* * *

Things escalated pretty quickly, but mom and daddy shielded me from most of it. I got a suspension for fighting on school grounds but the others were expelled.

It wasn’t much since school was almost over, but it did get some of them denied entrance into the college of their choice.

Brandon and daddy wanted blood and heads on a platter, but Beth, Casey and April got away with a slap on the wrist. The guy was never involved, and since Jill was already eighteen when they did the deed, he wasn’t in any trouble.

While the others got community service, Jill was facing serious time for distributing child porn. I felt kinda sorta bad that her life was basically destroyed, but she still didn’t seem to get it.

She sees me as a threat, which makes no sense. Outside of school we didn’t even have the same friends, and didn’t move in the same circles.

Brandon says she wanted my life, which makes no sense to me, but apparently she’s held a burning resentment against me for years.

None of them were allowed to attend graduation and it was only because I begged daddy to step in that they were going to get their diplomas in the mail.

The school had decided not to let them graduate at all, but I thought that was a steep price to pay for a stupid mistake made as a teenager.

With all of that behind us, we looked ahead to our own graduation and the wedding. Our moms were still grumbling at the moved up date, but Brandon wouldn’t budge and I didn’t want him to.

The morning of I woke up feeling fresh and happy. I was looking forward to the rest of my life. After the wedding we were going out to the university to find housing before taking off for our cross country trip.

Brandon was going on a football scholarship, which apparently came with perks so we weren’t too worried about it.

I looked in the mirror at my wedding dress, my hand moving along my throat. A little over two and a half months ago I’d tried to take my life.

Now here I was, happier than I’ve ever been with so much hope and so much to look forward to. I thought of my new friend Ashton who was doing much better these days, and the help I’d given him.

At least something good had come out of this mess, other than my blooming relationship with Brandon.

Brandon! He’s been my rock through this whole thing and after. He was there for every court hearing and thank goodness the court appointed lawyer had got Jill to plead guilty so we didn’t have to go through the horror of a trial.

He wasn’t ready to forgive, but I had to let it go to move on. He was overprotective and strict, but I loved him for it.

He watches everyone who comes near me like a hawk and daddy encourages his craziness. I’m still not allowed to talk to any of my old friends.

Brandon had threatened Beth if she ever tried contacting me again in this lifetime.

Poor girl, she was only trying to make amends, but as he so succinctly put it, she could go fuck herself. Whoa, talk about beastly.

I smiled when I remembered him climbing through my window hours ago after mom had lectured him about seeing the bride before the wedding.

We spent the night making love before he slithered back out my window to go home early this morning.

After we’d made love and was enjoying a nice post coital glow, I’d had a few last minute jitters about the big step he was taking.

I knew I was ready to spend the rest of my life with him, but like my doctor had said, there’s no guarantee that I wouldn’t go back to that dark place again.

He told me not to be an ass and I’d better have my butt in the back garden at noon so he could finally make me his.

Now I was standing here alone, looking at the face that looked back at me and loving me. I never thought I’d ever feel this way again.

In those desolate moments when everything seemed so dark, I never imagined that this day would come.

I wouldn’t recommend finding happiness this way, but I would say I’m glad I didn’t succeed in taking my life, because I never would’ve gotten to know how strong I can be, and how amazing life is.

I turned away from the mirror and walked down the stairs as I heard the strains of the wedding march begin outside.

Daddy was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. “You ready?”

“Ready daddy.”

“You look beautiful baby, you’re going to be so happy. I’m proud of you.”

“Don’t make me cry daddy you’ll ruin my makeup.”

He smiled and patted the hand I had threaded through his arm. Outside the sun was bright against the colorful backdrop of roses and hydrangeas mom and I had planted years ago.

Off to the side I could see the hammock Brandon and I had spent so many lazy days laying around in. And as I looked ahead to where he stood waiting for me, I could almost see forever.

“Hey beautiful; ready to start the rest of your life?”

“Oh yeah!”