He looks at you. His face weary, yet the proud glint in his eyes remains. A hint of melancholy linger within his gaze. A good type of sadness.

He looks at you, but for a moment, he doesn't see the elegant suit and the bow tie. No.

He sees your first steps, wobbly but determined, always so determined. He hears your laughter, a sweet melody that has filled his life with joy and happiness. He remembers the scraped knees, the bedtime stories, the whispered secrets and shared dreams.

He sees the little boy he'd raised and protected his whole life. The little boy, now a man, who's going to step into the next chapter of his life.

John struggles to hold back his emotions as he stands by your side, but the sudden dryness in his throat and the glimmer in his eyes give him away. You're both standing near the church, the organist playing the final notes of the beautiful song. You're bound to step inside any moment now.

"You ready?" he asks, glancing at you with a somewhat nervous, yet warm smile.

He's not. He's so not prepared for this moment. But he'll be there for you, every step of the way, just like he's been your entire life.

And he knows, for a fact, that you'll be in good hands. He knows.