Set Him Free

When I'm Happy

Something old...

"I-I got you something," he said, shivering as the white snow fell from the night sky around him. My eyes widened as I ushered him inside my house.

"Why are you not wearing a coat? Or shoes, for that matter?" I scolded him in a playful tone, but suspicion was buried underneath my amusement. 

"I only have a few more hours until it's no longer your 18th birthday. I know you said you didn't want anything, but I figured you were bluffing." He shoved the small jewelry box into my hands and nodded for me to hurry up and open it.

I carefully pulled apart the bow which held the box together. Inside was a delicate silver bracelet with a few pendants hooked onto it. Of the five charms, there was a simple circular diamond, a heart, an open book, a music note, and a star covered with little, glittering jewels. It was simple but beautiful, and Trent was obviously proud of what he found for me.

"It's perfect, Trent. Thank you," I said, looking up at him with a smile.

He grinned back, clipping the bracelet around my wrist before pulling me into a hug. "Anything for you."

Something new...

Prim handed me a gorgeous, silver comb adorned with garnet gems. Around the stones were intricate drawings of flowers and other designs that were etched out of the hard metal. I looked at it in surprise, my eyes watering at the sight of the comb which I had raved about only a few days before at the jewelry store.

"I couldn't let you go out there without this," she said with a knowing smile before pushing the comb into my hair right above to my veil. Lilee stood a few feet away, capturing this sweet moment on her camera.

I've never hugged her so hard.

Something borrowed...

After we told her and my step father the news of Trent and I's engagement, my mother pulled me away from the excitement and to the living room. I followed her to one of the bookshelves that lined the walls of the spacious room and watched her take down a small, wooden jewelry box that the twins and I were never allowed to touch.

She turned away from me and opened the box, not letting me look inside as she took out a pair of pearl earrings. After she put the box away and noticed my raised eyebrow, she sighed. "Many years ago, before I had you or married your step father, I fell in love. He was a rebellious boy with charm that could make any girl fall for him. But he chose me." She smiled in a daze, looking down at the earrings. "My mother, your grandmother, didn't approve. No matter how many times I tried to convince her that Conner was kind towards me, that he cared for me, she wouldn't listen. She believed that his dangerous streak would pull apart eventually, and that I would only get hurt.


 Six months after meeting him, I married your father. Before the ceremony, your grandmother handed me these with a warning: that when he left me, she wouldn't be there to pick up the pieces." My mom quickly swiped her wet cheeks and looked into my eyes with a conviction I've never seen before. "Your father left us when you were 8 years old. Maybe it was because we weren't enough for him. But I think it was because I always believed my mother, no matter how hard I tried to convince myself that what we had would last."

Her eyes glossy, she took my hand and dropped the earrings into my open palm. "I'm giving you these things with a warning as well. Things will get hard, Paige. You'll feel lost or loved, broken or optimistic. But I'm telling you now; never, ever let go of the one you love. I want you to keep your happily ever after."

For the first time in years, I hugged my mother with a true, genuine love.

Something blue...

"Paige Harper!" A shrill, youthful voice called out to me. I turned around to see Jessamyn Carter walking towards me with a silly grin on her face.

I squealed, literally, and pulled away from the lady who was doing my hair to hug my un-biological little sister. We stood there and hugged like two middle school girls, laughing and crying at the same time, before she pulled away and hit my shoulder in a playful manner. "Oh my gosh, it's been forever! I'd love to chat, like really love to, but I only came to drop something off."

She dug around in her purse and took out a blue, braided anklet. "There, something blue. Riah made it a few days ago and I thought I'd help contribute to your wedding."

Jess entered college just as I graduated from it, and not only a year later she became pregnant. Her boyfriend left as soon as he heard, but the determined girl wouldn't abort the baby. Nine months later, little Mariah was born into a world with a loving mother ready to give her a wonderful life. With the help of her family and I, Jess now had two year old angel to call her daughter.

I smiled at the her kind gesture. "Aw, that's so sweet. But how am I going to wear this?"

She rolled her eyes. "Around your ankle, obviously. Don't worry, your dress will cover it. It's the thought that counts."

And with a wink and a good luck, she walks out of the bridesmaid's room to congratulate the groom.

The doors open.

He tears up and I smile, my eyes burning with unshed tears.

I walk down the aisle.

His hand wraps around mine like it has so many times before, but my whole body still gets set ablaze when our skin connects.

The priest goes through our vows.

His voice repeats the words confidently and thick with emotion. My heart feels like it's about to explode with the deep love I feel for him.

We're declared husband and wife.

I'm pulled into a kiss that could light up a million galaxies. When we pull apart, I see a promise written in his eyes.

He was never going to let me fall.

Love is something that is either a friend or a foe. It's an enemy or a soulmate. It's a knife or a bandage. But one thing that's for certain about love is that it's true and forever when you figure out what it means to you. Once you learn what your heart is telling you, the truth will set you free.

THE END...

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A/N

Unofficial ending chapter of Set Him Free! Thank you to everyone who has kept reading this book, even with the weird updates and bad editing skills :)

There will be an epilogue and bonus POV chapters!!!

Also, don't be shy xD Tell me what you thought of the book! 

Thanks again!!

-Tessa <3