorm room. Today was the day she had been both eagerly anticipating and dreading. It was the day of her courthouse wedding, a simple yet significant event that would mark the beginning of her new life with the person she loved. However, an ache lingered in her heart. She had found her wedding dress at the last minute but was absolutely in love with it. It was a mermaid style off the shoulder side draped dress and it gave off a vintage look. Her thick brown hair was pulled back into a low bun with some of her curls out to frame her face. She felt every bit of the word beautiful. She was a beautiful bride.

A soft knock brought her out of her thoughts and she turned to the door.

"Hey, Miranda are you ok?" Cynthia questioned, standing in her floor-length dusty pink dress.

"I'm OK, just a lot on my mind," Miranda answered, smiling softly.

"About getting married, pregnancy, or school?" She asked sitting on her bed.

"The marriage or the wedding rather. When I envisioned my wedding day I pictured my parents and a room full of my family and friends. I wanted the puffy white dress, hideous bridesmaid gowns, and to toss my bouquet."

"If you are having second thoughts You don't have to marry him."

"No, it's no second thoughts. It's not Ben. I would marry him 10 times if I could. He is the absolute love of my life."

"Ok, that's what I thought. I know it's hard not having your parents here or having your dream wedding, but remember that today is about you and Ben. This is a celebration of your love, no matter the circumstances. You found the one person who you love most, who's your best friend. This is a reason to celebrate and to just be happy. You get to be happy today. No more talk about parents and the future, live in the now, this moment." She expressed, squeezing Miranda's hand in a comforting manner. "We will make sure to mail your parents the pictures."

Miranda laughed at that and then smiled brightly. "Thank you for that. I needed that pep talk."

"What are friends for?" She shrugged. "Here's your bouquet and I have your veil."

"Alright, I think that's everything. Are you ready?"

"I think that should be my question to you."

"I'm ready. I can't be late the photographer wanted to take some single pictures of me before the ceremony."

"Who did you guys find to take pictures?"

"A guy named Nathan that was in Ben's statistics class. He's taking photos and recording it."

"Ok, let me just go get my keys and then we can leave," Cynthia said walking to the door, not before turning around and smiling at her. "You are truly a beautiful bride Miranda."

"Thank you, don't make me cry."

"No don't start. I forgot about those hormones."

"They already started." She cried into her hands.

"Aww come here. Don't cry."

"These are happy tears. I'm a beautiful bride and I'm getting married. I also want ice cream."

"We will stop at the store and get the ice cream, but we need to go now because we are going to be late."

"Right right. I need my phone and my purse."

Miranda arrived at the courthouse and took several photos by herself. She honestly wished she would have told her mom about the wedding she knew she would have come even if her dad didn't.