Day Seven
Night

The ceremony went off without a hitch.

Both their vows had the entirety of the crowd in tears.

Nate was the writer, but Scarlett gave him a run for his money.

"I've told Nate this before, but humans have bits of stardust in them. I always thought people were drawn to each other because their stars were next to each other when the universe was created. Overtime, their atoms would always feel the pull back to each other. There's no better way to describe how meeting you felt."

Cole couldn't help but let his eyes drift towards Allison during the vows.

She was looking at him too.

It reminded him of their wedding. The way he felt that day. Like nothing could break them.

Cole was pretty sure Alli was thinking the same thing. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her emotions seemingly torn. Cole's mind wandered back to their own wedding day, a time of happiness and promise. When they made these same promises. Spoke the same words.

Nate's voice filled the air, strong and resolute, as he recited his vows to Scarlett. "I, Nate, take you, Scarlett, to be my lawfully wedded wife," he declared, a smile of pure love gracing his lips.

Scarlett's voice, soft and full of adoration, followed, "I, Scarlett, take you, Nate, to be my lawfully wedded husband."

Nate's father, Henry, the officiant for the wedding, continued, "To have and to hold, from this day forward..."

"For better or for worse..." Scarlett's voice wavered slightly, the emotion evident in her voice. Nate rubbed his thumb on her hand tenderly.

Cole's heart clenched. Those words echoed in his mind, a reminder of the promises he and Allison had made to each other not so long ago.

For better or for worse.

As Nate slid the wedding ring onto Scarlett's finger, a tear slipped down Allison's cheek. She turned away for a moment, trying to compose herself. She sucked in sharply, clenching her jaw harshly before turning back to the two. It could easily be seen as being overtaken with emotion from the wedding in front of them, but Cole knew better. He knew her. Cole gazed at her, his heart heavy with the desire to fix everything. But he wasn't even sure if that was still an option for them.

"I now pronounce you," Henry started, his voice thick with emotion, "husband and wife. You may kiss."

Nate and Scarlett both beamed at each other as they exchanged a tender kiss, sealing their vows. The guests erupted into joyful applause, snapping Cole from his thoughts. He smiled at the two, clapping for them despite the bittersweet ache.

Nate and Scarlett ran down the aisle, everyone in the crowd cheering loudly as they went. Nate spun Scarlett around at the end of the aisle, dipping her down and kissing her firmly. The guests cheered even louder and Cole whooped in support. They stood back up and Nate threw his fist up in the air, hollering in excitement.

The wedding party made their way back down the aisle, everyone dancing to the happy music they were playing.

"You okay?" Sam asked him in a low voice.

Cole swallowed. "Yeah, I'm good."

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

After the cocktail hour, the reception moved to the main ballroom. There were floor to ceiling windows, giving a gorgeous view of the ocean. The sun was setting just over the horizon, offering a perfect landscape of the sunset's pink and orange hues. The ballroom's numerous floor-to-ceiling windows offered panoramic views of the boundless water. Ivory drapes fell from the tall windows, softly blowing in the ocean breeze. The sun's golden rays filtered through the sheer fabric, casting a warm glow across the room.

Chandeliers adorned with crystal droplets hung from the lofty ceiling, catching the light and reflecting it all over the walls and the shiny hardwood floor below. The tables were dressed in pristine white linens, accented with beautiful floral centerpieces. The sound of waves crashing against the shore outside provided a soothing atmosphere. A spacious dance floor sat in the middle, awaiting Scarlett and Nate's first dance.

The food was buffet style around the room with various stations and options. Cole hadn't had anything yet aside from a few appetizers during the cocktail hour. His stomach nagged at him and he hoped they could eat soon. They had all enthusiastically taken advantage of the open bar, drinks in each of their hands. Allison had headed over to get another drink from the bar a few minutes ago.

Music played in the background, and Cole was pretty impressed. It was a good mix of old hits and newer charting songs. Though apparently, Nate demanded his songs be added to the "no-play" list. Sam had wanted to hijack it to only play his songs, but Lorena managed to intervene.

"Who made the wedding doughnuts?" Sam asked her as he glanced over at the beautifully decorated pastries. Cole glanced over, just now noticing the tower of doughnuts on display.

