Into the Light(47)

“From that day on, I did lose a small part of my sister. For I saw that she was finally growing into this woman, and this so-called friend Elijah, I knew he had everything to do with it. Not many people can say they held onto their first loves, not many people can say that it was only ever one person who has captured them. Elijah and Adriana, you have conquered love at first sight, remained true to one another after all these years. Your strength and unity as one never cease to amaze me. Your trust in each other, most importantly, has gotten you to this day, the day that if anyone deserved it, it’s the both of you.

“Today you both become complete with one another, and let this be a lesson to others. Place your trust in those you love, and accept their trust with the greatest of appreciation. Love like there is no tomorrow, live like today is the end. Have faith that tomorrow will come. Sometimes we are given the easy road, sometimes the most challenging. But if we can end up being as happy as the both of you today, then any road taken is well worth the journey.” He raised his glass and everyone cheered. Adriana stood up and hugged him tight. I was left sitting there, my heart beating unbelievably fast as I memorized his words. Every single thing he said.

He said it was a challenging road.

But well worth the journey.

And to love like there is no tomorrow.

Live like today is the end.

Lost in my own thoughts, I hadn’t noticed that the music filtered throughout the room as Elijah stood up and held his hand out like the true gentleman he was and asked Adriana to join him in their first dance as a wedded couple. With a smile that shone across her entire face, she stood up and followed him to the dance floor. Like two perfect souls they swayed their bodies to the soft sound as the band sung Unchained Melody. It was their song, and in their perfect moment I watched in awe as these two people had finally became one, and I was there from the beginning. Memories of them meeting for the first time at our local football game, the way that Adriana would talk endlessly about him. The way he looked at her, not like your normal high school boy. It truly was love at first sight. It was like a happy ending to a movie you spent a lifetime watching, and so I sat back and watched, willingly holding back that tear that wanted to escape.

The inevitable was near, and that feeling that buried itself in the pit of my stomach had now grown. The MC finally announced that the wedding party was to join the bride and groom. I could do this, I had to do this. He was by my side almost immediately and I did what I held back doing the moment I saw him waiting at the end of the aisle: I placed my hand into his and just like always, it shot through me, that wild jolt of electricity that reminded me why it had always been him. But this time I didn’t flinch, no, my body waited in anticipation and craved it. I craved that feeling because if he could still do this to me after seven years, then he was the one. I followed him to the dance floor, he wrapped his arms around my waist and I didn’t hold back. I placed my arms around his neck, just like at prom. Our eyes met and our gaze locked, like nothing around us existed, just him and me in this moment. His emerald eyes were sparkling as I studied his face. Should I speak first, what do I say? That I wanted him more than life itself. Should I start by saying that? His words lingered in my head. And so I danced, and placed my trust in him.

“Lex,” I murmured, his name rolling off my tongue. Oh how I’d missed the simplest thing like saying his name.

“Charlotte, please, let me say what I need to say first.”

I looked into his eyes, my movement stilled so he had my full attention.

“For the past month I have been aimlessly walking around wondering why I was being punished. Wondering exactly what I had done wrong to be dealt with so much pain. I thought I had reached low points in my life before but they were nothing in comparison to what I’ve been feeling… A few nights ago I sat alone, in a dangerous part of Brazil. I was drunk and the local folk were ready to roll me, I didn’t care that I was close to being beaten up. They watched me, tequila in hand like a time bomb waiting to go off. It hurt so much, what you had said to me and I replayed the words over and over again in my head. Those words echoed constantly throughout my mind and I questioned what exactly made me hurt the most: the fact that it was his or the fact that I wouldn’t be in your life? I wanted to hurt him, Charlotte, more than you can ever imagine. I had things...planned that I’m ashamed to admit. I was there ready to dial my cell but then I looked up and I saw it, the light that shone so bright on the statue of Jesus Christ.”

“Just when I thought I lost hope, there was this little girl a few meters away from me, her angelic voice carried in the bustle surrounding us. She spoke in her native tongue but I understood, she asked her dad why the Jesus Christ was shining so bright, it was hurting her eyes. I rushed to her side and asked her if she could see it too, she nodded and I knew it wasn’t just me. Her name was Carla. It was a sign, a big fucking sign. It was at that moment that I knew I missed you, that my life is nothing without you. I was no longer angry at him, but angry with myself for hurting you. You are the one having to deal with this alone and I hated myself for making you think you had no other choice. I love you, Charlotte Olivia Mason. My life will only be complete with you in it.”