Melody

Dad links his arm through mine. There are tears in his eyes when he says, "Are you ready, baby girl?"

I beam at my dad. Like most people, including myself, he's trying to battle his inner emotions. Today is a bittersweet day. I'm ecstatic to be marrying Kal and have this moment of forever. What saddens me is that "'til death do us part" will take on its meaning within a matter of months. Leaving Kal and the people I love behind... it's unfathomable. It makes me feel like the villain, when the villain is the cancer spreading through my body.

I wasn't joking when I said I'd approve of Ella marrying Kal. After I die, I want someone who will fill Kal's life with love, compassion, and adventure. Ella is that person. Sometimes, I see Ella looking at him in ways I can't comprehend. It's a mix of reminiscence and longing, and I don't think she's aware of it.

Seeing Ella this way doesn't bother me. Years of history exist between them, and there's something special about your first love. Especially when it's Kaleb Jones. He's notorious for stealing hearts. His charm is enough to bring you to your knees.

And then there's Kal... He cares so much about his friends and family. For him, falling in love with Ella again would be like fitting the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle into place. Natural. Ever since Ryland—that fucking asshole—cheated on Ella, Kal's been so good to her.

Whether they'll admit it, there's still something there between them. Knowing that both of them will find happiness makes my heart ache less. All I want is for them to be happy. Remember me, but also be happy.

Somewhere, in all the pain that life brings, happiness exists. It's like the sun. Clouds will cover it and shed their tears across the world. Other days, golden light will fill the darkest of corners, giving you the strength to begin again.

That reassurance—that safety net is what I have to hold on to.

They'll find happiness again. Broken hearts heal, love persists, and memories never fade.

Which is why I give my dad's forearm a squeeze and nod. "I'm ready, Dad."

Behind the closed doors, the soft trickle of music seeps through. It isn't the regular wedding march that plays in movies. It's a violin version of "Songbird" by Fleetwood Mac.

Clearing his throat, Dad pushes the doors open and we step through. The first person I see is Kal. He's standing at the end of the aisle at the altar. He's dressed in a black suit with a tie that matches the baby-pink accents. His dark medium wavy hair is textured and calm; it forms relaxed waves while looking sophisticated. When he sees me, his lips form a surprised 'o.' His eyes are wide with awe, and I have to look away to control my reddening cheeks. Kal's stare is always intense when he's laden with passion. Right now, it's almost unbearable. Knowing that gaze is reserved for me makes me want to do other things. Things that involve his hands and mouth and the rest of his body.

To prevent my mind from going there, I survey the area. We packed the limited seating arrangements with close friends and family. My nerves are shaky, so I keep my gaze focused on the floor. It's outlined with tea-light candles and seashells and covered with pink rose petals. Ahead, baby's breath and sparkly white gossamer fabric decorate the altar. Above the altar is an arch. It comprises bleached beach wood, white gossamer fabric, and an abundance of pink roses with tropical greens.

Behind the stunning setup and beautiful bridesmaids and groomsmen is a view of the ocean. The sun hangs just above the horizon, creating a watercolour effect across the water. There are splashes of pink, gold, and orange. It makes my nose burn. Although my luck has been down, the world gave me a perfect wedding.

At the bottom step, I turn and give Dad a hug, whispering how much I love him. Then I join Kal at the altar.

He flashes me a dazzling smile and takes my hands, squeezing them.

The officiant clears her throat. She's a tall woman in her mid-forties and she's wearing a simple black dress. Her silver hair is tied into a tight bun resting at the nape.

"Welcome, everyone," she says. Her voice is powerful, and it echoes through the room. "I would like to welcome you all to Melody Johnston and Kaleb Jones' wedding. We gather with them today to celebrate a magical day full of love and eternal happiness. Thank you all for being here for this intimate ceremony. Do not underestimate the importance of your presence; it is clear each one of you plays a significant role in the lives of Melody and Kaleb. I truly can't think of a better venue than Grey Shore Resort and Spa for such a monumental occasion. "

She looks at the crowd, then at Kal and I.

"Meeting the person who completes you is a remarkable moment. It's that pivotal experience where you hang between the balance of confidence and insecurity. It's like jumping into the lake. You don't know what awaits you below the surface, but it promises you relief on a hot summer day. Like love promises you an equal distribution of life's calamities and blessings. The weight no longer ravages your strength. Unity and love are the promises of forever. Rooted in faith, trust, and acceptance, we are honoured to watch the love, laugher, and tenderness become concrete through Melody and Kaleb's vows. This ceremony is to witness and affirm the choice they have made to stand together as life mates and partners. Forever."

Forever.

I don't miss the way Kal's jaw clenches. To calm him down, I give his hands a squeeze. He can't let reality ruin this day. If we have to celebrate our wedding under the false notion of forever, I'm okay with that. All I want is for today to be a happy day. At least we get our chance. At least we have time.

"We are honoured to be here, and support these two." The officiant flips to the next page of her book. "Melody and Kaleb have decided to recite their own vows. Kaleb, we will begin with yours."

Kal clears his throat. "Mel, I was a dick the first day I met you."

