The thirty days passed like a dream and a nightmare combined—every moment bringing them closer to the vow they'd already made in their hearts, but hadn't yet spoken before witnesses.
Emily woke on the morning of their wedding to find Alexander already awake, watching her with that intensity that had never diminished, only transformed. The intertwined bracelet and ring on her wrist caught the early light, a constant reminder of what today meant.
"Today," Alexander said simply, his voice rough with emotion.
"Today," Emily confirmed.
There would be no church. No white dress and traditional ceremony. No hundreds of guests watching from pews while they spoke sanitized vows about love and cherishing.
This was not that kind of marriage. And they were not that kind of people.
