[In Candy's point of view]

Finally the day I was dreading was there and I couldn't halt the dawn ebbing its gradual way into daylight. Everything was going to happen at noon, and once done it could never be undone.

It was my wedding day. And every woman was expected to get extremely excited, ecstatic, and incredibly in love on their wedding day.

Yes, I was excited and in love and happy and all that good stuff but I was anxious and nervous.

I did love Jeff and I was willing to go through it for him.

Since childhood, I had always wanted my wedding day to be one of the most magical and memorable days of my life and one of the most important parts I was looking forward to was where I would say, "I Do."

I had always imagined getting married surrounded by flowers, so Jeff and I decided to have the wedding at a local botanical garden. The garden had lots of beautiful flowers and perfectly manicured flower beds. It had high glass ceilings and tons of natural greenery. The good thing was we didn't send in many decorations.

All eyes would soon be on me.

I thought as I stepped out of the carriage ride I arrived at the wedding in. Seeing the number of people gathered, my breathing became rapid and shallow. I could feel my pulse pounding in my temples.

The priest- Father Thomas stood up and asked everyone to stand.

It was time to walk the aisle.

When I was given the signal to enter, I wished I could get to my chair faster, because I was shaking so bad that I thought I would trip in front of all those people.

"Candy, you need to breathe... Can you do that?" one of my bridesmaids said.

I replied with a nod and a faint smile.

"Just take a deep breath, keep your head up, smile and you can do this," she added.

The orchestra started playing the famous tune of a thousand years - a cue I had to go in.

🎶 Heartbeats fast

Colours and promises

How to be brave?

How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?

But watching you stand alone,

All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow. 🎶

The flower girl lined the path with white rose petals. Beside her was Addo, the ring bearer for the wedding. He carried the wedding rings on a large white satin pillow. The rings were tacked with a thread to the pillow to prevent any accidental loss.

I hummed along silently to the song as walked through the guests.

🎶 One step closer 🎶

I took a few steps forward then I was met by my father. He escorted me down the aisle, which magically became longer than I had seen it be.

My father became my strength; without him, I would have fainted before I could reach Jeff.

The guests kept their attention on me, taking pictures of my dress, waving at me and smiling.

Up ahead I saw him, my husband to be. The man who had made everything possible. The love of my life, my everything.

He stood taller, his shoulders back and his eyes on me. If I wasn't mistaken I could have sworn tears filled his eyes.

🎶 I have died every day waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you

For a thousand years,

I'll love you for a thousand more 🎶

(the orchestra kept on playing the song at the background)

At the end of the aisle, my father hugged me and whispered into my ear,

"I 'm proud of you dear." and then placed my hand in Jeff's and smiled.

Before he walked away, he patted Jeff on the shoulder and they both smiled at each other.

Was it really happening? Was I really going to be Mrs Attah?

Standing beside Jeff, I felt everything was a dream. But one thing was for sure if it were a dream, I wouldn't mind living it all my life.

•••

🎶 Time stands still

Beauty in all she is

I will be brave

I will not let anything take away

What's standing in front of me

Every breath

Every hour has come to this 🎶
•••

After we were asked to sit down, the song played for a while until the priest mounted the floral raised Dias and gave a signal for the orchestra to pause.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness Jeff and Candy join together in holy matrimony.

We__"

The rest of the long speech became faint as I focused my attention on the guests seated in front of us.

I was overwhelmed with joy seeing the love they had shown us.

"__Now, I will call on the bride and groom to come forward for the vows." Was the next thing I heard.

The vows were exchanged then the ring bearer came forward and presented the rings. I placed Jeff's ring on first, then he placed on mine.

The priest nodded in excitement after the vows and asked,

"If anyone objects to the marriage speak now or forever hold your peace"

I was nervous when he said that but as expected, no one said a word... Then he continued.

"With the power vested in me, I now___"

[Sav's Point of view ]

"Are you sure you want to be here?" Adobi asked from beside me.

"Definitely. I gave Jeff and Candy my word that I would come and I have stick to my promise." I explained.

"Alright, if you say so."

I turned my attention from Adobi to where the floral raised Dias sat.

"__you may kiss the bride." The priest ended.

Jeff moved his head closer to Candy. He kissed her and the whole place lit up. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that everyone at the wedding could see. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as he fed on her lips.

Memories of our first kiss the night after our meeting at the library returned to me in bits.

"I guess here is OK. See you in class tomorrow."

I recalled what I said to Jeff that night before he kissed me unaware. The image of Jeff kissing me showed clearly in my head.

"Stop following me around!"

My mind was taken to when I slapped him in front of the whole school.

I saw how he stood there humiliated and sad. And how he still tried to talk to me after I slapped him.

His words were replayed in my head clearly like it was happening all over again.

"I am really sorry Sav. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I was really stupid to let my feelings for you come between us but what can I say?