It was a signature of his sister's bakery. She started making doughnuts for weddings a couple of years ago, something that actually started at his own wedding. She made the doughnuts as a wedding gift, and had been making them for weddings ever since.

Scarlett smiled fondly. "These two boys who worked at the bakery in high school actually made the doughnuts as a wedding gift, they should be around here somewhere."

"Hey, when's your first dance?" Lila checked curiously.

"Should be any minute," Scarlett said with excitement, glancing over at Nate who was speaking to some of his cousins. "I should go say hi to people, be right back."

Scarlett glided over to meet up with Nate, greeting his cousins. Cole smiled at her, she looked like a princes. He noticed Lorena and Matthew chatting with Nate's Dads in the corner. His mother had been cracking up at everything Henry and Roy were saying. Matthew was losing it as well, keeling over every time the two opened their mouths.

Cole turned his attention back to his siblings, who stared at him expectantly. He blinked in surprise. "You two good?"

"You wanna tell us what's been going on?" Lila offered with raised eyebrows.

Sam added, "We sent Ashton and Charlie to get us drinks, so we have a minute."

Cole laughed, shaking his head. "I appreciate it, guys. But I don't think this is the best place."

"You sure?" Sam asked with squinted eyes.

Cole went to say no, but remembered what his mother said. How family existed to bear the burden with each other. How he didn't need to face this all himself. His gaze went back and forth between the twins who waited patiently for him to respond.

"Maybe later," Cole decided with a nod. "I could use some advice."

"Oh, then don't go to Sam," Lila said dismissively. Cole smiled at the comment, appreciating the break in tension. "Advice from him always backfires."

"Excuse me, says you," Sam shot at her.

Lila rolled her eyes. "Name one time I've been wrong."

"Feels dangerous," Cole mused as he scrunched his face up.

"And now, we'd like to invite everyone around the dance floor to join Nate and Scarlett for their first dance," the DJ announced through his microphone.

Scarlett took Nate's hand into her own, slowly strolling to the center of the dance floor. Cole started over to where the crowd was gathering, but felt someone tug on his arm. He glanced behind him and saw his little sister, eyes wide with concern. "What's wrong?"

"Hey, Alli just walked out," Lila told him lowly, nodding over to the closing double doors. "She looked kinda upset."

Cole frowned in question, nodding at her. "Thanks, I'll go check on her."

He shuffled quickly over to the doors, confused as to why she would be leaving. Nate and Scarlett hadn't even had their first dance yet. He burst through the doors leading to the outdoor area. Noticing the pathway, he realized she was leaving for their hotel room. It was on the other side of the property.

A million thoughts ran through his head, he couldn't figure out why she would be leaving. Finally spotting her ahead, Alli seemed to be in a rush. She had her hand up to her face, wiping it with shaking hands. Cole cleared his throat, narrowing his eyes at her in question as he ran towards her.

"Alli, wait!" Cole called after her breathlessly. She paused and faced her body towards him, thought her gaze was anywhere except for him. He found himself slightly at a loss for words, unsure of what was going on. "You're... you're leaving?"

She nodded, but stayed silent, her eyes wandering the cobblestone below her feet. Cole cleared his throat, staring at her unsurely. "I'll see you back in the room though, right?"

She finally looked at him, and Cole knew.

She wasn't going to be there.

She was leaving.

Cole felt like he got kicked in the stomach, biting back tears as he said, "Please, don't leave, I'm sorry for how I reacted. I- I just... it was just a lot at once. I wasn't thinking straight."

"I'm not mad at how you reacted, I just... I can't," Alli stressed as her eyes shut. "I can't anymore."

"We can work things out, I know we can," Cole assured her passionately, shaking his head. "We were... were so close, Alli. We can still fix this."

"How many times can something be fixed before it's just," Alli started to ask, struggling to find the word, "gone."

"We're not gone, not yet," he denied quickly.

"I'm just exhausted."

Cole tilted his chin up, shaking his head. "We can get back what we had, I know we can. We can show this kid what love is. That it's fighting for each other. We can get through this."

"I don't know if we can," Alli said quietly, her voice heavy. She looked lost. That was the best way Cole could figure out how to describe it. He didn't know how to get things back, and it was killing him.

