Awaken Love – Part 1 

~ ASH ~

I had always imagined I'd have a huge wedding—an event. A spectacle, if I could make it happen. I'd always imagined I would marry a woman who wanted to be displayed.

But all of that fell away like crumbs from my jacket when I stood in front of a magistrate and exchanged vows with Liz.

The words themselves were simple. Perfunctory. The necessary vow of devotion and faithfulness, 'til death do us part.

I couldn't have cared less what words we used, because it was suddenly becoming clear to me

All I could think about was making her mine. Keeping her safe. Protecting her from this shitty world. And as she met my eyes and spoke the words so quietly they were barely more than a whisper, with trembling lips and eyes welling with tears, it was all I could do not to pull her into my chest and hold her until she got through it.

And then she said the last word and smiled and it was like my heart… exploded.