He loves me.
The words I’ve always dreamed of being told but now they petrify me. They awaken something deep inside me—a joy so sharp it feels like pain. Because love means vulnerability, and there’s nothing more terrifying than the thought of losing it.
Alice’s voice breaks through the silence. “The hairdresser is here!”
“I’m coming,” I call out, though my voice sounds foreign even to me.
I splash cold water on my face, trying to ground myself, to find my centre before the whirlwind of today spins out of control. A soft knock on the bathroom door startles me, and when I open it, Derek stands there with a warm, teasing smile.
“Didn’t think I’d let you get married without helping, did you?” he says.
I can’t help but laugh, the tension in my chest easing just a little. “Only if you swear not to make me cry and ruin my makeup.”
“Deal.” He holds up a pinky, and I link mine with his like we've known each other since forever. He walks me to the chair in front of the mirror and sits beside me as the hairdresser begins working her magic. “You’re going to be breathtaking, Isabel.”
Time seems to blur after that. The hum of hairdryers, the soft thud of makeup brushes, the occasional buzz of Alice’s phone as she coordinates the final touches. I barely register any of it. All I can think about is the way Nate kissed me. The way his voice cracked when he told me he loved me. I didn’t say it back. Why didn’t I say it back?
When the last curl is pinned and the lipstick applied, Alice and Derek guide me to the bedroom where my dress hangs like a whispered promise. He stays by the door, arms crossed, eyes shimmering with pride.
“Ready, baby girl?” Alice asks, her voice unusually tender.
I nod, stepping out of the robe and into the dress. The moment the satin brushes against my skin, a shiver travels down my spine. It's like being wrapped in a dream—soft, surreal, sacred. The lace sleeves hug my arms, the delicate embroidery tracing down my back in a pattern that feels like poetry.
Alice’s hand finds mine, squeezing gently. “Isabel, what’s going on, honey?”
“He loves me,” I whisper, the words still unfamiliar on my tongue.
Alice laughs softly. I turn to her, wide-eyed.
“Why do you look surprised?” she asks.
“Because he’s never told me that before.”
She takes both of my hands, her grip warm and steady, anchoring me amid the whirlwind of silk, lace, and overwhelming emotions. Her eyes lock onto mine—no hesitation, no fluff, just raw honesty.
“Sometimes, you don’t need words,” she says softly, yet with a conviction that slices right through me. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Isabel. Like you’re the only thing that keeps him tethered to this world—just like when you were kids.”
Her words hit something deep inside me, something I’ve buried under layers of doubt and denial. A lump rises in my throat, thick and heavy, threatening to choke me. My vision blurs, not from the mirror this time—but from the flood of emotions I’ve been too afraid to face.
Then the door creaks open.
“Oh my…” Grace’s voice breaks as she steps in, her hand flying to her mouth. Her eyes shine with unshed tears, already spilling before she finishes her sentence. “You look like an angel.”
That’s it. The dam breaks.
Tears slide down my cheeks, silent but unstoppable. I don’t feel like an angel—I feel like me… the version of me I thought was lost. The one who used to believe in love, in forever, in him.
“No, no, no,” Alice steps in to fix my mess, “keep them locked till the end miss.”
I can’t help but giggle.
Derek adjusts the final straps on my gown, while Grace hands him the veil and he places it over my styled hair. It cascades down my back like a waterfall of lace and tulle. I blink fast, not ready to cry again just yet.
“Something blue, something new, something old…” Grace murmurs, her fingers gently fastening a delicate string of diamonds around my neck. “Hmm, something borrowed is missing.”
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, my fingertips brushing the cold gems, awed by the quiet elegance of it.
“You’re beautiful,” she says, eyes glistening. “And precious. Just like this necklace.”
