LOVE'S QUAGMIRE [18+]

Chapter 59: Us

AUTHOR'S NOTE-

Play the song in the background where mentioned, on repeat, to really soak in the emotion and make it even more beautiful and imaginable. You can go perfectly with [Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do] or [Jasmine Rae - When I Found You]. I had them on repeat while writing this chapter, and they made everything feel so real and intense. 

Cyrus's POV~

[Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do]

Okay, deep breath. This is it. I'm standing at the altar, and it's almost time. I glance around, ticking off my mental checklist:

Suit? Check.

Vows memorized? Check.

Ring? Check, and double-check.

Look calm and composed? Well, I'm trying.

Everything seems to be in order, but my mind is racing a mile a minute. I keep telling myself to relax, but the flutter in my chest says otherwise. 

I glance at the door and see everyone shifting in their seats, their heads turning in anticipation. The murmurs in the room fade to a low buzz, and it feels like the world is holding its breath.

The doors swing open with a soft creak, and the room falls into a deep silence.

My heart stops.

There she is— the love of my life.

My Daphne.

 She's standing there—just a few feet away—and for a second, I forget how to breathe.

She's wearing this white gown, and I swear it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It catches the light in a way that makes her look like she's glowing, like something out of a dream. My dream.

And God, she's always been stunning, but today? Today she's something else entirely.

I let out this quiet chuckle because I can't help it. My eyes lock onto the veil gently covering her face, and even though it's there, it doesn't matter. 

I can feel her looking at me. 

Nine years. Nine years of dreaming about this day. And now she's here, walking toward me, and I know—I know—this is it. She's it. My everything.

And the second she reaches me, I swear I'll never let her go again.

And then she starts walking—those last steps toward me—and everything else just fades. The people. The music. The low hum of voices around us. It all blurs like background noise. It's just her. Every beat of my heart is for her right now, and I can barely catch my breath.

The moment her father places her hand in mine, my chest tightens in the best way—like something inside me just fell into place, a perfect click I didn't even know I was waiting for. She's here. Right in front of me. And I swear I don't think I've ever held onto anything more carefully in my life.

I can't stop staring. The veil still hides her face, but it doesn't matter. I know what's waiting underneath—that smile that'll knock the wind clean out of me. That smile I've fallen for a thousand times over. My thumb brushes against her knuckles, my grip tightening slightly as if to say, I've got you. I'll always have you.

I squeeze her hand gently, the words I can't quite say stuck in my throat. But I hope she knows. I hope she can feel it.

Her father clears his throat, pulling me out of my thoughts, and starts to speak, his voice steady but laced with deep emotion, "Five years ago, I stood here, right in this spot," he paused to collect his thoughts.