𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩 - 𝙔𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍𝙀 𝙓 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍 ✓

32.

━━━

I'm surrounded, being touched and adjusted like a science experiment. My in-laws took over my complete appearance for my wedding day, adjusting the bodice of my dress, and trying to adjust my hair which Leila spent hours doing for me. They shove accessories and jewellery in my face as I try to pat my makeup down, having my earrings switched about six times. 

They turn me into their son's perfect bride, tightening the bodice of my dress until it's unbearably tight, fluffing the train of the wedding dress out, and picking between different tiaras to frame over my updo. They settle on the most jewelled tiara, setting it in my hair and tightly clipping my veil in, fluffing it as it trains across the floor also. 

To be completely honest, there was a lot they changed and altered with my appearance I didn't ask for, but I'm not making my in-laws mad on the wedding day. I need this to be perfect. 

Preparing takes hours, families are stressed, and it lingers in the air tightly. I end up having to lock myself in one of the wedding venue's private rooms for a while, the tension getting to me more then I need. I hate how other people's stress get to me so easily. I hate that I'm an anxious wreck. 

Mostly because it's not my anxiety to get married, but for the marriage itself to be deemed acceptable. I stuck in a harsh breath; my thoughts being constantly interrupted by family members knocking on the door and asking to talk to me. I don't want to talk to them. Their pushing me to a point where this doesn't feel like a loving wedding, it feels like a strict legal ceremony only for their son to have a ring on his finger. 

Even so, I swallow it down and lift myself from the seat I'm sitting at. 

I just need to do this, it's simple. Smile. You can do this. 

━━━

Both families watch carefully, deeply. My wedding dress and veil glitters and trains across the floor with each step, bouquet in grasp. The venue is absolutely divine, every seat decorated individually with flowers to match the colour scheme, the aisles carpet under my heeled feet, everything is perfect. 

I reach the end of the aisle, just like the movies. I admire my groomed husband, the tailored white suit, the genuine, loving smile over his face as he admires my attire. The ceremony lasts much longer than I was truly prepared for, Ryle's vows and how he speaks about loving me so dearly really does make my heart pound with joy. 

This is what I wanted, what I needed. I'm looking at my future, my years forward, beyond. The mixed families watch the ceremony carefully, my vow's being delivered also. I made them as true, raw, and meaningful as I possibly could. I express them in my complete honesty, every emotion being conquered and shown, and he can feel it too. 

Promises are also made, the type you'd typically hear in movies and such. But I hate to say it, it feels so robotic. The promises feel empty, and the words are shallow in depth. I really, truly do feel horrible for feeling this way during this moment. But listening to this ceremony, how it's playing out and the promises, this really doesn't sound like an exciting, passionate wedding. 

But I agree, and I accept the promises.

"I take you, Ryle Sanchez to be my wedded husband,

 to have and to hold from this day forward,

for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,

 in sickness and in health,

 to love and to cherish each other,

 till death do us part."

I repeat those words, with the ceremony soon concluding with the shared deep, loving kiss and the rings being borne. 

The ceremony concludes shortly, with heavy cheering and loud applauses, flower petals being thrown in the air during our kiss, walking back down the aisle with my newlywed husband.

 We make our way through the venue, the photographer taking countless photos of us, standing and posing in different loving ways as the camera's flash continuously. The photos continue all the way until we reach the reception, a large, heavily decorated ballroom with celebratory balloons and ribbons, glistening chandeliers, and long, cloth covered tables with flowers and ribbons scattered across them. 

It's a grand space that clearly was a lot of money, and my gaze moves over the area with awe. It truly is beautiful, and to have my reception here is something I am truly honoured over. We have our photos taken more, guests seated shortly, and soon enough, the reception finally begins. 

━━━

After a passing welcome speech and a thank you for all the guests that came to celebrate with us, the party music begins to play, and food is being served. Both Ryle and I sit at the very front of the middle table, facing the room in completeness as we sit together. The sight of this mesmerizing reception just blows me away. 

It shows how important this ceremony really is for Ryle's family, and to my family. The amount they would've spent with their own money for this place is beyond me. But I'm not going to argue against any of it, I have no clear reason to. 

My husband and I watch the laughter and chatter of the bustling tables, guests mingling and eating with one another without a care in the world. The music is heavy, drinks are being shared, and the celebration is taken into more of a casual, fun event. 

Ryle pop's open an expensive wine, and he pours me a glass. Every table shares as he proposes a toast, to me, and everyone clinks there glasses together. It's truly heartwarming, I can really see my future with him. He makes me more than happy, there's no doubt about that. I don't plan on making anything different, changing a single thing or ruining today. This is our day to celebrate us, and that's that. 

We share our celebratory wine together, chatting with the guests sitting close to our table, and just having a genuinely good time. I move past how robotic the ceremony was and try to focus on the lively atmosphere within this reception.

As I sip my wine and chuckle to a guests joke, I see Leila's figure approaching me at my table. She's dressed in her bridesmaid gown, yet she wears a wrist corsage, indication of her being the maid-of-honour. She has a giggly smile on her face and a glass of wine in her hand, also indicating she's getting on the tipsy side. I personally see past it, it's a celebration, and I'm not going to get mad at my best friend drinking when alcohol is being served. 

"Y/N, Hey, I wanted to talk to you for a second..." She kneel's down beside my chair, whispering a little. I chuckle with confusion, smiling. "Yeah, what's up?" I ask softly, and she takes another gulp from her wine glass.

"I think there's another guest here, can I let them in..?" She asks, and I laugh and nod. I don't see a problem with more guests, I knew some guests wouldn't make it until the reception anyways. "Yeah, don't worry," I nod and assure her. She nods in acknowledgement, standing back up and singing along to the song playing as she walks down the large ballroom, all the way across the room and turning the wall's corner to the reception's front door. 

I talk to my husband for a few more moments, smiling and giggling to our conversation, before I turn back to gaze towards the direction of the guest Leila was referring to.

It takes me a moment to see who it is from the distance, but as soon as it clicks,

It. 

Clicks. 

Oh. 

𝘖𝘩.

━━━