The Anniversary

Ding ~ ding ~ ding ~

The church was bathed in warm sunlight, the golden beams casting colorful patterns across the stone floor. The bride stood beside the groom, her heart full, yet her breath caught in her chest. The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, as if this moment was the only one that mattered.

The officiant's voice was calm, gentle, as he spoke the vows.

"Do you, Louisa, take Ross as your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, for better or for worse, until death do you part?"

Her voice trembled with joy and certainty. "I do."

He turned to the groom, his gaze steady but his words carrying a weight, a hint of something more profound. "And do you, Ross, take Louisa as your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do you part-or until what waits beyond, claims you both?"

Ross's smile was tender, his eyes never leaving hers. "I do."

As the officiant pronounced them husband and wife, the room seemed to hold its breath. Ross reached for her hand, his touch warm and strong, grounding her. He leaned in, brushing a kiss against her cheek, and whispered, "Forever, my love."

Louisa's heart swelled, and for a moment, she couldn't help but believe that nothing, not even time, could break the bond they shared. The world outside had fallen away, and in that sunlit church, all that mattered was the promise they had just made.

© 2016 by CA

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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