Walk Me Down The Aisle
It was a beautiful autumn season at the wedding day of Danni's friends. She got up from her table to refill her glass of champagne, and as she walked past the head table, she saw Scott sitting there. They exchanged polite smiles, but didn't talk much. Danni had seen Scott before, but had never really talked to him. She knew he was an actor, but chose to keep quiet about it, because she wanted to get to know the real person behind the fame. Over the weeks, they started to enjoy each other's company, and seem to still seeing each other at weddings. Scott never knew that Danni was a writer in the movie industry, and Danni never told him. She enjoyed the anonymity of being able to observe him without him knowing who she really was. One day, while in their hiding place, Danni opened up to Scott about how she was feeling. She told him that she had developed feelings for him over the passed months and wanted to explore a relationship with him. Scott was hesitant at first, because of his past heartbreak, and wasn't sure if he was ready for another relationship. But with Danni's persistence and patience, they started seeing each other and fell in love. They had a whirlwind romance filled with laughter, passion, and adventure. Danni was happy, and she felt like she had finally found her soulmate. She loved him so much that she decided to write a book about their love story. It became a bestseller and the spotlight was on them. But then something happened that she never saw coming. Scott was disappointed about the book, and his father was filled with anger towards her. Scott felt like his privacy had been invaded, and he became distant from Danni. She tried to reach out to him, but he wouldn't respond. She felt like she had lost him forever. But doon reconciled but it was too late. Years went by, and they were both at a mutual friend's wedding again, with their own partners. They locked eyes from across the room and smiled with the idea of their past. They didn't exchange words, but they both knew that they were happy in their own lives. Danni looked over to her companion and felt thankful for everything she had. She still loved Scott, but she knew that they were just characters in each other's stories now. She realized that sometimes, life doesn't go as planned, and the person you thought was your happily ever after, wasn't meant to be. But she was grateful for the memories they shared, and for the love that had filled her heart for a time. As the night went on, Danni realized that sometimes, the best love stories don't have endings that make sense. And sometimes, the best love stories are the ones that you hold in your heart forever.
Chapter Four
"Room 812." I reluctantly relented, not wanting to cause any further trouble for him. "Alright. Please let me hold your hand." The guy reached out, his gesture insinuating that he was aware of my lingering dizziness.
For a second I thought, "Hold your hand?" How charming, I mused inwardly. When was the last time I encountered such gallantry, where a man willingly desired to hold my hand? It's as if the notion had become foreign to me as if it had never happened before. And that's just very unfortunate to think about.
And in such circumstances, I couldn't help but be touched by this diminutive yet beautiful gesture from a stranger. It took me a while to regain my composure as Mr. Stranger, as I named him, safely escorted me back to my room. Honestly, I had to suppress the emotions bubbling inside me because it wouldn't be wise to fall for a chivalrous act that meant nothing more than a kind gesture or yet, a charity.
The following day, as I woke up, I instantly felt the throbbing headache caused by the excessive drinking I had indulged in the previous night, which was certainly not appropriate considering my role as a bridesmaid. Glancing at my phone, I saw several messages from Vanessa, apologizing for leaving me at the bar and leaving earlier. Unpretentiously, I acknowledged her apology, because there was no reason for me to be angry.
If I hadn't been left behind at the bar in the early hours of the morning, I would have missed out on the unexpected and almost magical experience of having a stranger come to my aid, just like a character in one of those romantic novels. As I ricocheted on that moment now, I can't help but feel a sense of gratitude for Mr. Stranger, who ensured that I returned to my room safely, without causing any trouble or chagrin.
As the hours ticked by and the wedding day drew near, I found myself trying to recall the face of the kind stranger who had helped me when I was made drunk. Unfortunately, my memory offered no clues to his identity, leaving me feeling a mix of frustration and gratitude.
While it wasn't necessary to find and thank him, I couldn't help but wonder about the purpose of feeling thankful if I couldn't express it properly or if it remained trapped within me, overshadowed by regret and uncertainty. Yet, I held onto a hint of expectancy that somehow, someway, our paths would cross again. Perhaps fate had other plans, and if he happened to be a part of Don and Vanessa's wedding, like some hidden character waiting to be revealed, then I knew that our encounter was destined to happen.
Amidst the chaos and anticipation of the wedding day, with everyone eagerly awaiting the bride's arrival, the event organizer began calling each of us one by one, signaling the start of the long-awaited ceremony. I remembered when I sat on the plane, I hoped I could forget about the familiar guy who was also on board at that time. Little did I know, he was not simply a fellow passenger, but the same person who had attended Don and Vanessa's wedding ceremony.
The sight of him made me momentarily forget the events of the previous night, as all my attention became fixated on him. Then just after the wedding, there was an opportunity to take photos with the newlyweds and other guests. He was one of the groomsmen, someone with whom considerable people desired to capture moments with him. I didn't want to show my admiration for him too blatantly, so I tried my best to avoid looking in his direction and appeared engrossed in my amusement.
I wanted to maintain an air of mystery whenever he moved about. Later, during the reception, I found myself seated alone at a table, indulging in my favorite desserts. Yet, even as I savored each bite, a slight worry nagged at my mind, reminding me of the circumstances that transpired the previous night and the potential outcomes it could have on me.