Page 108 of Thinking Out Loud

“Places, people!” Emma shouts as she turns on the wedding music.

Well, me, I fall in love with you every single day

And I just wanna tell you I am

The music fills the room, reverberating up my legs as I close my eyes. The last year flashing across my mind like a sped up movie. In a flash I have gone from a boy, smitten over the new girl in school, to now the man head-over-heels in love, about to marry that girl.

Place your head on my beating heart

I'm thinking out loud

Maybe we found love right where we are

I hear the door open at the back of the room, followed by chairs moving and seats squeaking as people stand—my eyes still closed shut. The blinds behind me are pulled open. A lot is happening at first, then the room is silent and I hear gliding footsteps inch closer and closer. I couldfeelher closeness, hints of coconut shampoo and her special occasion perfume swirling around me. Bill taps me on the shoulder to open my eyes. I took a deep breath, and opened.

There she was—my bride.

She was mesmerizing. I sputter out a breath and my eyes sting from tears as she reaches for my hands—both of our eyes misty as we take our places on the altar. She smiles over my shoulder at the crowd of students standing on the other side of the large bay window. I insisted on only inviting them to the reception because they are chaos, but Ellie insisted harder.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today—”

“Wait,” Ellie interrupts Bill’s opening remarks. “Can we just . . .” She pulls me around and swaps places with me, where I am now facing the window. A large crowd of our students are on the other side of the glass watching us with beady eyes and cheesy grins. “It’syourfavorite view, remember?”

I shift my gaze away from the purple and orange sky, past the football field, over the familiar faces of kids and faculty, then land on Ellie. Her dress is simple, with long flowy sleeves that gather at her wrists. Her hair is wavy, pinned back with a few pieces hanging by her face. If I were to see an angel in person, I know this is what it would be like. She practically glows with the sun shining on her back. A dusty shimmer compliments her green eyes as they watch me.

I take it in, the most beautiful view.

“It is,” I say, her cheeks turning pink because she knows what my favorite view is, and it has nothing to do with that big window anymore.

Bill clears his throat and begins again, “We are all gathered here today to join these two in . . .” He pauses and looks at the room expectantly.

“MAWWAGE!” everyone in attendance cheers.

My nerves fall away as we both laugh, smiles ripping across our faces as Bill continues. He read some Bible verses, shared about marriage and the covenant we were agreeing to, then it was time for our own vows.

We talked back and forth for days about how we should do our vows, then agreed to keep them simple.

“I, Eleanor Anne Bailey, promise to love every part of you, and always be willing to think out loud with you,” she said beaming at me.

“I, Bayani David Divata, promise to love every part ofyou,beautiful and weird and scary thoughts included.” Her smile stretched even farther.

I cradle her face in my hands, grazing my thumbs against her cheeks. There are so many things I could promise to this amazing woman, right here in our little breakroom in front of our friends and family, but I plan to spend the rest of my lifeshowingher. Showing her that every single piece of her, the good, the bad, and the scary, is worth loving. Her eyes shine brighter, if that's even possible, looking up at me, unspoken words and vows flowing between us. I let out a breath, fully embracing the clutch this woman has on every part of me.

Then the silly boy kissed the pretty girl.