"Stay," Cole stressed in anguish, his voice quiet.

A tear fell from her eye as she whispered, "I need to go."

Cole knew there was nothing else he could do. Not tonight. He couldn't beg her to stay. It wasn't fair. He understood how exhausted she was. The last few months were draining. He was on his last leg, and part of him just couldn't keep going anymore. Letting out a deep sigh, Alli slowly made her way to leave, her eyes on the floor. Cole's mouth was dry as he watched her, desperately thinking of a way to make her stay.

Cole peered into the ballroom and saw Scarlett and Nate about to begin their first dance. They looked so happy. They just looked so happy. He just wanted that. One more time.

"Please, just let me hold you one last time," Cole pleaded softly, reaching out to her with his hand. She paused in her step, turning back around slowly.

"Cole," she murmured simply, her voice unsure.

"Please?" Cole repeated quietly.

To his surprise, she took a step towards him.

The world around them seemed to fade away as Cole reached out, and Allison placed her delicate fingers in his. The music began to play inside, echoing softly around them outside. He tenderly brought her close to him, letting his hand rest on her waist. Alli lifted her hand to hold his shoulder, gazing up at him with glassy eyes. They started to sway together, their bodies instinctively finding the rhythm of the music. There was a profound sadness around them as they danced slowly, as if each step was a step closer to saying goodbye.

Their eyes locked, speaking volumes that neither could say out loud. Cole loved her so much. So fucking much it hurt. He wanted to continue to beg and bargain for her to stay. To fight for the love they built for over two decades. It was a love that had grown deep and true over time, but like Alli had said, too much happened. They weren't the same people they once were. Cole felt an ache in his touch, like his body knew the same truth that Cole had to come to terms with.

As they danced, memories flashed before his eyes like fragments of a broken mirror. The day they met. Their first sleepover. Their first date. The semi-formal. Their first kiss. Their graduation. Their first apartment. Their proposal. The wedding. It all flashed by him like trees soaring by a moving car. Disappearing into the distance.

Amid the memories, there was an underlying sadness that pervaded the atmosphere. It was the knowledge that this dance, this one last moment, was all they had left. They didn't want to say goodbye, but life's twists and turns had forced their hands. Alli laid her head on Cole's shoulder, eyes shutting as more tears fell from her eyes. Cole dipped his head down, just above her own. He breathed her in, closing her eyes as they continued to sway back and forth.

The music picked up gently, and for a moment, Cole held her hand just a bit tighter, trying to freeze time, to make this last. Stay. Stay. Stay. Don't let this end. This doesn't need to end. To his surprise, Alli did the same, holding his hand tightly. Like if they both held on tighter, time couldn't slip through their fingers. But the music was coming to an end.

As the music gradually faded into silence, they pulled away from each other, their eyes still locked. Tears shimmered in Allison's eyes, and Cole's heart ached desperately.

And then the music ended, and time froze... just for a moment.

And then they were just two kids dancing in their first apartment again.

They were tripping over moving boxes.

They were laughing as they spun around aimlessly.

They were happy.

But that was years ago.

Now, there they stood, years later... still in each other's arms. But they were ghosts of who they used to be. They were tired. The string that always tied them together was frayed and worn. It was hanging on by a thread.

Cole internally begged and bargained for the music to start again. It couldn't be over yet. They couldn't be over yet. He thought, Please don't stop. I'm not done being loved by her yet. Don't make me say goodbye. I'm not ready.

But the silence suffocated him.

Allison was the first to move. She sucked in sharply as she stepped back, her hand grazing his own as she slipped away slowly. Allison held her arm out in front of her, holding Cole's hand in her own as she seemed to gather herself. They stood a breath apart, their emotions raw and exposed. He gave her one final look. A look that said:

Don't leave.

Stay.

Please.

But there wasn't anything else to be done.

"Goodbye, Cole," Alli whispered, her eyes glistening with tears.

Cole swallowed thickly. "Do you still love me?"

She froze.

And it was silent.

And then she was gone.

He watched her disappear in the distance, but he was stuck in time. He couldn't move.

The moment Cole met Alli, he knew he would love her for the rest of his life.

What he didn't realize, was while he would love her for all of his life— she would only love him for part of hers.