Torned Pages

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9: THE BRIDE'S VOW

HANNAH

I can't help it that everytime I look at Axel I see Max.  They are so alike but not identical.

Max has straight black hair that he always pushback. He always got annoyed everytime I want to see him with his baby bangs.  While Axel has this black wavy hair that seems so good to touch.

Max has a lighter skin tone than Axel. And Max has thinner lips too. Yet they have their same baby blue eyes. A blue eyes that always pulls me into the deep ocean just by staring at it.  The eye color that makes me wanna move closer to that person just to drown in that person's eyes. Specially with Max. His eyes had drowned me several times in our relationship. And now I am looking straight into the same colored eye but in a different person making a vow in our fake wedding.  Yet I'm still drowning again.

When Axel said 'Till death do us part' and kisses both of my hands, I can't help but to cry again. I wish it could be Max who will say those words to me. I wish it could be him. I wish it was always him. But now it's impossible. Because death took him away from me without even saying goodbyes.

Axel slowly let go of my hands and cupped my face and wiped my tears away. And smiled brightly. He then let go of my face then gestured at me to look at our priest. Now I looked at the Mr. Manuel our priest and he nods.

" Now Ms. Bride, follow my lead." He said to me  so I nodded to as a sign that I will follow his lead.

I know it's hard to make a vow for a stranger so it was actually unfair for Axel, but while I'm making my vow, I imagined that he was Max.

" I say your name" Mr. manuel said.

" I Hannah Willows." I said while looking down and grabbed Axel's one hand. He looks suprised for I think that he may thought that I won't act as a bride to him. But this is a game that I had to play. But little did he know Max is all I've been thinking about right now.

" Take say his name as my lawfully wedded husband" he added

" Take Axel Miller as my lawfully wedded husband" I said while slowly moving my gaze into his eyes and slowly grabbed his other hand. Now I'm looking into the eyes that reminds me of Max. Can't help this tears again.  Axel was so worried, I can see it in his eyes yet he managed to calm himself to not disturb my vow.

"For better or for worse. "

"For better or for worse." I said as I'm being drowned in his eyes and intertwined my fingers into his fingers and how amazing that it fits so perfectly. Just like how my hands fits perfectly in Max's hands. He tightened our grip and smiled.

" For richer or for poorer."

" For richer of for poorer." I said then held his cheeks and pinch it a little bit. I love doing this to Max's chubby bubbly little cut cheeks. He giggled and I smiled.

" In sickness and in health."

" In sickness and in health." I said as I made a pinky promise gesture. He grabbed my pinky finger with his and now we made a pinky promise.

"Till death do us part."

"Till death do us part." I said and kissed both of our hands in a pinky promise position while still staring at his baby blue eyes.  He smiled brightly.

We both stood up firmly and looked at Mr.Manuel.

" Now by the power vested in me. I now pronounce you husband and wife." He said so loudly. As he looked Axel when he said 'husband' and turned his gaze to me as he said 'wife'.

" You may now kiss the bride." he said and looked at Axel while his eyebrows are going up and down. I giggled a bit.

Axel looked at me as if was asking for permission and I nodded because we need to finish the game.

He remove the vail from my face then held my face with both of his hands. I can hear the children screaming because of romantic excitement. I smiled then looked at Axel's eyes. He was now moving so close to me. Ready for the kiss. I closed my eyes, and waited for his lips to press in mine when suddenly we all stopped because of a voice.

" What's happening here?" Sister Emma said. So Axel and I stood up firmly looking at the two sisters. Sister Lara was smiling maybe also feeling romantic excitement but Sister Emma is not quite smiling. Maybe she's just shocked.

Mr. Manuel stood up and said " This is just a role playing game, the children asked both of them to play a fake marriage game. Isn't that cute?" He said an smiled like a child.

" It is cute." Sister Lara said and smiled brightly.

We all looked at sister Emma and waited for her answer. It was really a suspense moment for all.

" Love is not a game children, Love is the most powerful thing in this world. And because I love all of you, let's finish this game. You may now kiss the bride." Sister Emma said and all the children jumped and shouted in joy. 

Axel and I laughed and he cupped my face again and his face is slowly moving towards mine, and I closed my eyes and waited for his lips to press in mine. And it did. I kissed back just once and we both smiled between the kiss and after that we both stood up and all are clapping. We are both smiling. 

" Who's hungry? Let's make snacks. " Sister Emma said cheering the children.

" I will lead the baking." Axel said and raised his hands. All shouted in joy.  Axel walked towards them and pulled me yet I didn't move. He looked at me worried.

" Do you feel better here?I know you're still not okay but are cheering up even just a bit? " he said.

I nodded. " It feels like home. But can I be alone just for a moment? I want fresh air. Please." I said and looked at his eyes.

He nodded and said " I will just bake for you. Take care. My fake wife." He said and we both laughed.

He ran towards the kitchen with all the children and I was left here in garden alone. I removed my vail and the blanket I am wearing and folded it neatly. Now I am wearing just a white tank top and my joggers. Its cold yet I wandered around the garden and I saw an open play ground and seated on a swing. I thought about my vow to Axel.

And I started talking to the wind. "Max." just saying his name makes me cry. I smiled and took a deep breath.

" Max. I wish it was you I am making a vow too. I wish that Till death do us part yet death takes you away from me so early. There's so many things we haven't done yet. To be married, to start a family and to grow old. If there's someone that will never leave my heart, it was always you. " I said in the wind pretending that Max can hear me. And I started swinging wishing he was here.