Turning Page - Sleeping at Last

The air buzzed with a quiet hum of excitement as I stood at the entrance, my arm looped through my father's. Each step forward would bring me closer to Nathan, the man who had become my anchor, my safe haven. Rows of familiar, beloved faces turned toward us, their expressions a mix of joy and tears.

"I've waited a hundred years, but I'd wait a million more for you."

My father's hand, steady and reassuring, gave my arm a gentle squeeze. I looked up at him, and his eyes, bright with unshed tears, met mine. His smile, filled with pride and a touch of sadness, spoke volumes.

"Nothing prepared me for what the privilege of being yours would do."

The first notes of our song floated through the air, and with a deep breath, I took my first step. The aisle stretched before me, a path that seemed both endless and fleeting. My heartbeat synced with the music, each note a step closer to Nathan.

"If I had only felt the warmth within your touch."

Sunlight poured through the stained glass windows, casting vibrant patterns on the floor. It felt like a blessing, a tangible promise of the future we were about to build. My eyes found Nathan at the end of the aisle, his gaze steady and filled with love, grounding me.

"If I had only seen how you smile when you blush."

Nathan's face was a canvas of emotions, his eyes never leaving mine. There was a slight tremor in his hands, a mirror to the fluttering in my chest. It was just the two of us, in our own world, drawn together by an invisible thread.

"Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough."

Each step brought me closer, the soft rustle of my dress mingling with the whispered breaths of our guests. Every movement was a silent vow, a promise of the life we would share. My heart swelled with each step, brimming with love and certainty.

"I would have known what I was living for all along."

Reaching the altar, my father placed my hand in Nathan's, his touch warm. Nathan's fingers wrapped around mine, fitting perfectly, as if we were made to hold each other. I turned fully to him, our eyes locking, saying everything we needed to without words.

"What I've been living for."

In that moment, the world around us faded away. It was just Nathan and me, standing on the brink of forever. The weight of the moment was balanced by a profound joy, bubbling up inside me. This was our beginning, and I couldn't have imagined a more perfect person to share it with.

"Your love is my turning page, where only the sweetest words remain."

The instrumental version of "Turning Page" filled the chapel, each note weaving through the air like a delicate promise. As Nathan's hand enclosed mine, warmth spread through me. We turned to face the officiant, who smiled warmly.

"Family and friends, we gather here today to witness and celebrate the union of Elizabeth and Nathan," the officiant began. His voice was a gentle backdrop to the music, his words a reminder of why we were here, standing together at this pivotal moment.

As the officiant continued, I stole a glance at Nathan. His eyes were glistening, a mix of excitement and overwhelming emotion. My heart swelled with love, so intense it almost hurt. This man, this wonderful, kind-hearted man, was about to become my husband.

"Today, in front of all of us, they share their vows, written from their hearts."

Nathan and I turned to face each other fully, our hands still entwined. The world narrowed to just the two of us, and I felt a wave of calm wash over me. This was right. This was everything.

Nathan cleared his throat, his eyes never leaving mine. He took a deep breath, and I could see him steadying himself, ready to lay bare his soul.

"Beth," he begins, his voice low and raw. It sends a shiver down my spine. "We've known each other our whole lives. There are pictures of us as babies, for Christ's sake."

A ripple of laughter breaks the tension. I feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes.

"You've been there for everything," Nathan continues. "My first day of school. That time I broke my arm trying to impress you. You've seen me at my best and my absolute worst."

He takes a shaky breath, and I squeeze his hands, encouraging him to go on.

"I always knew you were special, but I was too bloody blind to see what was right in front of me. You're not just my best friend, Beth. You're the missing piece of my soul."

His grip on my hands tightens, and I feel my heart might burst.

"I know our time might be short. But I swear to you, my love for you is endless. Whether we have fifty years or fifty days, I'll treasure every single moment."

I can see his eyes glistening now, matching my own.

"I promise to be your rock, your safe harbour. I'll make you laugh even when everything's gone to shit. I'll hold your hand through it all, no matter how dark it gets."

His voice drops to a whisper, and I lean in closer to hear him.

"This isn't the end, Beth. It's just the beginning of our forever. In this life and whatever comes after. Because what we have? It's too powerful to be stopped by something as trivial as death."

He brushes away a tear that's escaped down my cheek, his touch gentle.

"I vow to love you with everything I am. To support your dreams and be your strength when you falter. You're my heart, my home, and I thank whatever god is listening for every second I get with you."

His voice breaks on the last words, and I feel my own resolve crumbling.

"In this life and the next, I'll find you. I'll love you again and again, no matter where we end up."

He pulls me closer, his forehead resting against mine. "I love you, Beth. Forever and always."

As his words wash over me, I know that no matter what happens, this moment, this love, will stay with me for eternity.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

It was my turn. I took a shaky breath, feeling the weight of the moment. The music played softly in the background, a perfect accompaniment to my emotions.

"Nathan," I start, my voice low and steady despite the tempest of emotions inside me. "I never believed in fairy tales or happily ever afters. Life taught me to be cynical, to guard my heart. But you... you broke through every wall I built."

I take a deep breath, steeling myself to continue.

"You saw the darkness in me and didn't flinch. When I pushed you away, you pushed back harder. You fought for us when I was ready to give up. Your love... it's a force of nature, relentless and unyielding."

