Hearts Reclaimed

05

A few weeks had passed, and the wedding day had arrived. Jeff stood in the wedding hall, anxiously waiting for his dad to walk him down the aisle. His eyes kept darting between his phone and the outside window, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Bible had promised to attend his wedding, but he was nowhere to be seen. Jeff's nerves were frayed, his mind racing with worry and doubt. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Guests were starting to settle into their seats, and the atmosphere was filled with anticipation. Yet, Jeff felt a growing sense of tension, unable to focus on the joyous occasion. He kept glancing at his phone, hoping for a message or a call from Bible, but there was nothing.

The minutes ticked by, and Jeff's anxiety only grew. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but the absence of Bible gnawed at him. The promise of his presence had been a small comfort, a sign that they could still be part of each other's lives, even as he moved forward with Chris.

But as he stood there, waiting, Jeff couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness and disappointment. He needed to see Bible, needed the reassurance that their bond was still intact, even as he prepared to start a new chapter of his life.

His dad came to him, offering a comforting smile as they linked arms. Together, they began the walk down the aisle. Jeff's eyes scanned the rows of guests, searching desperately for a familiar face, but there was no sign of Bible.

The ceremony began, and Jeff's heart felt heavy with sadness, choking him as the reality of the moment set in. The priest's voice droned on, but Jeff struggled to focus, his thoughts consumed by Bible's absence.

"Do you take Chris to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the priest asked, his voice echoing in the quiet hall.

Jeff opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, a whisper from behind startled him.

Jeff's eyes widened in shock. "What did you say?" he stuttered

Jeff's brother's words hit him like a blow to the chest. "Jesse, what did you say?" Jeff stuttered, his voice trembling as his eyes filled with tears.

His brother's face was pale, eyes filled with sorrow. "Bible... he got into an accident on his way here."

Jeff's heart shattered. The air seemed to thicken around him, making it hard to breathe. His vision blurred with tears, and the world around him seemed to fade away. The weight of the news was overwhelming, and for a moment, he felt like he might collapse.

"Bible..." Jeff whispered, his voice breaking. The ceremony, the guests, everything around him seemed to disappear as his mind fixated on the one person who mattered most at that moment.

The priest, unaware of the turmoil unfolding, repeated the question, his voice steady and calm. "Do you take Chris to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Chris and his family looked at Jeff with concern, noticing his distress. Chris stepped closer, his eyes filled with worry and sadness. "Jeff, what's wrong?" he asked gently.

Jeff's mind raced, his heart torn between his duty and his feelings. "Bible... he needs me. Bib needs me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Chris's face fell, the hurt evident in his eyes. "Jeff, this is our marriage," he said, his voice laced with sadness and frustration.

Jeff looked around, feeling the weight of everyone's expectations bearing down on him. He glanced at Chris, who was clearly pained, and then at his brother, who had delivered the devastating news. He felt paralyzed, not knowing what to do.

His eyes met Chris's, searching for understanding. " I... I don't know what to do," Jeff admitted, his voice breaking.

Chris took a deep breath, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Jeff, you have to decide what you want," he said softly, his voice a mix of resignation and heartbreak.

Jeff closed his eyes, feeling the tears spill over. He knew he had to make a choice, but the decision felt impossible.