The moment I had been waiting for my entire life was finally here. I stood at the altar, my hands clasped together in front of me, my heart pounding. This was my wedding day.

The air in the venue was thick with anticipation, a soft hum of whispers and muffled excitement filling the space. My best man gave me a reassuring nudge, but I barely registered it. My eyes were locked on the grand doors at the end of the aisle. Any second now.

Then, the music started. The first chords of the song sent a shiver down my spine, and I inhaled sharply. Everyone stood, heads turning toward the entrance, but I was frozen in place. The doors slowly opened, and there she was.

I swear, I forgot how to breathe.

She stood there in the most beautiful white dress, the fabric hugging her figure perfectly, the light catching in her hair like it was spun from gold. But it wasn’t the dress, or the way she walked with effortless grace—it was her. The love of my life, the woman who had stood by me through the highs and the lows, through the victories and the heartbreaks. The one person who had always believed in me, even when I doubted myself.

My vision blurred as tears welled up in my eyes. I tried to blink them away, but they kept coming. My throat tightened, my emotions completely overwhelming me. I wasn’t embarrassed—I didn’t care if the entire world saw me crying right now. This was the most incredible moment of my life.

She met my gaze, and in that instant, it felt like we were the only two people in the room. Her eyes shimmered, a soft smile playing on her lips as she walked toward me. Step by step, closer and closer. Every second felt stretched, as if time itself was savoring this moment along with us.

By the time she reached me, my hands were trembling slightly. She took them in hers, giving me a gentle squeeze, as if to ground me in the moment. I exhaled a shaky breath, unable to stop the grin spreading across my face.

“I love you,” I whispered, my voice cracking just a little.