And I am so grateful that a sob shudders out of me, and I remember to breathe again, and the first breath I take is of her, and it’s like I’m born again.  I’m grateful that this angel has allowed herself to fall to earth, because that means I can climb out of hell to meet her.

Bella settles herself facing me, and I see someone – Charlie – kissing her cheek before he goes to take his place in the front row. 

And then there’s no one but us.

I recognize, logically, that Emmett is still standing squarely above and between us on the lawn, and I register that his voice is booming, but I don’t quite hear the words.  I hear polite giggles coming from our guests, and Bella and I smile along with them, but tomorrow we won’t remember what it was Emmett said that was so funny, or inappropriate.

Because time is doing something strange to us right now. 

Bella’s eyes are shimmering with tears, and I’ve never seen her look so happy, so reverent, so … complete.  She’s nervous, of course, but it’s not because of all the eyes on us, or the fear of becoming “that girl.”  She’s made peace with that, somehow, and not just for me.  I trust that now.  No, there’s something else that makes her heart patter like a rabbit’s in front of me, that brings the blood to her cheeks, that makes a single tear roll slowly down her beaming face.

And it’s the same thing that makes me feel alive today, that makes me feel whole again.  My body is vibrating so powerfully that it seems a heart beats inside my chest. 

It is simply this.  It is the electricity that exists between us, the feeling we felt the first time we sat in the dark together at school.  It’s so strong I’m shocked that people can’t see it, surprised that people’s limbs don’t accidentally glance off it when they pass too close to us, like meteors deflected off some planet’s atmosphere.  The gentle but immutable tug that keeps me tied to Bella like a moon, and her to me.  The hum of our bodies that makes everything, even time, irrelevant.

And before we know it, the sermon becomes quiet, which I must surmise means that Emmett has taken this seriously after all.  And we are saying our vows, so quietly that I doubt anyone but my family can hear us, but I can’t be bothered and neither can Bella.  Because we are saying them for each other, to each other, the first words of our committed existence together.  My voice seems far away somehow; but I think each word as I say it, as if I could etch the words themselves into my body, my mind, my – my soul.  And I let each of Bella’s words sink into me, like rain turning hard, white marble into something shining and alive.

Then our lips meet, so very softly, and we stand, clinging to each other, as still as if we were one statue, our clothing and hair rustling in the breeze, while our family and friends stand and smile and clap for us.

Emmett turns us roughly to face the others, and we grin shyly at everyone, taking in the faces of the small band of family and friends who, knowingly or unknowingly, witnessed a most unorthodox union and promised to support it forever, or for as long as they live.  My hand around Bella’s waist feels different somehow, and I’m not sure yet whether it’s me or us that’s different.

With another of Emmett’s shoves, we are pushed into our future.

Together.

A/N:  Thank you for reading!