"Do you, Alexander Charles Jones take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do." His heart skipped a beat as he gazed into the eyes of the beautiful woman in front of him.

"And do you Caroline Ruth Kim take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do." She gave him the strongest smile she could muster, bringing tears to his eyes. She really was the strongest person he had ever met and will ever meet.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!"

Alexander leaned down and kissed his new wife as she laid on her hospital bed. Despite everything she was going through, she managed to have a smile on her face. There were times that Alex couldn't believe Caroline's strength despite her being physically weak. This was one of those times.

"I'll leave you two alone now," the pastor told them.

"Thank you, Pastor," Alex said softly. Caroline merely coughed.

The pastor walked out of the hospital room and softly shut the door behind him.

Alex laughed a little, overwhelmed by the immense happiness and sorrowfulness he felt at that moment.

"You've never looked more beautiful than you do right now," he told his new wife. Caroline laughed as best she could before she began coughing.

"Liar! There are so many other instances where I looked more beautiful than this," she replied. Alex rolled his eyes playfully.

"I don't think so. Maybe the gown you're wearing isn't quite the wedding gown you had in mind, but I think you look perfect just the way you are," Alex told her. Caroline looked down at her hospital gown and sighed.

"I'm sorry I couldn't give you that picture-perfect wedding we've dreamt about for so long. I'm also sorry I can't give you the future we've envisioned," Caroline murmured. Alex gently took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

"Caroline, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish we had more time together, of course, I do. I really wish it didn't have to be this way. However, I'm okay with it ending like this, because the time we did have was incredible. I wouldn't change any of this for the world. I wish you could be my wife for more than just a day, but I'll take this day and I'll cherish it for the rest of my life. I will never love anyone the way I love you. I've loved you ever since we met that day in freshmen year of college, and you were goofing off with your friends. I remember when I saw you, I smiled and I just knew that I had to meet you," Alex paused as the tears started falling more heavily than before.

"Every day with you has been a dream. Maybe it's not the dream we had, but it's still everything I've ever wanted and more. You've helped me in so many ways. I'm in debt to you, Caroline. You've changed me for the better. And now, you're going to your eternal home, a place which is so much better than here. You won't suffer there. You'll be perfect. Caroline, can you do me favor?"

"Of course, Alex, anything," Caroline replied, her voice heavy with sorrow and her face stained with fallen tears. This was the best and hardest day of her life. Every other day dealing with this cancer had been hard, but knowing today was the last day with Alex has been very difficult for her. He was the only family she had left, and now she was leaving him.

"Promise me you won't forget me when you're in Paradise. Also, tell my mother I said hello. She's going to love you," Alex replied. He caressed Caroline's cheek as she nodded.

"Of course. How could I forget the best thing that's ever happened to me? Alex, I truly hope you find love again, even if it's not the same. One day you'll join me, I know it, but until then, I don't want you to be alone," Caroline replied.

"I'll never be alone. I have God, I have your memory, I have your love. Love is eternal. While life may be fleeting, love lives on. Those words are words I will cherish for the rest of my life," Alex told her slowly, letting the deep meaning of the words sink in.

At this, they both silently cried, too afraid to say any more words, for fear they might be the last ones. They sat there together, absorbing the last moments they would have together on earth. Caroline felt weaker and weaker as this continued until eventually, she knew it was time.

"I love you so much Alex, thank you for staying by my side. I'll meet you again one day, but until then, please enjoy the time you have left on earth. Please make a difference in the world by just being you. You've made such a difference in my world after all. Goodbye Alex, I see the light. It's calling me home. A world with no more night! No more darkness! No more pain! I love you," Caroline exclaimed.

"Goodbye, my beautiful Caroline. I love you more than words can express," Alex cried. He kissed her one last time as her soul left her body and she was finally at peace. Alex cried as he held her lifeless form in his arms. He knew she was in a better place and that this is what was meant to be, but it still hurt.

As he continued on with his life, he lived every day to the fullest. He did his best to spread kindness in a world of hate. He did his best to spread the word of God in a world of blasphemy. He did his best to spread love, even when it was most difficult. Those words still echoed in his ears, a phrase he said once: while life may be fleeting, love lives on. And those words were the truth.

Word count: 1000 exactly

For Brenda and Skye's 10th Monthly Contest