You Are My Life

Chapter 30- Here comes the bride

Saria’s p.o.v.

Today was the day; the big long day full of raw emotion, nervousness, and overall joy. “Hun just relax, everything is going to be okay,” Karen spoke calmly as she finished up the curls to put them up in a messy yet elegant looking bun. She stepped back and tucked, pulled, and moved around some pieces, “aaaaand perfect!” she smiled as she slid in the white rose in the side of my hair. I sat back and relaxed as much as possible as she started on my makeup leaving it classy but not over the top. Every once in awhile people would filter in and out of the room trying to get everything in order; Mamma Kay commenting on how angelic I looked, Janet, Rebbie, and  La Toya teasing me about what happens after you get married, then  Abby and Raquel trying not to cry because of the fact that everything was about to change. My two best friends warmed my hearts because in a way their love and charismatic ways for me were like those of a mother, in a way they were my mother. They had gotten everything ready and set and were just messing around keeping my nerves on ease and every once in awhile you could hear one of the sisters yelling at Michael to stay away from our bedroom because ‘he doesn’t get any peeks, he has to wait until I walk down the isle.’ I laughed as I listen to Janet fighting with Michael in the hall, he so wanted to see me. I could hear him pleading, “Dunk please just let me talk to her, it’s not bad luck you’re just full of it.” “No Michael!! She’s getting ready still and it won’t kill you to wait an hour more or so.” “Dunk, please.” “No applehead get out!!!” I smiled, my baby missed me. I missed him too, his sisters had insisted that me and Michael sleep separately the night before the wedding to make it all the more special to see each other the next day. “Alright, makeup and hair is done!” Karen chirped, “Now time to get in that beautiful dress.” She helped me slip it on and put on my heels, it was about 30 minutes or so until the wedding was to begin and everyone was starting to get in their places. I went and looked out of the windows and I could see the gazebo decorated just like we wanted it and people filling in the chairs on either side of the isle. I smiled seeing Michael stand next to the pastor and some others talking away, hopefully he wasn’t as nervous as I was. “Saria, it’s time to get the procession set up.” Janet walked in holding my bouquet. “Okay.” We headed out and everyone lined up; Rebbie and Jackie, La Toya and Tito, Janet and Jermaine, Abby and Marlon, Raquel and Randy, Marlon Jr with the ring pillow and his cousin Brandi with a basket of rose petals. They stood before me and my father waiting for the que to start. I could feel myself shaking, my fathers grip on me was firm and probably the only thing keeping me standing upright. “Saria, you look so beautiful….like a true princess.” He kissed my cheek and I smiled, “Thanks dad.” He smiled trying to hold back tears and I did the same as the music began signaling the wedding party to start down the isle. One by one they moved down the isle revealing the crowd in front of us to me. Oh my god I was so nervous. “Just focus on what’s ahead of you sweetheart,” my dad whispered in my ear. I wasn’t sure if he was talking about what was ahead of my physically as in Michael or the future ahead of us, either way they were both Michael. He stood next to the pastor watching his niece and nephew head towards him looking cute in their little dress and tux. Finally the music changed to the wedding march and the pastor called out “All rise.” Every one sitting down stood up and turned to face the isle awaiting me to head down. My dad patted my hand that was interlocked in his arm and smiled, I took in a deep breath and exhaled, here we go.

Michael’s p.o.v.

