I’M WALKING BETWEEN RODGER AND Beverly who are walking me only halfway down the aisle. E and I decided he will meet us there and walk me the rest of the way to the altar, as a symbol of us walking towards our future, together. He’s breathtaking. A sense of calm takes over and I can breathe; I’m complete.
We were so worried we could’ve ruined everything if we ever met. That crippling fear kept us apart for far too long, but meeting one another only strengthened the bond we already shared. We lock eyes and, as always, the world fades away. It’s just us. My heart is full, my soul whole, my puzzle finished. Tragedy became triumph. Despair, misery, and unending pain became hope, happiness, and the promise of a better tomorrow. Our nightmare became our dream. And it’s for those reasons I embrace the tears that have begun silently falling down both our cheeks.
The tears gently falling down E’s cheeks mirror mine and say more than words ever could. They speak of pain, tragedy, and suffering. They talk about hope, friendship, and love, and they echo the truth that in our world of loss and despair, something amazing was able to grow. Our eyes meet and nothing else exists. It’s just the two of us and I’m overcome with a happiness I thought was forever gone.
Dee looks exquisite. Her hair is casually tied at the back of her neck, with loose strands framing her beautiful face. The dress she’s wearing is stunning. It’s elegant and strong while still being soft and beautiful. Just like my Dee.
E is stunning. He cut his hair but left his scruff because he knows how much I love it. He’s wearing a black tuxedo that fits his body like a second skin but the most beautiful thing he’s wearing is his smile because his eyes are smiling. My heart soars every time he smiles. I saw the sadness in them disappear the day we physically met, and I cheer because today I can see that sadness is now, forever gone. His soul is alive and that means more to me than anything else in this world.
Once I’m by her side, I whisper in her ear words only she can hear. “Dee…you look…” I trail off, my words choked back by emotion. But I know with Dee, I don’t need to finish.
E’s beautiful whispered words mirror what I’m feeling and even though he didn’t finish his thought, I know he’s talking about so much more than how we look. “E…” is all that I am able to whisper back to the breath of my existence.
“Family and friends,” Father Henderson says to the group. “We are here to complete the circle of life that fate has brought together.”
He looks at us, smiles, and continues. “Two people whose lives were shattered have been brought together in so many ways that my faith has been strengthened through their story, their hope and their love. Dani and Ean are a symbol of the power of God and the mysterious ways in which He works. I am in awe of their story, as I’m sure many of you are.”
No truer words have ever been spoken. Life turned our world upside down, but the love we share, righted it. Dee is my miracle, my destiny, and I am hers.
The truth in Father Henderson’s words ring with an unparalleled clarity. Tragedy tore our lives apart but our love put it back together. E is my soul and my salvation as I am his.
“Dani and Ean have written their own vows. They wrote both the first and the last part together like they write every part of their lives, together. They continue their vows individually, showing all of us the love and devotion they have for each other, showing us all the real meaning of true love.”
“Dani, Dee…” I start, looking deeply into her beautiful soul, a soul that has captivated me from the very beginning.
“Today I am marrying the both of you. Though you both came into my life at different times and in very different ways, you came into my life when I needed you the most.
“Dani, six months ago I was in dire need of a friend and when I wasn’t looking, you ran into my life, literally. I had lost myself, you found me. I had isolated myself, you brought me out into the light. You turned my anger into happiness and my hate into love. You filled my empty heart and you continue to fill it every day that I am blessed to be with you. You and Chloe have put a brightness into my life that’s propelled me while making me feel calm, while making me smile. And Dee…
“My Dee. When I first texted you I was a shell of a person barely existing. I reached out to you as a lifeline and what I got was that and so much more. You became my friend. You made me smile when I thought it was impossible I’d ever smile again. You became my best friend. You made me laugh after I’d forgotten how. You became my love. You made my heart beat again after it was shattered beyond repair. And along the way, I fell in love with you. You showed me your beauty and your spirit. You gave me hope, strength, and support, but most importantly, through you, I was able to see a future once again and you did it all through text messages. You complete me. You are my life and I vow to spend the rest of my life being your best friend, your strongest supporter, your greatest partner and your biggest love with all that I am.
