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Three Years Ago

The cool breeze and the softness of the bed below her, made Jenna's lips tug into a smile as she felt that a new day had begun. A new day that would bring joy and a new beginning in her life. She opened her brown eyes and stared at the ceiling with a big grin on her face then shifted her gaze to the wooden door of the room she was in.

As if on cue, the door was pushed open and in came Gloria, Vera and five other female friends and colleagues she knew. She sat up and kept the smile on her face.

"Good morning to the most beautiful bride we know!" Vera yelled in glee as Gloria and two other girls dragged Jenna out of the king sized bed.

One of the girls popped a bottle of wine, which made them clap and another dished flute glasses to everyone before the wine was poured into the glasses.

"I can't believe that my best friend is actually getting married," Gloria said and fanned her face. "I think I am going to cry."

Jenna felt her eyes sting with tears and smiled weakly at the emotional strain on her friends who all stood in nothing but bathrobes while their hair were pulled into a bun.

"Anyways, it's time to get this bride ready for her prince charming," one of the girls said while another rushed to the door and opened it dramatically.

Jenna dropped her glass of wine on the nightstand and covered her mouth with her hands as a group of men and women strolled in with makeup kits, a cart filled with other types of cosmetics alongside some dresses which were all the same color pattern, a mixture of yellow African print and plain white color.

"I can't believe this is actually happening," Jenna whispered as tears brimmed her eyes in an instant. "I can't believe it."

"Now, where is my princess?" Came a cheery voice from the hallway outside of the room, and in came a woman who was around her fifties, she was also cladded in a bathrobe, leaving just the fair skin of her hands and legs showing, including her head that was tied up with a towel.

"Mom!" Jenna hollered in joy and raced over to the woman who opened her arms and received her daughter with a face filled with motherly pride.

"I know, I know," the woman said and pulled away. "I'm so happy that I got to see this day. It makes me so proud of you. I wish your father was here to see you this happy but I'm sure he's sending his blessings down on you."

Jenna sniffed as tears rolled down her cheeks then laughed heartily when her mother tickled her sides.

"Don't cry, Jenna. It's your day, you should laugh and cheer. Now, girls," her mother looked over to the crowd in the room. "It's time to fancy this lady up." She clapped her small hands and hugged her daughter who stood taller than her.

"Yes, Ma'am," a few of them echoed their responses before Jenna was dragged by her wrists by two of her colleagues to the large bathroom that had rose petals on the marbled floor and in the bath, alongside some candles and body wash of all kinds.

"Ready?" One of the girls asked.

Jenna smiled and nodded.

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After her bathroom care, she was swaddled in a big bathrobe and pulled to the vanity table, set out by the makeup team. Jenna felt her cheeks would burn from keeping her face in a wide grin as they began to work on her feet, fingers and hair.

Thirty minutes later, her hair was straightened and pulled into a bridal styled hairstyle, her feet were taken care of and nails fixed. Next, was her face which took at least an hour to be perfectly done.

After her makeup was done, she was ushered away from the vanity table by the makeup team to the center of the room where her friends who were the bride's maid sat, dressed in their long body hugging African patterned yellow and white gowns.

"You look so beautiful," Gloria cooed and rose from the bed. "I wish I was a man, I would totally steal you right now."

Everyone laughed.

"Aw, thank you so much," Jenna replied as she blushed from the attention that was on her. "Besides, I want to leave Jonathan speechless."

"Damn right, girl," Vera said with a wave of her hands. "He will surely drool especially when he sees you in this."

Jenna gasped as her wedding dress was carried into the room by a man dressed like the rest of the people working in the room-a black shirt and jeans.

"Ma'am, your dress," he said and dropped it on the bed.

"Even though I've seen it before, I just can't get enough of how perfect this dress is," Jenna gushed.

"Thanks to us, dear," her mother chuckled and they laughed again.

"Time waits for no man!" Gloria hollered with a snap of her fingers.

Twenty minutes later, Jenna stepped out into the room, making everyone and including the photographer gape in awe at the bride. The light skinned woman felt her cheeks heat up in shyness as she realized how everyone kept quiet in admiration.

The white lace wedding gown hugged her slim waist down to her feet that were adorned in steel colored sandal heels. The dress had an off shoulder design, the upper part of her chest while the rest of her arms were covered by the laced part of the long sleeves, and her back was bare to her hips. On her bridal styled hairstyle, sat a diamond encrusted crown and her ears having raindrop styled earrings.

"Wow," most of them whispered.

"You look so beautiful," her mother said in a cracked voice. "And please don't cry because you see me cry. Something just got into my eyes."

"I know, right? Her beauty got into my eyes too," one of her work mates said, fanning her face.

"Jonathan is a lucky man," Vera said in awe.

Jenna bowed her head as her cheeks heated more in shyness at their compliments. She raised her head again and smiled at everyone then blinked when someone touched her waist with another extension of the wedding gown that now bellowed around her waist down to her feet with an extra long and heavy lace extension, that pooled at the back of her gown.

"This is beautiful, everyone. I don't know what to say to you all. This is really a dream come true," Jenna said, and exhaled hard then blinked when tears threatened to spill.

"No, no, don't break your dams here. You'll ruin their efforts on your face," Gloria threatened, and Jenna laughed.

"Now, the final touch. Ma'am, please?" One of the wardrobe team said, and the woman strode over to where Jenna stood. "You do the veiling."