A wave of laughter rumbles through the crowd.

I smile, fighting off the tears. He wasn't a dick. His attitude was cocky, but he was respectful and he called me out when I made a comment that contradicted my own. Together, we broke the stereotypes we'd been discussing and made a deal. Meeting up with Kal, Brenna, and Shea after the concert was the day my life changed.

"Every day, when I wake up and see your face in the morning, I wonder, What would've happened had I not given her toilet paper?" He chuckles, tugging at the collar of his dress shirt. "Whenever my mind tries to play that scenario, the one where I walk away, it short-circuits. Because imagining a life without you is impossible. My body, my mind, my soul, and my heart. They all belong to you."

He pauses and clears his throat. I give his hands another squeeze. Emotions are at an all-time high today. All we can do is to be patient with each other.

"Our story isn't meant to end," he chokes. "Until it does, I'll be by your side, caught up in our forever. I will laugh with and comfort you during these times of joy and sorrow. I will be by your side until the end, Mel. These words will never do my emotions justice, but I love you, Mel. I love you so fucking much."

Over Kal's shoulder, I see Shea dip his head down. One hand wipes at his face. Jayden wraps an arm around his shoulders and pulls him in for a side hug. Hunter rests a hand on Shea's shoulder, squeezing it. Isaac looks a little out of place, but his expression does not differ from the rest of theirs. It makes my stomach do a funny flip. The support system I have is beautiful.

My eyes threaten to well with tears, but I take a few deep breaths and center myself.

"Kal," I say. My voice is rough. "You're right. Words can't do justice for the emotions we share." A small smile crosses my lips. "Which is why I'm keeping these vows simple. I love you, Kal. I'll love you until I take my last breath." My gaze drops to the floor for a second. When I look at Kal again, my nose burns. "I-I need you to make me a promise. We've been dealt a forlorn hand. Whenever I look at you, I can see and feel how much you love me. I hope you feel the same from me." He nods, but fear fills his eyes as I clear my throat. "When it happens, promise me something. Promise me you'll find happiness again. You deserve the world, Kal."

Behind me, I can feel Ella's presence. As things continue to tumble downhill, I'll reconnect them. There's something special about a first love, especially when there's rich history. Kal and Ella deserve happiness.

Kal's voice is a whisper. "I promise."

A moment of silence passes through the room. Once Kal has regained his composure, he nods at the officiant.

"The rings, if you will," the officiant says.

Brenna steps forward, holding out the rings. Shea was supposed to hold on to the rings, but he has a history of dropping them. Although Kal will find an opportunity to outdo Shea, he didn't want it to be because of him dropping the wedding rings. Too copycat-ish. The banter between the two of them was hilarious.

Kal and I each take a ring, and the officiant continues on.

"Will you, Kaleb Jones, take this woman to be your wedded wife?"

Kal's eyes search mine. "I will." He slides the ring onto my finger.

"Will you, Melody Johnston, take this man to be your wedded husband?"

"I will," I whisper, sliding the ring onto his finger.

The officiant clears her throat. "By the power of your love and commitment, and the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss each other!"

Kal rests his hand against the nape of my neck. His Adam's apple bobs as he swallows.

And then he's kissing me.

His kiss is so passionate it almost brings me to my knees. He tangles his fingers in my hair and tips my head back, deepening the kiss. Each stroke of his tongue is demanding, and his mouth tastes like spearmint.

It's a kiss I could lose myself in.

It's also one that is far too inappropriate for an intimate wedding.

Using the heel of my hand, I hit KJ in the chest. It's a light hit, but it has enough force to make him stumble. He presses his forehead against mine and tries to control his breathing.

"We're in public, Kal."

His teeth graze my bottom lip. "As if I fucking care."

The urge in his kiss is tempting. I want to melt into his embrace and let him show how much he loves me.

But I give him another push.

This time, Kal backs off. His cheeks are pink, and he gives me a sheepish smile.

Using this as his opportune moment, Shea leans forward. I can smell his cologne. He rests his hand on Kal's shoulder. "Look, KJ. I get it. When you seal the marriage with a kiss, all you want to do after is fuck. You'll get to that point, trust me. Right now, man, you gotta clean up your act before it turns into live-action porn. You've already outdone me dropping the wedding ring."

Kal rolls his eyes and shrugs Shea off. "Fuck you, man."

Both of them laugh, and then we're back into wedding mode. Kal and I kiss one more time, and then we're heading down the aisle, the small crowd cheering. I mentally photograph this moment, locking it away in my mind and heart. It's something I will need on days when the world seems bleak. This moment will be that light in the dark.

Once we're in the foyer area, Kal pulls me into a tight hug. His hands are splayed across my bag. Body heat radiates from him and he presses his forehead to mine. "I love you, Mel."

His words are full of underlying meanings. There's so much desperation in his voice it breaks my heart. He doesn't have faith in himself. He thinks he won't be able to fall in love again.

He dips his head down and rests his forehead against mine. Tears trickle down his cheeks.

"I love you," he repeats.

Pulling Kal into a hug, I kiss away the tears. They're salty against my lips.

"I love you, too, Kal."