Johannesburg, South Africa
Thylonius-23
"I'm standing here in front of you… Showing you who I really am"
"Girl, don't you know, You're so beautiful…" That was the song that was playing as she walked down the aisle toward me. At least that was what I was told. I had eyes and ears for her and no one else. It didn't matter that Nick was next to me. Not in that moment at least. It didn't matter that Cnidaria was across the aisle and kept making eye contact with Nick. Not in that moment at least. All that mattered in that moment was the gorgeous, caramel skinned fireball, whom I loved, walking up to me with the most beautiful smile on her face. I'm not going to lie. A tear fell down my face at the sight of her. I had never cried in my childhood, as a teenager, or in adulthood. I didn't cry when I watched my childhood home burn. I didn't cry when my parents died, mainly because I helped kill them. I didn't cry when my sister was hurt. I only cried on two occasions in my life. The moment in China when I thought I had lost her forever and that moment in South Africa when I knew we would be together forever. I had written my own vows to her and I recited them. "I vow to hold you above all things. To put you first before anything else. I vow to put your happiness, your safety and your peace of mind above all things." I looked at her as I said it and I decided right then that it was time. Time for her to know the real me.
The reception was fun. It seemed that Cnidaria and Nick had finally decided that they were right for each other. They were holding hands and whispering to each other and giggling uncontrollably. It gave me genuine happiness to see them together. Nala took me aside "So she finally caugh' on huh?" I nodded. She smiled "Finally I always reckoned she was barkin' for not seeing how much he loved her." I just smiled at her. She looked at me. It was the same look she gave me the first night I met her. I kissed her. She kissed me back and it was like the world melted away until…
"Hey! Hey you two!" We broke apart to general applause to see my best friend and my sister standing holding their glasses. Nick was smiling. " You only have to indulge me and CNidaria for a couple minutes I swear." The crowd settled down, filled with acquaintances we picked up over the years, classmates, and coworkers. People just to fill the room. Nala might fill differently but the only two people that mattered were giving me a toast right now. Nick smiled at us and looked down at Cnidaria's hand which he was holding. "You… Ty you changed my life. I think a lot about the day we met all the way back in High School. The conversation we had that day and the conversations we continue to have to this day. You helped me see the path I wanted to take. You helped me find the girl of my dreams and even when you thought you had lost yours". I squeezed Nala's hand when he said that and we both had the same teary eyed look. "You encouraged me to go after mine and I couldn't be happier." He smiled and kissed my sister on the forehead. "To see you happy. Truly happy it warms my heart and Nala, I have only you to thank for that. You introduced something to him that I don't even think he thought was possible: peace of mind. He's safe when he's with you." I looked at Ni she had her head down at that statement. Her braided hair was covering up her face I couldn't see if the expression was a happy one or sad. "He's himself. He's the man he wants to be and that's all thanks to you and you alone and so, a toast" We all raised our glasses Ni was half a second late. "A toast to Thylonius and Nala. A toast to your happiness. A toast to your safety. A toast to your peace of mind and most of all. A toast to your love." He looked at Ni and all she could do was nod and smile as I saw something that I had only seen once before: My sister crying.
Nala at this moment was very impatient. She kept giving me the "look". Y'all know that "look" someone give when they're uh… ready to "go". As much as I didn't want to, I kept ignoring it. I wasn't sure if I was ready to do what I needed to do. Honestly, there was unfinished business we had to discuss.
"CNidaria?" My sister looked at me through slightly unfocused eyes. She wasn't drunk I had just interrupted a deep thought. "Ni?" She shook her head.
"What's up Ty?"
"What were you thinking about?"
"Us honestly."
"Us?"
"Yes us. This… This changes things Ty. You getting back with her was one thing. You still lived next to me. But now she is your wife. She officially once and for all out ranks me in your life." I looked down when she said that. I was used to being the one to say uncomfortable truths. She tilted my head up. "It's ok."
"It is?"
"Yes. The thing I want for you most is to be happy. She makes you happy and though I'm not going to lie I'm sad. I know you're where you're supposed to be." I opened my mouth again. She held up her hand and she hugged me. "I know what you came here to do. What you need to do now. You never needed my permission for that. She is your wife. She is our family. She deserves to know. Whatever happens. I'm here. I am sad but like I said, she comes first and anyways" She looked at Nick who smiled at us and started to come over. "I may have to start thinking about the same thing soon. You won't be the only one that's found happiness." I smiled at her. I hugged Nick and Ni one last time. I walked over to Nala who gave me another impatient look.
"You ready to go?" I asked rather unnecessarily.
"You bloody well know I am!" She literally almost tore my arm off and we headed upstairs to our room.
When we entered our honeymoon suite on the top floor she immediately went to the bathroom to freshen up. It felt like forever, but it was ok. I was really nervous, not because of our night of wedded bliss. We had slept together before. I was nervous because no matter the outcome, the next hour or so was going to determine the rest of my life much more than the previous eight and a half hours had. I was fidgeting, my knee was bouncing up and down so much I almost didn't notice her when she came out. She was wearing a white silk negligee. She had never looked more beautiful to me. Maybe it was because I was afraid I was going to lose her again. Something in my face told her I wasn't quite in the mood. She sat down on the bed and patted the spot next to her. She kissed me.
"Tell me what troubles you my love"
"Babe I have to tell you something. Well not just something. Everything, I have to tell you everything. But I don't know...I don't know if I can. I don't know if you'll be still be here when I'm finished. Na…" She silenced me with a kiss
"We just spent the day getting married. All the doubts I had about you. All the mistrust. I let go of it. I didn't make this decision lightly love. I didn't make this decision to marry you lightly. I made it because I love you. Because I trus' you. Because I can't… I can't do this life without you. I made a choice to trus' that one day you will tell me everything. But I also made the choice that you didn't have to." I looked up at her. She kissed me again. "This is your choice I am your wife no matter what. You can tell me or you can choose not to tell me" I smiled at her. But then I got serious again.
"I know you say that and you have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that. Truly, but before we consummate and make this union official you need to hear my truth and you need to make a decision because I'm not so sure you will feel the same way"
"Ty…"
"Babe. I don't want to feel like I trapped you without any options. I would've told you this last night but I couldn't the bear the thought of never being married to you." She looked at me and nodded and she grabbed my hand. "Ok I'll start from the beginning…" And I told her everything from the literal beginning.