I love you so much that I felt the friendship you offered wasn't enough. I know I have made mistakes, but give me another chance Sav.

I will never let you down again. I just will take the friendship you are offering me rather than nothing at all."

My eyes welled up at the return of all the memories then the sudden clapping at the place pulled me out of memory.

The clap started faintly then escalated to loud cheers that erupted like an auditory volcano.

The guest were clapping after Jeff was done kissing Candy.

Unable to control my emotions, I stood up and walked out tears in my eyes and heart full of sorrow.

[In Jeff's Point of view ]

The place buzzed with excited chatter and applause spread across the place. There was the scraping of chairs as folks got up for a standing ovation and Candy and I made our way down the aisle hand in hand and smiling.

We had planned to have the reception in the garden so we had to wait around for some minutes as they got the place ready for the reception.

We talked around with guests, receiving congratulations from them and all.

"Congratulations Mr Jeff." a voice said behind me.

"Ah. Adobi. Thank you very much, dear. I'm glad you could make it."

"Yes... Yes... I wouldn't miss your wedding for anything in the world."

"I think saw Sav with you early on. Where's she?" I wondered.

"She walked out a few minutes ago and I thought she needed space so I haven't gone after her."

"Alright I will go to her then," I said and walked over to where Candy and some of her friends stood.

"Excuse me, honey. I will be right back." I whispered into her eyes and walked out into the gardens.

"Sav?" I muttered as I walked towards her.
She turned and upon seeing me, turned away and cleaned what I assumed to tear from her face.

"Jeff." she looked back at me wearing her usual dazzling smile.

"Are you OK Sav?" I inquired.

"Of course yes. I'm perfectly fine. I just needed some air."

"If you say so but I wanted to be sure. I can't have you bail out on me at the last minute. I couldn't find anyone better to read out the best friend's speech at the reception either than you since you are the closest person I had before Candy."

I held her hand and placed it in my palm,

"Believe me when I say I've forgiven you for what you did. All I have for you now is love and gratitude for blessing me with a happy memory in my high school days and also for giving me an amazing kid like Addo. Don't let my marriage with Candy come between our friendship OK?

It's one of the things I still hold dearly. I__"

"__ you don't have to talk much Jeff. I gave you my word, didn't I? Believe me too when I say I'm okay with everything. Now let's go we have a room full of guests waiting for the man of the moment." she cut in.

I walked over to Candy who sat in front of a bouquet of white roses. I leaned in for a kiss then sat down for the reception to begin.

After a few moments, my father rose from his chair and everyone else sat down. The sound of his teaspoon rapping on the side of his wineglass signalled everyone to silence, except him who raised his glass.

"What is there to really say about love, other than it being the most beautiful, most important, and most valuable thing in this world? Because of love, I am lucky to have my wife in my life as well as my son." I looked at my dad, smiling ear to ear. "And because of love, you two are now a married couple! I give you all of my congratulations!

The two of you are surrounded by people who are all so happy and thankful to be able to be a part of your special day. I think I speak for everyone here when I say we are glad one way or another we helped make your wedding a day to remember.

To the bride and groom."

"To the bride and groom!" everyone repeated.

My mother gave her speech right after my father's then right after she was the speech from the best friend.

I looked at Sav with keen interest as she stood up from her seat to read her speech.

"What is love?" she asked, paused and looked over to where I sat. I nodded to give her the signal to go ahead. Then she continued.

"...love is a tricky thing. It varies in intensity and in the specificity of emotions. It is sometimes the most beautiful thing in the world and, at other times, it's the most horrid thing we've ever come face-to-face with.

It's odd how one thing could be the cause of so many different feelings. But that's what makes love so beautiful - it's the closest thing to perfection that exists in the world.

When we think of love, we think of the happy kind of love, the kind that is the beginning of something beautiful - something that breathes life, something that makes every day of our lives worth living-"

As I listened to her speak, my mind trailed back when I first saw her.

She was one of the beautiful ladies I had seen when we started school as freshers. I couldn't take my eyes off her all through our discussion at the group meeting where I first saw her. Although she never had a look at me or shown the slightest interest in me.

Then my mind trailed forward to my first message to her.

Meet me in front of the school library today at 1 am.

I smiled at the return of that memory knowing it took only that message to kick start everything that had happened in both our lives.

The happy moments, the sad ones, the humiliating one and the near-death ones.

Everything began with that message.
I thought then smiled again.

"_and so love might not be everything, it is something that is worth searching for.

I hope that the two of you live a life together that is long. I hope that this shared life of yours is full of joy, laughter, abundance, love, and many other good things.

To the bride and groom." she said and raised her glass.

We all stood up and raised our glasses,

"to the bride and groom!"

we said then gulped down the glasses of champagne uncertain of what the future holds for any of us.

••••

••••