“I didn’t fall in a rush.”
Another step. Leo wipes at his eyes as he stands taller, trying to keep his emotions in check. His smile stays put, and it warms me completely. I continue signing.
“It was a glance. Spoken truths. A whispered hush.”
Another step. A lump of emotion swells as the enormity of today washes over me. This moment means everything to me. To us.
“Magic sparks stretched over time. I knew it then and now we climb.”
“Give me all, you feed my soul.”
Another step. My dress swishes around my calves. I can see Leo’s face. An evident show of gratitude.
“Take my hand. Own my heart.”
“You see me whole when apart, and save me true on repeating starts.”
There is a lull in the beautiful voice of the singer, so I take a few more steps until I’m standing in front of Leo. I hear sniffles resounding the room and know that everyone understands the odd beginning of the ceremony and what I’m doing for Leo.
The singing begins again so I continue signing.
“Cherished breaths mixed in with stolen time. You’re good for me, baby. Forever mine.”
Leo presses his lips together, trying to stifle emotion.
“Take my hand. Own my heart.”
“A million years won’t be enough.”
Tears stream down my face as I brave the perfect sentiment.
“We’ll beat back the clock and take what’s ours.”
The music fades, then I sign the chorus one more time.
“Own my heart. Take my hand. Together inside eternity we’ll stand.”
The song ends and Leo takes my hands, pulling me into a hug. His tears slide against the skin on my shoulder and he sniffles.
He leans away and addresses our guests, in a big baritone voice that suits the situation perfectly, “How am I supposed to follow that? Party’s over! Go home!’
Chuckles echo the chapel and surround us with…happiness. Leo looks at me like he might break down any second, but he just doesn’t care.
“Did you like the song?” I mouth.
“I liked you singing it,” he replies.
I clear my throat, and rub my thumbs against his hand as I gaze into his eyes. The glass casts colorful shadows over us and I can see it dancing on my face as his eyes track the movement. We stay lost in the moment as the pastor begins the ceremony. He signs, as well. We give each other rings, finalize our vows, and he pronounces us husband and wife, finally we kiss. A long, deep sealing of fates. Lives. Love. Lust. All of it is now officially ours forever.
It’s not over there, though. Leo, still holding my hand steps down in between the pews. I go with him, and he lets go.
“Thank you all for being here today,” Leo says, looking over the crowd. The clapping stops as Leo’s voice rings out. “I wanted to take this opportunity now that I’ve finally captured the one target that’s evaded me more times than any enemy, to tell you all how lucky I am. I don’t want to bring the mood down, but I need to say something.” Leo clears his throat, and I know he’s choking up. “So many of my brothers have died over the years. Some of them never got to experience what I have with Kendall. I feel bad for that.” He squeezes my hand, and I squeeze back. I can’t take my eyes away from his face. He resembles a beautiful angel.
“I want to remember them today, for just a moment. And maybe someone you once knew left us before finding true love. Maybe you yourself are still fighting for it. Or it’s the wrong timing and you doubt it will ever work out. I think I fought so hard for Kendall because I had something to prove to them. Something to embrace because they couldn’t.”
Leo looks down and pecks me on my lips. Looking into my eyes he says, “I can’t hear her anymore, but no one has ever seen her like I see her. No one ever will.” He shakes his head, and emotion clogs my chest. “This is what my forever looks like, and I’d lose more than my hearing if it meant I’d be standing here, next to her, in that dress, looking like an ethereal dream.”
I sign up to him, a quick thank you and tell him I love him. I don’t use words, just my hands. He raises our joined hands over our heads, and says, “An epic love deserves an epic fight.”