“All rise.” At that point a million butterflies erupted in my stomach. My eyes darted to the very back as Saria and her father made their way under the floral arch and down the isle. My breath caught in my throat, my smile had gone from happy to completely ecstatic, and I could feel tears brimming in my eyes. She smiled meekly as she walked towards me, keeping her stare on me the entire time. God was I lucky; I was marrying the most gorgeous women I’ve ever seen. Her dress flowed behind her like a goddess, her face showed all of her angelic qualities, and she was just beautiful…always and forever. Finally she made it to the steps of the gazebo. I stepped down and stood in front of her with a giant grin. “Who is it that brings this woman to this man?” the pastor asked looking down on us. “I do,” Saria’s father said. He caressed her cheek as he planted a kiss on her forehead, then he laid her hand in mine and held his hand over ours. “Take care of her…” he whispered to me as he pulled his hands away and stepped back to go sit down. I took her hand in mine and we turned to face the minister, “We are gathered here today in the sight of God and angels, and in the presence of friends and loved ones, to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes and blessings to the words which shall unite Michael and Saria in holy matrimony. Marriage is a most honorable estate, created and Instituted by God, signifying unto us the mystical union, which also rests between Christ and the Church; so too may this marriage be adorned by true and abiding love. Life is given to each of us as individuals, and yet we must learn to live together. Love is given to us by our family and friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and living together is one of life’s greatest challenges and is the shared goal of a married life. But a husband and wife should not confuse love of worldly measures for even if worldly success is found; only love will maintain a marriage. Mankind did not create love; love is created by God. The measure of true love is a love both freely given and freely accepted, just as God’s love of us is unconditional and free. Today truly is a glorious day the Lord has made – as today both of you are blessed with God’s greatest of all gifts – the gift of abiding love and devotion between a man and a woman. All present here today – and those here in heart – wish both of you all the joy, happiness, and success the world has to offer. As you travel through life together, I caution you to remember that the true measure of success, the true avenue to joy and peace, is to be found within the love you hold in your hearts. I would ask that you hold the key to your heart very tightly. Within the Bible, nothing is of more importance than love. We are told the crystalline and beautiful truth: “God is Love”. We are assured that “Love conquers all”. It is love, which brings you here today, the union of two hearts and two spirits. As your lives continue to interweave as one, remember that it was love that brought you here today, it is love that will make this a glorious union, and it is love which will cause this union to endure.” I squeezed Saria’s hand as I felt so much joy fill me; soon she would be my wife, my lover for eternity, Mrs. Jackson. “Would you please face each other and join hands. Michael do you take Saria to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only to her forevermore?” I smiled brightly at her holding back more tears, “I do.” She smiled at me trying not to cry either. “Saria do you take Michael to be your Husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only to him forevermore?” she sniffled a little as she looked up and into my eyes; hers portraying every emotion possible. “I do,” her voice shook a little. I smiled down at her as she held onto my hand for dear life, just a little bit longer and she’ll be mine forevermore. The pastor spoke up, “Now I believe that Michael and Saria have some words prepared to share with us. Michael?” I cleared my throat and tried not to sound like I was about to cry. I looked deep into her eyes and just let the words I felt for her flow, “From the moment I realized how much you meant to me, how much pain it would cause me to loose you, I knew you were the one I wanted to marry….. the one I needed to survive. Just to say ‘I love you’ never seems enough, I’ve said it so many times. I am afraid you won’t understand when I really mean it when I say it. How so much feeling, so much adoration can possibly fit into those three little words. But until I find some other way of saying what I feel, then ‘I love you’ will do. So no matter how many times I say it, never take it lightly. For you are my life, and you are my only love. I love you now and more the ever before.” All through-out the crowd I heard sniffles and ‘awwws’, but I tried my best to keep my eyes clear of tears so I could look at my beautiful bride. She smiled and sniffled as a few tears coursed down her delicate face. Instinctively I reached down and wiped them away and that just got more noise from the crowd. The pastor looked to her, “Saria?” She smiled at him then looked at me taking a shaky breath before she began speaking. “I actually wrote a poem for my vows,” she smiled at me and then began,

“Born out of misery, heartache, and strife;
This is the story of the love of my life
No shining armor, no trumpets were sounded,
Only pure love and caring abounded.
Like a child you held me and brought me back 
From the deepest hole, gave me what I lacked.
Through it all, you were by my side
Your patience was long, many hours I cried.
The pit was so black, so void of the light
I had almost given up, my heart would’ve died,
But there you were, candle lighting the way
You pulled me out of the pit where I stayed.
And now I woke up 
In the brightness of the sun
In front of you my family and everyone
The future seems bright
I know that it's true
I wouldn't spend it anywhere
Without spending it with you.
You are all things good in this world
We could be poor or broke
But I wouldn't care, as long as you're there
The love is all I'll know.
Thank you will never be enough
But three words still ring true
I'll never get tired of looking you in the eyes 
And getting to say
I love you.”

Her words melted my heart, I just wanted to wrap her in my arms and kiss her lips forever, never ever stop. Her poem was absolutely beautiful and something that really hit me right in the heart. The minister had us continue holding each other’s hands, “Could I get the rings?” my nephew lifter the pillow to him and the crowd giggled as the pastor took the pillow and took the rings off and handed him back the pillow. He whispered, “Can you hold on to this?” my shy nephew nodded his head and took it. “Now Michael repeat after me,” he handed me Saria’s ring to slide on her finger while I repeated the vows, “I, Michael take thee Saria, to be my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore.” And with that the ring was placed on her finger sealing my words. “Now Saria,” she took my ring ready to slide it on me, “I, Saria take thee Michael to be my Husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore.” Our hands held each other’s with our newly placed rings. The pastor continued on with the ceremony, “Michael and Saria, as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together – as from this day forward you shall be each other’s home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance unto you, and give you peace.

In so much, the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the giving of these rings and the joining of your hands, I now declare you to be husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.” My nerves shot at the words the pastor just spoke; I could hear one of my brothers yelling at me to kiss her before her lips get cold. The crowd laughed and I probably turned a little red in the face, but aside from that, I zoned in on Saria and only her. She was now my wife, Mrs. Jackson. The love of my life was now mine and all mine. I tucked a curl in behind her ear as I cupped her dainty face in my hands and kissed her so passionately and sweetly. Everything else in that moment melted away and it was just the two of us starting off our lives together as one.

“I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Jackson.” The music started up and we made our way down the isle hand in hand as everyone clapped. We rushed back to the house to breathe for a minute before we met up with everyone else outside later for the reception. She sighed at I closed the door to our room and turned to her, a smiled still plastered across my face. “Well how do you feel Mrs. Jackson?” she giggled, “wonderful Mr. Jackson.” I walked up to her and brought her into another long heated kiss.