"On this day, I give you my heart,
My promise that I will walk with you,
Hand in hand, wherever our journey leads us,
Living, learning, loving, together, forever."  

~Wedding Vows~

__________________________________________

....beams of sunlight passing through the stained-glass windows bathed the church in rich reds, blues, and greens. The stains of 'Yellow' wafted gently as the bridal procession started. Her choice of the processional music surprised and impressed him – not every bride could override the popular 'Here comes the bride'. All heads turned towards the church entrance, from where the bride would make her entry. First the flower girls, then the matron of honour, followed by Sophia, her hand on her father's arm. 

She looked like a gorgeous princess, in that ivory, strapless gown, clear crystals filling out the top with flower designs scattering in random places over the dress. Her black hair against her ebony skin was perfection, ringlets piled on her head with a few soft spirals about her face. When she stood at the altar, before the minister, he saw that her eyes shone brighter than all the crystal in her dress as she looked her groom. 

 Aiden was transfixed. It was her eyes that held him captive – large, liquid pools of deep brown that seemed to be an invitation to drown himself and he knew he would, if given half a chance.

Sophia on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves, with gigantic butterflies in her stomach. She hid her emotions well but a thousand questions raced in her mind – 'will everything go well? Will everyone have a good time? Will it rain? Will it...?' She just wanted to reach out and hold on to his hand for reassurance. Instead she focused on the bridal bouquet she held in her hands, hoping that her tightening grip would not crush the flowers.

They spent the whole ceremony in a daze, hardly able to register anything. Finally the minister pronounced them married and said, "You may kiss the bride." It was a chaste kiss, as though both felt that they should not display their love in front of their family and friends. He looked over her head at their mothers; both of them had tears streaking down their faces. He never could understand why mothers cried at their children's wedding, but today he could not care less.

She danced effortlessly, with graceful and flowing movements, her hand placed softly on his shoulder. All he wanted was time to stop so that he could live this moment for the rest of his life, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to face Rowan, his brother and best friend, who smiled and said, "If you don't mind, could I have a dance with the bride?" 

Aiden smiled back and gently released Sophia into the waiting arms of Rowan, her lover of five years and now her husband forever. As the floor cleared to allow the newlyweds their dance, Aiden mused over the whims of fate, he had met the woman of his dreams, on the day she married his brother. He slowly moved to the back, beyond the crowd of friends and well-wishers and out of the Church as the setting sun painted the sky in deep hues of amber and coral...