Date: Day 45 Year 84
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Wedding & Reception Location: Ithemba Refuge, South Africa
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The Beginning of Forever
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Everything was set. The garden had been transformed into a wonderful oasis for a marriage ceremony. The priest had already arrived, the family was gathered outside, waiting to see Bella and Nathan join in matrimony.
Bella stood before the mirror, in awe of her reflection. Today, she was a bride. Her white dress hugged her curves lightly, her hair fell in delicate waves down her back, and her make-up was surprisingly neutral. The women of her family had done a wonderful job.
“Ready?”
The word sent chills down her spine. They weren’t chills of fear or apprehension, however. There were some nerves mixed in, but the excitement was almost tactile. Bella turned to look at her mother. She nodded while a small smile touched her lips.
“Your father would’ve loved to see this day.”
Bella stood before the mirror, in awe of her reflection. Today, she was a bride. Her white dress hugged her curves lightly, her hair fell in delicate waves down her back, and her make-up was surprisingly neutral. The women of her family had done a wonderful job.
“Ready?”
The word sent chills down her spine. They weren’t chills of fear or apprehension, however. There were some nerves mixed in, but the excitement was almost tactile. Bella turned to look at her mother. She nodded while a small smile touched her lips.
“Your father would’ve loved to see this day.”
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Bella smiled, a little sadness crossing her eyes. “I know,” she said. “But I still have my mother to walk me down the aisle.” She chuckled a bit while her mother’s arms enveloped her.
They left the house together and walked towards the garden. Every step of the way, Bella felt her heartbeat grow stronger, faster. She hoped Nathan would like the way she looked. She hoped with all of her might that they would have a happy marriage, that today would mark the beginning of forever. Gods, she hoped he wouldn’t regret marrying her.
They left the house together and walked towards the garden. Every step of the way, Bella felt her heartbeat grow stronger, faster. She hoped Nathan would like the way she looked. She hoped with all of her might that they would have a happy marriage, that today would mark the beginning of forever. Gods, she hoped he wouldn’t regret marrying her.
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Bringing his fingers to his wrists, Nathan gave the cufflinks a little tug. He had never truly been a suit-man, always the one after the more relaxed look. But this here today, it was one of the most special occasions in a man's life. He ran his fingers through his hair while watching the guy appearing in the mirror. His hair, it'd never behave, but other than it, there was one quite decent looking man in the mirror.
The night had been a different one. In truth, he would have given anything to be able to sleep beside his bride. Staying in the guesthouse with Rico, Teun, Stuart, Elias and Niels..they were all great guys, but he had always been more the loner one, not having that many male friends in his life. But the evening hadn't been bad, not at all. He had gotten some great advices for his future, how to handle a wife. Of course he knew they said it with a sparkle in their eyes. Though, Nathan wasn't sure would those advices work in practise. Isabella was quite different than the wives of the other guys. Smirk twitched his mouth at the thought. His girl was special. And he wouldn't have her any other way. She was perfect for him.
He hadn't slept all that much during the night. His mind had been somewhere else than in the dreams. The day would go well, he had no doubts of it. There was this familiar feeling in his stomach. This excitement. He was sure his parents were watching him from the above, sharing the day. As was his grandmother too. They'd all be proud.
His life was about to fully start, take that new and wonderful step. And he was taking that with Isabella. And he couldn't wait. Giving a brief glance to his watch, it was only few hours. One deep breath. A shiver ran down his spine. A good kind of shiver. Bigger smile took over his face. Nathan had to shake his head.
"Dude, you're getting married."
The night had been a different one. In truth, he would have given anything to be able to sleep beside his bride. Staying in the guesthouse with Rico, Teun, Stuart, Elias and Niels..they were all great guys, but he had always been more the loner one, not having that many male friends in his life. But the evening hadn't been bad, not at all. He had gotten some great advices for his future, how to handle a wife. Of course he knew they said it with a sparkle in their eyes. Though, Nathan wasn't sure would those advices work in practise. Isabella was quite different than the wives of the other guys. Smirk twitched his mouth at the thought. His girl was special. And he wouldn't have her any other way. She was perfect for him.
He hadn't slept all that much during the night. His mind had been somewhere else than in the dreams. The day would go well, he had no doubts of it. There was this familiar feeling in his stomach. This excitement. He was sure his parents were watching him from the above, sharing the day. As was his grandmother too. They'd all be proud.
His life was about to fully start, take that new and wonderful step. And he was taking that with Isabella. And he couldn't wait. Giving a brief glance to his watch, it was only few hours. One deep breath. A shiver ran down his spine. A good kind of shiver. Bigger smile took over his face. Nathan had to shake his head.
"Dude, you're getting married."
