The Only One He Wants

Hastily, she put the lid aside and her eyes popped open in surprise. There was a white, long dress, neatly folded inside, with a veil on top of it and white high heels in the corner. She bit her lip to suppress the urge to cry as loud as her throat could handle and gently walked her fingers over the soft material. It was like silk, but thicker.

Finally, she gathered strength to pull out the dress from the box. It was then that she noticed another message. “Follow the road to happiness and come to the lobby.” She giggled, wiping a tiny tear that had somehow escaped and went to put her wedding dress on.

It fit her perfectly, for which she was the most grateful. Carefully zipping it, she slipped her feet into the heels and covered her head with the veil. “Please don’t cry!” she spoke to herself as she stood before the mirror. She had put on some modest makeup so that her real joy could shine through every line of her face. And she liked how her whole look had turned out.

“Now it’s time!” she excitedly squealed, closing the door of the room and going for the elevator. It dawned on her just how strange she’d look if someone saw her like that, but she dismissed the thought. Impatiently, she waited for the numbers above the elevator door to drop to one, before exiting the elevator and standing tall and happy in the hotel lobby.

Oh, what a lobby it was. Nothing was the same as when they’d arrived at the hotel. The red carpet was covered in white petals, the chandeliers shone brighter, the bar had white balloons hanging from it and the most important part was the long table with two tall chairs placed at the far end, just before the windows. It was the middle of the day, so natural light gave the place a magical glow.

She covered her mouth with her hands, hearing the sweetest voice from behind her.

“Welcome to your wedding, future Mrs. Good!”

It was Michael. And when she turned around she saw him in his most elegant form yet. He wore a black tuxedo, white shirt, and a black bowtie. The perfect combination. And his face was lit by the widest smile she had ever seen on him. Simply, he was shimmering and she hoped she appeared as joyful herself.

“It’s… Beautiful. Thank you, honey!” She ran into his arms and he slightly lifted her off the ground. So, she wasn’t as heavy as she thought. Or at least, he had enough strength to carry her.

They kissed on the lips briefly, to keep Gabrielle’s lipstick on and Michael led her on the carpet. She felt like a real princess. Her Prince Charming was right next to her. The palace was ready. The dress was here as well. Everything was as if taken out of the pages of a storybook. The one where the ending was always happy.

On the way to the table, she saw two men also dressed in tuxedoes. And they were approaching them.

“I know those guys,” she told Michael.

“Of course you do. That’s Toby, my assistant,” he whispered.

“And that’s Alan!”

“Yeah, my chauffeur, who witnessed the birth of the biggest and most powerful love in the galaxy,” he said.

Alan and Toby reached them and started with the congratulations spree. “Congrats, sir. You deserve each other,” Toby said, hugging his boss. He placed his hand in the air for Gabrielle to shake.

“Oh, come on. You’re attending my wedding, you won’t get away with a handshake.” She hugged him tightly. “And besides, I’m a hugger.”

They all laughed.

“I wish you all the best. You two… Your story is one for movies and TV shows. And you’re proof of what destiny does to all of us,” Alan said and hugged the both of them at the same time in a sweet moment that brought tears to her eyes.

“I never knew you were a poet, Alan,” Michael joked. “From now on when we go to work, you can recite your poems to me.” They all chuckled. “Thanks, buddy. It means the world to me,” Michael added.

The marriage officiant coughed and they all took it as a sign to start with the ceremony.

As they were going to their chairs Gabrielle whispered to her soon-to-be husband, “I’m shaking, Mikey. I’m so happy that I don’t think it’s real.”

“And here I thought I was the only one,” he giggled. “This is the best day of my life, love.”

They looked at each other, their eyes full of tears of love and joy.

“Michael Good, do you take Gabrielle Bassett to be your wedded wife and to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?” The marriage officiant’s voice was deep and ceremonial.

“I do,” he said without hesitating.

The officiant repeated the question to Gabrielle.

“I do, yeah,” she answered.

“Congratulations! I pronounce you husband and wife,” he said and all of them stood up.

The adrenaline prevented her from feeling anything. Her heart was racing from all the excitement and bliss it was feeling.

“I love you, Michael. And I want to grow old with you and have graying hair and wrinkles and dry skin and have no teeth,” she told him, gazing at his eyes which were as tearful as hers.

“I want to have you by my side all the time. Until the end of my days. And yes, my car crashing into yours was the best thing that happened to me,” he said and they chuckled.

Then their lips collided, sealing their eternal love with a kiss.

The end.