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My lungs stop working.

“She just threw up.”

My head snaps toward the aisle.

Emma’s walking down it.

She won’t look at me.

Her eyes stay fixed ahead.

I watch her anyway.

Her face is paler than normal, but she looks beautiful. I’ve always thought she was beautiful.

Every step.

Every inch closer.

I keep watching.

Worrying.

Until she’s at the end and takes her place across from me.

If she’d just look my way, then maybe I could know she was okay.

But she won’t, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

The music changes.

“Would the guests please rise?” the preacher asks.

Juliet appears with her father.

She’s gorgeous. There’s no other word for it.

Her smile grows when she sees me, and I smile back, because I’m sure.

We’re past the point of no return.

Her dad places her hand in mine, and suddenly, the weight of responsibility crushes me. Am I really the best man to take care of Juliet? To love her…for the rest of her life?

I swallow as I lead her forward to our spots.

Her eyes catch mine.

“You look beautiful,” I say, only making her smile bigger.

And then it begins.

I hear the words, but only pieces seem to register.

Commitment.

Partnership.

Friendship.