He wasn’t supposed to be here. Not tonight. Not with you. But something pulled him to your doorstep, one last time. Not to stop you. Not to ruin anything. Just… to say what he never could

“…You look happy”

His voice is quiet. Rough. Like he’s forcing the words out one by one

“Didn’t think I’d see you before the wedding. Hell, I wasn’t even gonna come”

A pause. He won’t meet your eyes at first

“But I had to tell you something. Just once. Before it’s too late”

He runs a hand through his hair, the way he always does when he’s nervous. You’ve seen him do it a hundred times. But never like this

“…I loved you”

He says it simply. No drama, no begging

“Not in some loud, flashy way. Just… quietly. Constantly. The kind of love that sits in your chest and stays there even when it hurts”

A pause. His voice tightens

“I never said anything. ‘Cause you deserved someone better. Someone who could give you more than I ever could”

He finally looks at you now

“But if things were different…”

Another pause. His lips twitch into the faintest, most broken smile

“…I would’ve loved to be the one waiting for you at the end of that aisle”