81. Vows of love
Hand in hand, they faced the Priest who would bless their union. The music stopped, and all that could be heard were the gentle waves and the melodies of birds freely flying in the sky.
'Good afternoon," the Priest began with a smile. 'Welcome, family, friends, and loved ones. We gather here today to celebrate the wedding of Braun El Cueva and Briella Montañez. You have come here to share in this formal commitment they make to one another, to offer your love and support to this union, and to allow Braun and Briella to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them. So welcome to one and all who have traveled from near and far. Braun and Briella, thank you for your presence here today, and now ask for your blessing, encouragement, and lifelong support for their decision to be married." The Priest gestured for them to stand, which they did promptly.
Braun held onto one of Briella's hands tightly, not wanting to let go. The Priest smiled at them before speaking again.
'Braun and Briella, what you've accomplished here today is no small feat. Your journey began way before you sent out the invitations, chose this beautiful venue, or even decided to spend the rest of your lives together. Your journey began the moment you first met. You took the time to learn what makes the other person smile, what makes them laugh, and how to support them best when life is less than simple. You welcomed each other's families, communities, and lifelong friends and joined them together with warmth and enthusiasm. You built a new world with your love and have worked every day to support this world as it changes and grows," the Priest said in a long speech.
In a blink of her eyes, she quickly reminisced about the first time she met Braun. That night, it was just an accident, and they were already destined to meet each other and stay together for a long time. Perhaps even before she met Braun, they were already meant to be together.
'Marriage is perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure of human relationships. No ceremony can create your marriage; only you can do that—through love and patience, through dedication and perseverance through talking and listening, helping and supporting and believing in each other through tenderness and laughter, through learning to forgive, learning to appreciate your differences, and by learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest. What this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you make to stand together as lifemates and partners," the Priest stated, looking alternately at the two of them.
Lifemates and partners. She repeated the Priest's words in her mind. Everything the Priest said they had experienced, and once again, Braun proved how lucky she was to have chosen him as his life partner.
The Priest smiled at Braun before speaking again.
'Do you, Braun El Cueva, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?"
'I do," Braun answered without hesitation, looking at her.
Briella couldn't help but bite her lip and take a deep breath, feeling overwhelmed with joy, and nothing could compare to what she heard Braun say.
'Do you, Briella Montñez, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?" the Priest asked her.
'I do," she said as tears quickly rolled down her cheeks, which Braun promptly wiped away with his palm.
'In the spirit of the importance of strong friendships to a marriage, Braun and Briella have asked two friends to read selections about love that especially resonate with them," the Priest announced, looking at the witnesses of their union.
Luigi stood up first and approached them, tapping Braun on the shoulder before speaking.
'I love you by Roy Croft," Luigi began. 'I love you, not only for what you are but for what I am. When I am with you, I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out; I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart and passing over all the foolish, weak things that you can't help dimly seeing there and for drawing out into the light. All the beautiful belongings that no one else had looked quite far enough to find. I love you because you are helping me to make the lumber of my life. Not a tavern, but a temple; Out of the works of my every day. Not a reproach But a song. I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good and more than any fate could have done to make me happy. You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself. Perhaps that is what being a friend means, after all."
As she listened to that famous poem, she couldn't take her eyes off Braun. She imagined him saying those words to her because the poem resonated perfectly with what Braun did for her. She wouldn't be surprised if, after their wedding, he said that he chose the poem and gave it to Luigi.
Luigi returned to his seat, and then it was Chelsey's turn to approach. 'I know I shouldn't say this, but I'm really nervous right now, so please bear with me if my voice cracks while I'm reciting the poem," she said with a sheepish grin.
There was laughter all around. Even the newlyweds couldn't help but smile and chuckle at the girl's nervousness. She really knew when to bring her playful side into the scene. 'So here it goes, Why Marriage by Dena Acolatse."
'Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person with all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body... Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me. Who won't hold them against me? Who loves me when I'm unlikable? Who sees the small child in me and who looks for my divine potential... Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night with someone who thanks God for me, with someone I feel blessed to hold... Because marriage means an opportunity to grow in love and friendship... Because marriage is a discipline to be added to a list of achievements... Because marriages do not fail, people fail when they enter into marriage expecting another to make them whole. Together, we create our marriage, and with this understanding, the possibilities are limitless." Chelsey took a deep breath as if relieved after reciting the poem.
He gave her a grateful look. She smiled and nodded before returning to her seat.
'Two people in love do not live in isolation. Their love is a source of strength with which they may nourish each other and the world around them. And in turn, we, their community of friends and family, have a responsibility to this couple. By our steadfast care, respect, and love, we can support their marriage and the new family they are creating today," the Priest declared as he approached the couple.
'Will everyone please rise? Will you, who are present here today, surround Braun and Briella in love, offering them the joys of your friendship and supporting them in their marriage?" he asked the family and friends.
'We will!" they all replied in unison.
