I breathed in slowly... then out, trying to steady the way my chest rose and fell.

My hands felt a little cold, my heart beating just a bit faster than normal.

"This is it, Miguel..." I whispered to myself, standing just behind the doors that led out to the aisle. "After today... you'll be completely hers. For real this time."

The thought didn't scare me.

If anything... it grounded me.

Everything that had happened—everything we'd been through—it all led here.

Lela stood beside me, calm as always, but there was a softness in her expression now, a small smile that wasn't usually there.

"Ready, Miguel?" she asked.

I nodded, taking in one more deep breath, letting it fill my lungs before slowly releasing it.

"I'm ready," I said.

I truly meant it.

On the other side of those doors, everything was waiting.

Her.

Our future.

Our family.

I straightened slightly, my hand brushing over my chest as if to settle the last bit of nerves, my mind clearing with each second.

Whatever happened next...

I was walking toward it.

As the doors opened, a soft wave of music spilled into the room, wrapping around me like something out of a dream.

For a brief second, I hesitated at the threshold.

Then I stepped forward.

The aisle stretched out in front of me, lined with people—faces I barely registered, all of them fading into the background as everything narrowed down to one single point at the end.

My dress moved gently with each step, the fabric light but elegant, brushing softly against my legs. I could feel every detail of it now—the way it hugged my body, the way it flowed behind me, the subtle weight of it reminding me that this was real.

This was actually happening.

My heart pounded, not from fear, but from something deeper... something overwhelming in the best way.

I walked slowly, deliberately, taking it all in—the music, the quiet atmosphere, the way the air itself felt still, like the world had paused just for this moment.

And then my eyes found her.

Carla.

Standing at the altar.

She looked... unreal.

Her suit was perfectly tailored, the dark fabric fitting close to her body, accentuating every line, every curve. The jacket hugged her frame in a way that made her look powerful and composed, but there was something softer beneath it—something only I could see.

Her posture was confident, as always, but her eyes...

Her eyes were locked on me.

Completely.

Like nothing else existed.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

She looked absolutely stunning—more than that, she looked mine.

A small, almost involuntary smile formed on her lips as I got closer, her gaze softening just slightly, like even she couldn't fully believe this was real.

Each step brought me closer to her, closer to everything we had built, everything we had fought for.

By the time I reached the altar, my chest felt full, my emotions sitting right at the surface.

I looked up at her, really looked at her, and for a second... everything else disappeared.

"You look amazing, Carla..." I whispered, my voice barely audible over the soft music still lingering in the background.

Her lips curved into a warm, almost proud smile as she looked at me—really looked at me, like she was taking in every detail just as much as I was.

"You look even more," she replied quietly.

The way she said it—so certain, so genuine—sent warmth rushing straight to my face. I felt myself blush, my gaze dipping for just a second before finding hers again.

Then the officiant began speaking.

Words filled the air, formal and steady, but they might as well have been distant echoes. I heard the tone, the rhythm... but none of it stuck.

I couldn't focus.

Not when she was right in front of me.

My entire world had narrowed down to Carla.

Her eyes—those deep brown eyes—held me completely, like I couldn't look away even if I tried. There was something softer in them today, something vulnerable beneath all that strength she always carried.

Her eyebrows, slightly drawn together in emotion, like she was holding back just as much as I was.

Her lips... full, slightly parted, the same lips that had kissed me through everything we'd been through.

Every little detail felt amplified.

Every feature felt... perfect.

I swallowed softly, my chest tightening—not from nerves, but from how overwhelming it all felt. Like I didn't deserve this moment, but I had it anyway.

She was perfect.

Absolutely perfect.

And she was choosing me.

At last, the officiant's voice became clear again, cutting through the haze I'd been lost in.

"Carla, do you take Miguel to be your loving husband, and to care for and protect him for life?"

There was a brief pause.

Just enough for the weight of the question to settle in the air.

I watched her closely, my heart pounding, my breath caught somewhere between anticipation and disbelief.

Carla didn't hesitate.

"Of course I do..." she said, her voice steady, but filled with something deeper—something emotional, something real. "A million times... even in the afterlife."

A soft reaction rippled through the room—small laughs, quiet murmurs—but I barely heard any of it.

My vision blurred slightly again, my chest tightening as her words hit me fully.

A million times.

Even in the afterlife.

I let out a shaky breath, my lips parting slightly as I looked at her, completely overwhelmed in the best way possible.

She meant every word.

And I could feel it.

"Miguel, do you take Carla to be your wife, to stand by her through thick and thin, and to love her for life?"

The words felt heavier when they were directed at me.

I nodded almost immediately, but my throat tightened before I could speak. My eyes stayed locked on Carla's, and I felt a tear slip down despite trying to hold it back.

She looked at me like I was everything.

Like I always had been.

"Of course..." I managed, my voice trembling just slightly. I let out a small sniffle, quickly fanning under my eyes with my fingers, trying to keep myself together. "There isn't a lifetime where I'm not marrying Carla."

A soft reaction moved through the room again, but it all felt distant.

Carla's expression changed—just a little.

That usual control she had slipped, replaced with something more raw. Her eyes softened even more, a faint shine building in them as she took in my words.

I let out a shaky breath, lowering my hand slowly.

For a second, we just stood there, looking at each other.

Everything said.

Everything understood.

"Carla, you may now kiss the bride."

She didn't hesitate.

The moment the words left the officiant's mouth, Carla closed the distance between us in one swift movement, her hands finding my face as she pulled me into her. The kiss was immediate, overwhelming—messy, full of emotion, like she'd been holding it back the entire ceremony.

A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd, quickly followed by laughter and cheers.

But I barely heard any of it.

I melted into her.

My hands came up instinctively, gripping onto her jacket as I kissed her back, just as intense, just as consumed. Everything I felt—love, relief, excitement—it all poured into that moment.

It wasn't perfect.

It wasn't delicate.

It was real.

And it was ours.

After what felt like both seconds and forever, we finally pulled apart, breathless, still close enough that I could feel her breath against my lips.

Before I could even process it—

"HES MINE!!!" Carla shouted, her voice loud and proud.

Laughter broke out around us, mixed with applause and cheering. I could hear people clapping, shouting, celebrating—her people, important figures, all witnessing it.

I let out a small, breathless laugh, my face still flushed as I looked up at her.

"And you're mine," I murmured back softly, my voice meant just for her, even in the middle of all the noise.

——