“I vow to you to be your home and the other half of your whole, as you are mine, the E to your Dee, forever.”
E leans into me and with a gentle kiss he captures the tears that have fallen from hearing his beautiful words. With love and happiness, I pull back and recite my vows.
“Ean, E…” We look at each other with so much love that I melt, while my heart soars.
“Today I am marrying the both of you. Though you both came into my life at different times and in very different ways, you came into my life when I needed you the most.
“Ean, the first time I looked into your eyes, I sensed your soul and it left me breathless. I immediately knew we were destined to meet and were always meant to be. The day I saw you on the beach I sensed your heart and my heart came back to life. I immediately knew we were destined to be together and share one life. And the day we physically met, I saw you and immediately knew I was where I belong. I was lost, hanging on by a fraying thread, barely surviving day to day. Without knowing that, you put me back together. You protected me with your strong arms, guided me with your sure hands, and loved me with your amazing heart. You turned that fraying thread into a band of steel so strong it became unbreakable. You are my dearest friend my most trusted confidant and my truest advisor. You are my heart and my life. And E…
“My E, you are my everything. I can breathe when you’re by my side, you are my air. I can live when you’re by my side, you are my life. You took my breath away with the very first word you ever graced me with and you’ve been taking my breath away every day since, I am truly blessed. You came into my life when I needed you the most. You made me smile when I couldn’t and laugh when I thought it impossible. You showed me how to live again, taught me how to trust again and allowed me to hope when all hope was lost, and you did it all through text messages. You are my strength, my beacon, my humor, my wisdom, my guide and my love. I vow to spend the rest of my life being your light, your laughter and your greatest love with all that I am.
“I vow to you to be your home and the other half of your whole, as you are mine, the Dee to your E, forever.”
I lean in to kiss Dee again because I just can’t not. Her words ring true. That’s what we are to one another.
He leans in to kiss me with all that he is and I kiss him with all that I am. Today our souls spoke to each other echoing what we truly are to one another.
Everybody is crying. Even the priest has tears in his eyes.
“I have nothing to add,” Father Henderson chokes out on a laugh that’s joined in chorus by everybody in attendance. We exchange rings and then he says the words I’ve been waiting to hear.
“So by the power vested to me by God and the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Ean, you may now kiss your bride.”
E takes me in his arms and gives me a passionate yet tender kiss. I taste his tears, his love, his promises, and, best of all, I taste him.
As I take my love in my arms, I barely hear the cheers of celebration. The world has, once again, faded away. It’s just the two of us and as I kiss her, I taste the salt of her tears, the love of her heart, and everything that is Dee.
E and I usher in the reception with our first dance as husband and wife. We chose Meghan Trainor and John Legend’s “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” because that’s exactly how we love each other. We embrace our love with a passion and a fierceness that’s unparalleled. We appreciate and cherish what we have and we never take a second of it for granted. Halfway through the song, we bring in our closest friends and our families. The words spoken in this song ring true. Life is so incredibly precious and none of us are promised a tomorrow. Our hearts are full and our tears freely flow. And as the song comes to an end, with Chloe now tucked lovingly in our embrace, we smile because this is what life’s truly about.
Luke takes over and The Black Eyed Peas let us all know “tonight’s gonna be a good night.” All our guests crowd the makeshift dance floor shouting the lyrics out at the top of our lungs and we spend the rest of the reception celebrating the night away.
After the reception, my bride and I head down to the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey to celebrate our first night as husband and wife. I still can’t believe she’s really mine and I plan on spending the entire night showing her exactly how much I cherish her. Tomorrow we’re heading to Kaanapali Beach in Maui to stay at the Hyatt Residence Club for a mini-honeymoon. I adore Maui and I know Dee will love it too.
I’m so excited to be alone with E and to begin the next chapter of our lives. Neither of us has taken a vacation in a very long time and this mini-honeymoon is well earned and very needed. We’re going on a real honeymoon with Chloe after we get back. We’ll be back in time to celebrate Christmas with our families and then we’re leaving the next day. Her birthday is right after Christmas and we’re taking her on a Disney cruise to the Caribbean to celebrate.
All in all, life is really great.