Aurora Lockheart was once the sunshine girl-bright, kind, and full of life. But one night changed everything, leaving her a shadow of who she used to be.
A year later, just as she's beginning to think she'll never find her way back, her ex-best fr...
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August 16th, 2006
They say you should never act on your most impulsive decisions, but here we were—me and Gerard, fresh out of school, freshly eighteen, standing in a dimly lit, cramped courthouse on a Tuesday morning, nine a.m. sharp. And we were getting married.
The courthouse was still quiet, with only a faint buzz from a flickering light overhead, and the early sun barely casting its rays through the windows. Somewhere between the nerves, the half-baked plan, and the surreal feeling of being here, it hit me: we were actually doing it. I was becoming his wife.
Last night, after hours of music, laughter, and a few too many tequila shots at Biddie's, we stumbled back to his place, tired but happier than we'd been in ages. By dawn, both of us lay sprawled on his couch, my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. That's when he'd looked down and, in classic Gerard fashion, slurred out, "Marry me, Princess." I should've laughed it off or told him to sleep it off. But instead, I'd looked up, met his eyes, and felt something deep, something bigger than us that felt like the most natural thing in the world. So, I'd whispered back, "Okay." And that was that.
Now here we were, clutching hands as the clerk droned on about paperwork and licenses. I was too giddy to fully listen, only vaguely aware of how Gerard kept sneaking glances at me, his eyes sparkling with that reckless thrill—the kind that said we were doing something ridiculous, wonderful, completely ours.
When it was time to say our vows, my heart hammered so hard I thought it might drown out everything else. Gerard took my hands, his face softened with a mix of nerves and the same unwavering sincerity he'd had since we were kids.
"I don't know if I'm doing this right," he started, flashing a crooked smile that made my heart skip a beat. "Aurora, you've been my best friend, my partner in crime, and sometimes my personal therapist. You're the only person who's seen me at my worst and still shows up like it's no big deal. I know we're young, and maybe this is all kinds of insane, but... I don't care. I want to keep doing life with you—laughing, fighting, figuring it out. So today, I'm choosing you, and I'm going to keep choosing you, for all the days I get."
And then he paused, his smirk turning almost boyish. "Also," he lowered his voice, his gaze mischievous, "I totally faked running into you on your first day. I'd seen you go into Twomey's office and thought, 'There she is—the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. I need an excuse.'" I bit my lip, trying not to laugh as he continued, "So yeah, maybe I've been stalking you since age twelve, but it's paid off, so I regret nothing."
When it was my turn, I felt a wave of memories rush in—the messy, wonderful, sometimes painful years we'd had together. I could still see that boy with tousled hair who had walked into my life and unknowingly set it on a course I'd never have expected.
"Gerard, you came into my life just when I needed someone who understood me without question. You've been my anchor through the storms, the first person I want to tell everything to, the last person I want to fight with. You've stood by me through things no one else would understand, and you've loved me even when my life was... complicated. You've given me a safe place to be, and in you, I've found a friend, a partner, and the one person who makes life feel like an adventure."
He grinned, looking proud and utterly relaxed, like the guy who could make all my worries evaporate just by being there.
With those words between us, he took out a small, simple ring—something he'd picked up at an all-night pawn shop we'd passed on our way here. The silver band was modest and a little worn, but it was beautiful because he'd chosen it for me. This ring held the promise of all our late-night confessions, whispered secrets, and dreams of a future together.
The clerk cleared his throat, and with a final, satisfied nod, announced, "By the power vested in me by the state, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Gerard's face lit up with pure, unabashed joy as he leaned in, wrapping me in a kiss that made the rest of the world disappear. It was just us, bound together in a way that defied logic and time and everything we'd been told was sensible. It was madness. It was perfect.
When we finally pulled apart, we both stood there, slightly dazed, holding on to each other like lifelines. It hit me that we were, in every sense, tethered to one another now. I was his, and he was mine, no matter what came next.
"Now, let's get out of here," he whispered, tugging my hand as we made our way out of the courthouse, dodging curious glances and stifled laughs. The air outside was cool and fresh, and as we walked hand in hand down the steps, it felt like a brand-new beginning. There was no rush, no need for explanations. We had no plans to tell anyone yet, no need for fanfare or announcements. This was our secret, our sacred moment.
Later that morning, we found ourselves sitting on the hood of his car, the courthouse a dot on the horizon, the quiet hum of life waking up around us. We shared a lukewarm Pepsi and passed back and forth a half-melted Cadbury chocolate bar, the taste familiar and sweet, making us both smile. The realization of what we'd done settled over us like a cozy, quiet warmth, something that felt as simple and as right as that shared chocolate between us.
"Think we're insane?" he asked with a grin, raising his cup in a toast to whatever craziness lay ahead.
"Probably," I replied, laughing, clinking my cup against his. "But I wouldn't want to be insane with anyone else."
"Good," he said, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Because this is just the beginning. Our beginning."
Sitting there with him, the early morning sun warming our skin, I felt a wave of pure happiness that I'd never known before. We didn't know what the future held, and sure, we'd probably face some hurdles. But right here, right now, none of it mattered. We had each other, and for the first time, that was more than enough.
