POV Lucian

One Year Later

My mother's hands reach upward to slightly fix my bow tie before patting my chest with affection.

"Thanks, Mom." I bring her knuckles to my lips for a soft kiss.

"I'm happy you found a love as pure as what your father and I shared," she murmurs. "Cherish her for the rest of your life, you hear me?"

"I promise."

After a final hug, she joins her seat in the front row. Mending my broken relationship with my mother hasn't been an easy task. Starting therapy this past year has helped me make amends with a lot of things, and salvaging the bond between Mom and me was the cherry on top.

My attention returns to my two best men, Hector, who gives me a thumbs up, and Valentino, whom I catch exchanging heart eyes with Hannah behind me. She and my sister are the two maids of honor.

As I look over the crowd, my eyes fall on Dr. Noreen, who also flew to Haiti to attend our wedding. Akhyra completed her treatment with her last summer, but they still remained in touch and ended up developing more than a patient-doctor relationship. The Badass Ballerinas crew is also present, along with some notable acquaintances that Akhyra and I have made throughout our careers.

A gentle breeze carries the scent of saltwater, mingling with the floral fragrance of the white roses adorning the pathway. The sun dips lower, casting an orange glow over the turquoise waves lapping against the shore. Palm trees sway gently in the background, their shadows dancing on the sand.

The past year has been hectic for Akhyra and me. After the resounding success of the show that she co-produced with Madame Laroche, Akhyra went on to produce her own ballet, in which she also starred, and then went on another world tour.

Meanwhile, I was traveling around Europe for notable competitions with the football club I ended up signing with, Manchester City. We ended up snagging three trophies for the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.

As soon as both our schedules allowed us to take a well-deserved break, Akhyra and I flew back home, where my lovely fiancée immediately began to work on a project that she had been nurturing for a couple of months. Being a producer and a coach to preteens training for the YAGP made her realize that she loved the teaching side of ballet. This is how her idea for Starlight Academy was born: Arcahaie's first school of ballet.

We agreed to wait until after the inauguration before focusing on wedding preparations. Both of us wanted to get married in our hometown, the place that brought us together. Plus, my soon-to-be wife wanted to have a beach wedding with a Caribbean sunset as the backdrop.

What we both envisioned when I got down on one knee a couple of months after winning the Gold Cup has now become a reality. The twilight glow of the orange sun illuminates the attendees on both sides of the white silk pathway adorned with roses. The sound of the waves behind the altar adds a touch of serenity to the atmosphere that settles my nerves.

Pastor Steve speaks into the microphone to announce the bride's entrance. Right on cue, the pianist positioned to the right of the altar begins to play the short introduction symphony, whimsical notes lifting in the air. The string quartet is on alert as they wait for her to finish playing.

My entire being is focused on the curtain that's hiding Akhyra from view. My palms, crossed in front of me, are violently shaking. Breathing short. Heartbeat erratic. As the last note of the piano fades away, there's a short moment of silence during which the world seems to be frozen. All of us hold our breath in expectation.

Then, the curtains part to finally reveal my stunning future wife at her father's arm. And I lose my composure at the sight of her, tears streaming down my face that I don't bother to wipe away.

She is the epitome of magnificence in her voluminous wedding gown adorned with intricate beaded work. Delicate lace motifs cascade across the fitted bodice, creating a glittering path that surrounds her in a puffy cloud of ethereal white. Eden Knight, Hannah, has certainly outdone herself with this design.

The string quartet begins to play the notes of the chorus of "Enchanted" by Taylor Swift as Akhyra and her dad begin their walk. Our eyes never break apart as they approach. Akhyra glides forward with the grace of the prima ballerina that she is, her aura commanding every single soul in attendance to bow respectfully at her mesmerizing presence.

Layers of tulle and satin flow gracefully in her wake. The fabric catches the sunlight , and shimmers like moonlit drops as the trail behind her kisses the ground upon which she walks. Even the bouquet of white roses that she's holding creates a spotlight of its own. Silver ornaments depicting butterflies sprout from the blooms, embedded with pearls that confer a refined taste of elegance.

Right before Akhyra reaches the altar, I hold out my hand to her. As she beams at me, all my love for her pours out in four little words.

"Take one more step."

❣︎𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃❣︎