Without A Thousand Stars: Part II

Chapter 7

Jax walked into the venue behind Lilac, his steps heavy, his expression flat. The grand hall stretched before them, its vastness filled with the soft glow of artificial lighting, casting a sterile sheen over everything. The space was impressive, he supposed, but all he could feel was a dull sense of indifference. Lilac, on the other hand, practically floated in, her heels clicking excitedly against the polished floor, her little Pomeranian nestled in her arms like a designer accessory.

"Oh my gosh!" she squealed, her voice echoing in the empty room. She spun around, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the room. "It's perfect! Just perfect!" Her face lit up as she rushed toward the front of the hall, her mind already buzzing with ideas. She gestured dramatically toward the high ceiling, her long arms sweeping across the air.

"Now picture some lights strung up all over here," she said breathlessly, raising her hands as if to drape the imaginary lights herself. "Twinkling, sparkling... it'll be magical! And here," she spun around again, gesturing to the stage, "we'll have the camera crew set up for the live stream—right there!"

Jax stood a few paces behind her, his hands shoved into his pockets. He glanced around the room, forcing his eyes to focus on the details Lilac was so thrilled about, but the excitement she felt didn't reach him. The space felt cold, detached—much like everything else in his life lately. He knew he was supposed to feel something, but the emotion just wasn't there.

"Yeah," he said with a forced smile, stepping forward to stand beside her. "It's great, babe."

Lilac barely registered his lack of enthusiasm, too lost in her vision. She kissed the top of her dog's head, spinning around with the giddy energy of someone who thrived on attention. "Isn't it great, Braxton? You're going to look so adorable in your little outfit!" she cooed, her voice slipping into a high-pitched baby tone as she spoke to the dog.

Jax's smile faded as he looked at her, her world so different from his own. Everything was perfect for her—the venue, the ceremony, the spectacle it promised to be. But for him, it was just another day, another obligation, another step further away from whatever happiness he once imagined for himself.

He took a deep breath, his eyes drifting back to the ceiling as Lilac continued to plan aloud, her voice bright and bubbly. All he could do was nod along, pretending to share in the excitement, while his thoughts floated somewhere far beyond the lights and glitter she so desperately craved.

—

Jax stood nervously at the altar, his palms clammy, his body restless like his skeleton was trying to jump out of his skin, trapped in the crisp cream-coloured suit he wore. The venue was a grand, opulent space, its high ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers that cast dazzling patterns across the crowd. The sea of faces blurred into a vague, unrecognizable mass, and he focused on the comforting presence of Finn behind him, his formal military uniforms adding a sense of gravitas to the occasion, and then there was Orion, imposing as always. Beside them stood Jax's best friend, Braxton, in his formal attire.

The presence of Braxton the human was a welcome one; the presence of Braxton the dog, however, was not. Lilac had chosen to name her pet after Jax's best friend, a detail that Jax found increasingly irksome. He had never warmed to the idea of the dog being named after his friend, especially given that Lilac's overt disdain for Braxton seemed to only accentuate the oddity of the choice. Jax still recalled Lilac's comment with a smirk, "Doesn't he look like human Braxton?"—a comment that had always felt like a peculiar joke at his friend's expense. But Lilac had always gotten what she wanted, and so there the dog was, prancing down the aisle in a miniature formal outfit, which Jax found more irritating than endearing.

As Braxton the dog bounded ahead of Lilac's friends, all identical in look and dress, Jax forced a smile, even as his anxiety mounted. The guests' admiration for Lilac's entrance, coupled with the relentless gaze of millions watching from home, added immense pressure. He knew he had to be flawless; any slip-up could provoke a wrathful Lilac later at home, a scenario he was keen to avoid.

Lilac appeared at the end of the aisle, a radiant vision in her gown. Music filled the air as she walked toward the altar, each step meticulously timed. Jax took her hands as she reached him, a wave of relief mixed with apprehension washing over him. The officiant began the ceremony. Jax glanced up at the twinkling lights behind Lilac and his focus was soon hijacked by sudden, vivid flashes of a different scene. He saw himself dancing with the mysterious woman, their movements synchronized in a tranquil, intimate space. The soft music from his memory felt almost tangible, and the image of the woman grew clearer. His head throbbed violently, and the echo of his own voice confessing, "I'm in love with you, Alyce. I always have been," reverberated in his mind.

Without warning, the pain became overwhelming. Jax dropped Lilac's hands, clutching his head and sinking to his knees. His cries of agony cut through the ceremony, and Lilac's concern was focused on the disrupted live stream. She tried to maintain composure, calming the guests amidst the chaos.

Vela rushed to her son's side, her face a mask of worry, but Jax's suffering rendered him oblivious to her presence. His world spun with the relentless pain, and the vision of Alyce—whoever she was—continued to haunt him.