'You may be seated," he said before turning back to the couple. 'We've come to the point of your ceremony where you're going to say your vows to one another. But before you do that, I ask you to remember that love—which is rooted in faith, trust, and acceptance— will be the foundation of an abiding and deepening relationship. No other ties are more tender, and no other vows more sacred than those you now assume. Suppose you can keep the vows you take here today, not because of any religious or civic law, but out of a desire to love and be loved by another person fully, without limitation. In that case, your life will have joy, and the home you establish will be a place in which you both will find the direction of your growth, your freedom, and your responsibility. Please now read the vows you have written for each other."
Even before Braun spoke, she was already in tears, and she didn't know why. Maybe it was because, from the very beginning, she knew that Braun wouldn't let her down and would accompany her until her old age.
Braun pressed his lips together and took a deep breath, holding her hands tightly with all his love as he gazed at her.
'The moment I laid my eyes on you, you got my attention. The sadness in your eyes at that very moment makes my heart ache. I don't know what's special about you, but I never forget that day when I saw you crying silently in the basement, hating your father a lot and telling me about your dream," he smiled at her.
She furrowed her brow, briefly reminiscing about her past, and her eyes widened as she recalled that moment in her life.
Braun's smile widened as he continued speaking. 'At the age of sixteen, I already committed myself to that girl. I tried to find her, but I failed. I lost hope and just entrusted everything to fate. I became one of the most powerful businessmen, and that's because of you. I wanted to see you sooner; that's why I worked hard for you, and I promise I'll keep working hard for you. You were my reason back then, my reason now, my reason every day. You strengthen my weaknesses and bring focus to my dreams. Here and now, I pledge my life to yours, that your dreams become my dreams. No matter where life leads me, I know that as long as you are there, that is where I am meant to be. You have made me the happiest man in the world today by agreeing to share your life with me. I promise to cherish and respect you. To care for you and protect you. I promise to comfort you and encourage you and to be with you for all of eternity."
'I make this vow in the presence of God, family, and friends. I love you because you taught me what real love is. I am a better person as a result of knowing you. I decided I wanted to have a family with you. I want to grow old with you. If you will have me as your husband, I promise to love you, be faithful, encourage, and support you. I will be honest in my communications with you. I will put no other in front of you. I will stand by your side for the rest of my life. I promise to be your faithful husband. I vow to love you when the sun shines, when the rain falls, in sickness, and good health, through good times and bad. I wish I could stand up here and promise you the world, but the world isn't mine to give. What I do promise is my world and all it entails. My love, support, passion, compassion, and enthusiasm. When you look at the ring, think of me and remember that I love you always."
She fought back tears and resisted the urge to cry. Who would have thought that the teenager she talked to and shared her frustrations with would turn out to be the person standing in front of her now, doing everything for her?
Truly, God has a plan. He tests your strength before giving you a man capable of healing the pain you experienced at the hands of the wrong person.
She took a deep breath and smiled.
'I stand before you as a woman with no reservations, choosing to spend the rest of my life with a man for whom I have the utmost respect and love. I long to grow with you in mind and spirit and to live together all the days of our lives. Because of you, I laugh, I smile, I dare to dream again. I look forward with great joy to spending the rest of my life with you, caring for you, nurturing you, and being there for you in all life has for us, and I vow to be true and faithful for as long as we both shall live. I promise to be there when you need me, to fill your days with sunshine, to comfort you and encourage you, to help you reach your goals, to be your best friend ever, and to love you all my life with all my heart. I feel like everything in my life has led me to you. My choices, my heartbreaks, my regrets. Everything. When we're together, I know my past has been worth it. Because if I had done one thing differently, I might never have met you." She took a deep breath and kept her eyes on her husband.
'I love you, President Braun El Cueva. I will love you until you take my heart away. You have brought such joy to my life. Thank you for loving me as I am and taking me into your heart. I promise to walk by your side forever and to love, help, and encourage you in all that you do. I will take the time to talk to you, to listen to you, and to care for you. Through all the changes in our lives, I will always be there for you as a strength in need, a comfort in sorrow, a counselor in difficulty, and a companion in joy. Everything I am and everything I have is yours now and forever. This is my promise."
She reached for Braun's face and gently wiped away the tears that trailed down his cheek. She heard the sobbing of their parents and siblings, knowing full well the heartfelt promises they made to each other.
'May I have the rings, please?" the Priest asked. Jeydon promptly handed them over, being the youngest among them and serving as the ring bearer. 'Please repeat after me. I give you this ring as a daily reminder of my love for you."
'I give you this ring as a daily reminder of my love for you," they both said simultaneously, sliding their rings back on as a testament to their marriage, blessed by their families and, above all, by God.
'By the power of your love and commitment and the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife! Braun, you may now kiss your Bride!"
They gazed into each other's eyes, both smiling with profound happiness evident on their faces. He slowly lifted her veil and lovingly kissed her on the lips.
She heard the thunderous applause of everyone. As she closed her eyes, she could hear the successive bursts of fireworks in the sky. The heavens lit up with colorful fireworks, accompanied by the gradual setting of the sun.
It's normal to experience trials, grief, and suffering in life, but instead of wallowing and burying oneself in failure and sorrow, one must fight and rise. Change comes from within; no one else will help you but yourself. When you achieve that, a person who is ready to accept and love you without asking for anything in return will come.