Nathan was sure their garden was the paradise on Earth. The setting was beautiful. It was them. Nothing too much. Just perfectly simple and beautiful.
The family was starting to gather on their seats. Children still running around. He couldn't keep the smile from touching his face. Such a happiness in the squeals and laughters. There were bigger ones and smaller ones. He was sure Ashaki would have loved to run with the children, but they had come to a conclusion that the cheetah might not know how to handle kids. How to be that extra gentle. Maybe the kids would get a chance to meet her later.
Eventually though everyone took their places. The priest arrived too, taking her place by his side. Butterflies took over his guts. All at once. How would Isabella look? She'd be beautiful. He had no doubts of it. He gave his jacket a soft tug, little brush to his hair. The weather was nice. They decided to go with the afternoon, not the most warmest moment of the noon.
Nathan gave a glance to the side. He had asked if Rico would want to stand by his side. Rosa was giving her daughter away. Rico being the big brother, it somehow felt right to have him there too. "Just in case if I end up fainting." It had been the joke of the previous evening. He wasn't going to faint.
As Bella and Rosa arrived at the garden, and all eyes turned to look at the bride. It was the sighs coming from the seats which made him to focus his eyes forward. Bella’s eyes locked on Nathan’s standing at the end of the aisle. Something inside of her seemed to burst and unleash such overwhelming love that she wanted to run into his arms right away. Nathan was seeing the most beautiful woman on this planet. His eyes found the clearness in hers, and he flashed her a smile. The music started. His bride started her walk towards him. Kobe, she was gorgeous.
Nathan felt his heart beating stronger. In a little moment he stepped closer, ready to offer his hand for Isabella. "I'll take care of her." He smiled to Rosa. It was a promise he'd keep close to his heart. From this day forward, until they were old and gray. Together they stepped to face the priest.
Bella had expected to be nervous when the priest asked her to say her vows. What if she forgot about it? She could always read it - after all, her mother had the paper with the written vows tucked into her purse - but as Bella looked into Nathan’s loving eyes, she knew it would be easy to speak from her heart. A little smile budded on her lips as she began to speak.
The family was starting to gather on their seats. Children still running around. He couldn't keep the smile from touching his face. Such a happiness in the squeals and laughters. There were bigger ones and smaller ones. He was sure Ashaki would have loved to run with the children, but they had come to a conclusion that the cheetah might not know how to handle kids. How to be that extra gentle. Maybe the kids would get a chance to meet her later.
Eventually though everyone took their places. The priest arrived too, taking her place by his side. Butterflies took over his guts. All at once. How would Isabella look? She'd be beautiful. He had no doubts of it. He gave his jacket a soft tug, little brush to his hair. The weather was nice. They decided to go with the afternoon, not the most warmest moment of the noon.
Nathan gave a glance to the side. He had asked if Rico would want to stand by his side. Rosa was giving her daughter away. Rico being the big brother, it somehow felt right to have him there too. "Just in case if I end up fainting." It had been the joke of the previous evening. He wasn't going to faint.
As Bella and Rosa arrived at the garden, and all eyes turned to look at the bride. It was the sighs coming from the seats which made him to focus his eyes forward. Bella’s eyes locked on Nathan’s standing at the end of the aisle. Something inside of her seemed to burst and unleash such overwhelming love that she wanted to run into his arms right away. Nathan was seeing the most beautiful woman on this planet. His eyes found the clearness in hers, and he flashed her a smile. The music started. His bride started her walk towards him. Kobe, she was gorgeous.
Nathan felt his heart beating stronger. In a little moment he stepped closer, ready to offer his hand for Isabella. "I'll take care of her." He smiled to Rosa. It was a promise he'd keep close to his heart. From this day forward, until they were old and gray. Together they stepped to face the priest.
Bella had expected to be nervous when the priest asked her to say her vows. What if she forgot about it? She could always read it - after all, her mother had the paper with the written vows tucked into her purse - but as Bella looked into Nathan’s loving eyes, she knew it would be easy to speak from her heart. A little smile budded on her lips as she began to speak.
“My incredible husband to be… I know things for us weren’t the typical boy-meets-girl-and-they-fall-in-love story. Yet… when I first met you, we were both incomplete. I didn’t know back then, when Phil escaped from you and got me all tangled up i up in his leash, that I was missing something. I especially didn’t know that the something was you.
Ever since I was a teenager, I have been searching for you. I’ve had this big, gaping hole in my chest for so long. I didn’t know how to accept help from others. Even worse, I was used to being pitied. But you… You never pitied me. You cared for me. You took care of me even when I resisted. Even when I seemed to bring nothing but problems.
