** Eli **
"Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends. We are gathered here today as witnesses to join Harper McKenzie and Eli Isaac Sterling in the union of marriage …"
Years later, Eli would remember hearing those words somewhat vaguely behind him. But the voice would be muffled, unclear, because at that moment, his whole mind was focused on the beautiful woman in front of him. On that light trail of tears that he lifted his hand to brush his thumb over, trying to dust it away.
Not because she didn't look breathtaking with that delicate glisten on her face, but because she had done the same for him barely an hour ago … and he was honored to be able to return the favor. Especially honored when he got to do it while they clasped hands under the rose arch, while she looked back at him with such a soft gleam in her eyes that reflected all the brightness of the sunset sky … as if her gaze enveloped his whole world.