Jenna watched as her mother took the huge light and transparent veil from the younger woman with shaking fingers. She bit her bottom lip as her mother went behind her and pinned the veil on the crown and somewhere in her hair.

"You've come a long way, my love," her mother whispered behind her and Jenna inhaled deeply. "Never let anything take away your happiness, never let anything take your happiness, Jenna Okafor. Remember how strong of a woman you've become? Stay strong and fight strong."

Jenna nodded. "Yes, mother."

The bride shut her eyes the moment the white veil covered her whole face down to her waist. She laced her fingers in front of her body and opened her brown eyes then looked up at everyone who stared in awe at her.

"It's time to marry the love of my life," Jenna said and smiled under the veil.

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The decorated SUV stopped right in front of the church that was designed with yellow and white yards of material and flowers from the outside. Around the expanded compound of the church were cars of all types. Jenna scanned the quiet area then exhaled harshly as soon as the door was opened by the driver who bowed before she stepped out with his help.

She stood straight and waited for her bride's maid to come off the car she was in and from another one that was behind them.

"You'll be fine," Gloria said, and tapped her back softly.

Jenna nodded and began to make her way towards the double doors of the church, accompanied by her bride's maid who held the hem of her gown until the doors were opened by the driver who bowed again, making her chuckle.

Jenna felt her heart beat fast as the all too familiar instrumental echoed through the wide and never ending hallway. A few seconds later, they stopped in front of two large doors, and from the tinted glass, Jenna could see the silhouette of her wedding guests.

Jenna sighed as soon as her mother stood beside her and took her arm and placed it around her own. She felt her mother squeeze her arm in comfort before she nodded, and took a deep breath to calm her racing heart.

The doors were pushed open by two of her bride's maid and Jenna never felt nervous in her life as she took in the large room filled with friends, family and other extended relations, including strangers.

She began to walk towards them and purposely thanked the heavens that the two bride's maid which were Vera and Gloria in front of her blocked her view of Jonathan. As she walked past the benches, she heard the whispers from people on how beautiful she looked and how fortunate she was to marry a rich and handsome man.

Jenna frowned at some unnecessary statements made by some jealous and bitter souls. She pushed their statements aside and realized that they had stopped, only for her to see that she was at the altar and alone, just Jonathan and the priest.

"Hey, beautiful," Jonathan whispered and Jenna looked up at him and felt her breath hitch.

Jonathan was dressed in a well tailored designer black suit with a white bowtie and black shirt. His rich hair was styled to perfection and on his head, sat a diamond encrusted crown also. His face was shaven clean, making his sharp jawlines pop out nicely, including his brown eyes that held admiration and love as he stared at his bride.

"You look so good," Jenna whispered, and earned herself a nudge in the upper from Jonathan.

"I know I am," he replied in a cocky tone and snickered. "I have to look good for the woman I am about to spend the rest of my life with."

Jenna giggled. "Awe, that's so sweet."

The priest cleared his throat and the couple flushed in embarrassment.

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"It's time for our fairytale couple to give us their wonderful and romantic dance moves," the boisterous MC spoke out and the audience clapped for the newly wedded couple that were sitting on a podium in their high chairs.

"Would you give this lucky man the honor of a simple dance?" Jonathan whispered over to his wife, who blushed and nodded.

Jonathan took her small hand in his and walked down the podium to the center of the hall while their guests sat around the hall that was designed in yellow, white and other beautiful colors.

Johnny Drille's Forever began to play through the speakers while Jonathan kept his heated gaze on his smiling wife who was also staring up at him. They danced fluidly as the song played on, never once shifting their eyes away from one another.

"I don't know what I did to have you as mine," he whispered as they moved according to the song. The couple danced around the space they gave themselves, all the while maintaining a steady gaze, and ignoring the onlookers around them.

Jenna chuckled. "I should be the one saying that to you. It's not every time a girl falls in love and marries the man she has always been with for long."

Jonathan laughed softly then pulled her closer as they danced more to the song. He twirled her around and pulled her back.

"You're never leaving me, my love," he whispered. "No matter what, I'll always love you and cherish you as mine."

Jenna felt her eyes brim with tears as she gave him a watery smile. She bit her bottom lip as a tear rolled down her cheek, and breathed heavily when he wiped it off her cheek and placed a soft kiss on her wet cheek.

"I love you so much, Jenna," he whispered against her face.

"I love you too," she replied in the same manner and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Jonathan pulled away slightly and held her hips then leaned forward, and captured her lips in a tender and passionate kiss which made the crowd erupt in cheers and a round of applause. He kissed her deeply and pulled away then smiled down at Jenna who chuckled.

"'Til death do us part, my love," he whispered.

"'Til death do us part," she responded with a smile and placed her head on his thumping chest.

The song played through the speakers as they continued to dance while they enjoyed their once in a lifetime moment.

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Present Day

Jenna smiled down at the picture frame of Jonathan and herself in their wedding attire. She wiped her cheeks that were stained from her mascara and dropped the frame on the vanity table in their bedroom before she walked away from the table to the bed where she sat down with a smile on her face.

She moved side to side while humming the song they had danced to during their wedding. She ran her fingers over her face with the same smile still on her face and chuckled.

"'Til death to us part," she whispered and laid down on the bed. "Nothing can stop our love story. What God has put together, let no man put apart. We belong together, forever."

Jenna giggled.

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