I seem to draw bad luck. Broken legs, bizarre side-effects, snake bites… and none of that has ever scared you away. I look forward to continuing to build our lives together just as we continue to build Ithemba, just as we continue to nurture our furry babies. You, Nathaniel Dwyer, are one of a kind and I love you with all my heart and soul.”
The writer that he was, or had once dreamt to be, one would think he'd have little pieces of papers written, the words he wanted to say. And in truth, Nathan had sat down in front of a table, aimed to write. But on that moment he had realised that there was no point in writing them down. Not when they came from his heart. Facing his wife-to-be, he smiled happily.
"Isabella, I've never before laid my eyes on anyone who is so beautiful. Not just the outer part, but on the inside too. Before I met you, I was just a lonely man. A man who spent his days with our furry friends, not truly having a social life. I once thought that I'd walk through this life alone. I thought life had nothing to give me anymore, so much had been taken away. And I was so wrong when thinking like that.
But then I met you in the park. Your hair was so unruly on that day. Now that I think back, it's the look I've learned to love maybe the most. The free and wild side of you.
From the very beginning I learned that you were special. We had so much in common, and yet our natures can differ quite much too. I always like to think you to be the fire, one with the spirit. Maybe I'm the more calm one, maybe it sometimes even drives you crazy. I just know that we're made to be here today. Meant to be together.
Bells, you've taught me to dream again. I never thought I could be doing something this amazing. You've made it possible. And I'm ever grateful for it. Dreams are meant to be lived with those we love. And here I am, living my dream, making it come true, and I'm doing it with you. With the one I love.
I am happy that you've let me be there for you, like you've been there for me. Together we've built this beautiful place, and we continue to build it. Like we will continue to build our lives. Together. I love you."
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"Marriage, ideally, is a sharing of responsibilities, hopes, and dreams. It takes a special effort to grow together, survive hard times, and be loving and unselfish."
Nathan barely heard the priest's words. He was sinking into Isabella's eyes. Maybe there even was this silly smile on his face.
"Do you both pledge to share your lives openly with one another, and to speak the truth in love? Do you promise to honor and tenderly care for one another, cherish and encourage each other, stand together, through sorrows and joys, hardships and triumphs for all the days of your lives?"
It was the easiest question to give an answer to, and they did so together.
"We do."
"May these rings be blessed as a symbol of your union. As often as either of you look upon these rings, may you not only be reminded of this moment, but also of the vows you have made and the strength of your commitment to each other."
Their rings were simple and beautiful, the golden shade of the african sun. Nathan took Bella's hand, brushing his thumb gently against her soft skin. "With this ring I take you to be my wife." The ring was a perfect fit. Like was the one which found its place from his finger.
"Go now in peace and live in love, sharing the most precious gifts you have-
the gifts of your lives united. And may your days be long on this earth. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
He didn't need to be asked twice. The whole day he had wanted to feel her soft lips against his own. Taking that step closer, his lips brushed hers softly at first, but soon the kiss was becoming more stronger. He didn't hear the cheering coming from the seats. They were husband and wife. And his family had just grown. He was taken into this wonderful one.
Nathan barely heard the priest's words. He was sinking into Isabella's eyes. Maybe there even was this silly smile on his face.
"Do you both pledge to share your lives openly with one another, and to speak the truth in love? Do you promise to honor and tenderly care for one another, cherish and encourage each other, stand together, through sorrows and joys, hardships and triumphs for all the days of your lives?"
It was the easiest question to give an answer to, and they did so together.
"We do."
"May these rings be blessed as a symbol of your union. As often as either of you look upon these rings, may you not only be reminded of this moment, but also of the vows you have made and the strength of your commitment to each other."
Their rings were simple and beautiful, the golden shade of the african sun. Nathan took Bella's hand, brushing his thumb gently against her soft skin. "With this ring I take you to be my wife." The ring was a perfect fit. Like was the one which found its place from his finger.
"Go now in peace and live in love, sharing the most precious gifts you have-
the gifts of your lives united. And may your days be long on this earth. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
He didn't need to be asked twice. The whole day he had wanted to feel her soft lips against his own. Taking that step closer, his lips brushed hers softly at first, but soon the kiss was becoming more stronger. He didn't hear the cheering coming from the seats. They were husband and wife. And his family had just grown. He was taken into this wonderful one.
Nathan’s lips against hers was a sensation she always loved, but today it had an even greater power. Even while their friends and family cheered as they were official named Mr. and Mrs. Dwyer, she felt the kiss deepen and she had to restrain herself from wrapping her arms tightly around him and stealing him away. They broke apart gently, little smirks remaining on both of their lips. A light chuckle broke free from Bella before she turned triumphantly to gaze upon the faces of their loved ones. They’d really done it; they’d said their vows before a priest and the family. The golden rings on their fingers proved it.