My fingers tighten around his, anchoring myself to him.

"I'm not perfect, Nathan. I'm stubborn, I'm difficult, and there are days when I'm bloody impossible to love. But you... you love me anyway. You see the best in me, even when I can't see it myself."

I feel the sting of tears, but I refuse to let them fall. Not yet.

"I can't promise you forever. I can't even promise that every day will be easy. But I can promise you this: I will fight for us, every single day. I will love you with a ferocity that will shake the foundations of the earth. I will stand by your side, through every storm, every battle, every triumph and defeat."

My voice drops to a whisper.

"And if death thinks it can separate us, it's got another thing coming. I will find you in every life, in every world. I will love you beyond the constraints of time and space. Our love... it's eternal, unbreakable."

I reach up, my hand cupping his face.

"I vow to be your partner in crime, your confidante, your lover, your friend. I promise to challenge you, to push you to be the best version of yourself. To stand with you against the world if need be."

My voice cracks.

"You are my home, Nathan. My safe harbour in a world of chaos. And I swear to you, I will spend every day of this life and the next proving to you that you are mine, and I am yours."

I lean in, my forehead touching his.

"I love you, Nathan. With every fibre of my being. Now and always. In this life and every other."​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

As I finished speaking, I realised I was gripping Nathan's hands so tightly my knuckles had turned white. But he didn't seem to mind. He was looking at me with such tenderness, such love, that for a moment I forgot how to breathe.

The officiant smiled at us. "Elizabeth and Nathan, may your time together be filled with joy and love, and may your bond continue to strengthen each day."

He then signalled for the rings. My heart raced as we turned to receive them, these small symbols that would unite us. Nathan took the ring meant for me, his hands steady.

"With this ring, I thee wed," he said softly, sliding it onto my finger. 

I took Nathan's ring, my hands trembling slightly. "With this ring, I thee wed," I replied, slipping the ring onto his finger. It fit perfectly, just like us.

The officiant beamed at us. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Nathan, you may kiss your bride."

Nathan cupped my face in his hands, so gently, as if I might break. And then he kissed me, and the world fell away. It wasn't our first kiss - that had happened months ago, awkward and sweet and perfect in its own way. But this kiss... this was a promise. A beginning. A forever.

When we finally pulled apart, the room erupted in cheers and applause. I turned to face our family and friends, Nathan's arm wrapped securely around my waist, and felt a wave of love wash over me. These people, this moment - it was everything.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of hugs and congratulations, cake and champagne - or in my case, sparkling grape juice. We'd decided against a big reception, opting instead for a small gathering right there in my parents' house. 

It was perfect - intimate and joyful, filled with laughter and love.

As the afternoon wore on, I found myself growing tired. The excitement of the day, combined with my condition, was taking its toll. Nathan noticed immediately, of course. He always noticed.

"Do you want to sit down, baby?" he asked quietly, his arm tightening around me.

I shook my head. "Not yet. I want to dance with my husband first."

His face lit up at the word 'husband', and he led me to a cleared space in the middle of the room. As if on cue, someone - I think it was Jackson - started playing a slow song.

Nathan pulled me close, one hand on my waist, the other holding mine against his chest. We swayed gently to the music, more holding each other than actually dancing.

"How are you feeling?" Nathan murmured, his lips close to my ear.

"Tired," I admitted. "But happy. So, so happy."

He kissed my temple softly. "Hold onto me as much as you need to, okay? I've got you."

I nodded, resting my head on his shoulder. "You've always got me."

As we moved slowly to the music, I let my mind wander over the events of the day. The nervous excitement of getting ready. The emotional moments with my parents. The walk down the aisle. Our vows. That kiss.

I thought about the future - the immediate future of tonight, tomorrow, next week, and the more distant future that I tried not to think about too often. There was still so much uncertainty, so much that was scary and unknown.

But right now, in this moment, none of that mattered. Right now, I was in the arms of my husband, surrounded by the people I loved most in the world. Right now, I was happy.

"I love you," I whispered into Nathan's neck.

I felt rather than saw his smile. "I love you too. Forever and always, remember?"

"Forever and always," I echoed.

As the song came to an end, Nathan pulled back slightly to look at me. His eyes were full of love, but I could see the concern there too.

"Ready to sit down?" he asked.

I nodded, suddenly feeling the full weight of my exhaustion. Nathan led me to the nearby sofa, settling me down gently before sitting next to me. Almost immediately, we were surrounded by our family.

Mum appeared with a plate of food. "You need to eat something, love," she said, her tone brooking no argument.

Dad brought over glasses of water for both of us. "You did good, kids," he said, his voice gruff with emotion. "We're so proud of you both."

Meri squeezed in between us on the sofa, her flower girl dress slightly rumpled now. "Does this mean Nathan is my brother now?" she asked, looking between us with wide eyes.

I laughed, pulling her into a hug. "That's exactly what it means, Meri."

As our family and friends gathered around us, talking and laughing, I leaned into Nathan's side. He wrapped his arm around me, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

In that moment, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. 

Yes, I was going to die soon. 

Yes, our time together might be shorter than we'd like. 

But we had this - this day, this moment, this love. And that was enough.

More than enough. It was everything.