Page 133 of I’m Already Gone

“Ethan, you’ve become the man I always believed you could be. Not a superhero, not a fictional character, but a real man with a heart and a soul. You’ve shown me what it means to live again. When everything started to crumble around me, you loved me fiercely and took care of me without complaint. You never gave up. You didn’t hesitate. You stepped up like I knew you would.”

I take another pause.

“You are a man who stands behind his word and promises to love me until my…my last breath.”

And now we’re both crying hard.

“I love you,” he whispers through his tears.

“And I love you. Always, until I’m gone and into the next life,” I promise.

Without waiting for Marcus to say kiss the bride, Ethan cradles my face in his hands and places his lips on mine. As my mouth parts, he kisses me deeply, igniting a whirlwind of emotion inside me. This kiss is so passionate that it makes my head spin and my knees weak. And in this moment, nothing else matters. Only us.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife! Again!” Marcus booms, pulling us out of our blissful reverie.

We burst into laughter, lips still brushing against each other.

“Oops,” Ethan says, slipping his arms under my legs with an easy confidence. In one smooth motion, he lifts me off the ground to face our cheering crowd.

He gazes down at me, his eyes filled with an overwhelming love. “My first choice. My second chance. My forever. Let’s celebrate, baby.”

Ethan

The reception hall shimmers with a soft, inviting glow, a perfect setting for our second chance. Round tables, draped in crisp white tablecloths, are adorned with elegant candle centerpieces, roses and lilies nestled around them.

As the last plates are cleared, the DJ leans into the microphone. “Alright, everyone! It’s time for the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Let’s clear the floor for our bride and groom’s second and final dance for the evening!”

Just as the crowd begins to part, a blur of movement catches my eye. Sam zips through the crowd. She stops short in front of us, a pair of familiar heels dangling from her hand. “She’ll need these,” she says with a wink before she dissolves back into the crowd.

Kneeling gently before Lily, I slip each heel onto her feet. Standing up, I extend my hand to her. “Ready, my Sunshine?”

She stares at me with a dreamy tenderness. “More than ready,” she replies, intertwining her fingers with mine as I lead her toward the dance floor.

Bryan Adams’ “When You Love Someone” drifts through the speakers. Lily’s silver eyes glisten, reflecting the lights like sunlight dancing on the ocean.

She throws her arms around my neck, pulling me close. I bury my face in her neck, my arms finding their way around her waist, holding her securely as we begin to sway, lost in the music and each other.

“This is our forever, Sunshine,” I murmur against her skin, pressing a tender kiss to her neck.

“And we got it right this time,” she whispers back.

As the next verse begins, I sing along, just for her. She squeezes me tighter, a silent plea that feels like she is begging me to never let go.

Never, baby.

“Thank you for giving me a second chance, Lily,” I add.

She tilts her head back slightly, her gaze locking with mine. “Thank you for coming back to me.”

I spin her around, a graceful, effortless turn. When she returns to my arms, I lean in and whisper, “You’re where I’m meant to be. Always.”

Lily

Atrail of petals stretches across the floor, leading to the bed. Battery-operated candles outline the petal heart on the bed. The room is alive with the warm glow of candlelight, casting shadows across the walls. The bedding is adorned with rose petals arranged into a heart shape.

“Did you do all this?” I ask, stunned. My gaze lifts, following the whimsical twinkle of fairy lights strung around the square-frame canopy, artificial floral vines and delicate rosebuds woven into each corner.

He looks at me, his eyes gleaming with adoration. “Yeah, Sunshine, with a little help.”