Camera Flashes - Satzu short story

final click

Tzuyu stood in awe as she watched Sana step out from behind the curtain.

The gown hugged her curves in all the right places.The delicate fabric shimmered in the light, twinkling like stars.

Her hair was swept up in an elegant chignon, adorned with a glimmering tiara that sparkled like a crown atop her head. A veil cascaded down her back like a waterfall of silk, adding to the air of mystique and enchantment that surrounded her.

Sana's eyes, framed by long lashes and kohl-lined lids, sparkled with nervous anticipation. Her lips, painted a soft shade of pink, curled upwards in a shy smile that tugged at Tzuyu's heartstrings.

Tzuyu felt her breath catch in her throat as she took in the sight before her. 

At that moment, Tzuyu couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion wash over her. Seeing Sana in her wedding dress, radiant and glowing with love…

She was unable to tear her gaze away from Sana as she walked down the aisle, resplendent in her bridal attire, holding a bouquet of white lilies. 

Tzuyu had to force out a smile. 

Tzuyu adjusted her camera lens, her eyes focused intently on Sana as she stood before the altar, her hand clasped in her groom's. The soft light filtering through the stained glass windows bathed the scene in a warm, ethereal glow, casting a halo around Sana.

“I promise to love you for eternity, to cherish every moment we share,and to stand by your side through all of life’s challenges.”

With practiced precision, Tzuyu captured every moment—the tender exchange of vows, the gentle brush of Sana's hand against her groom's cheek, the joyous laughter that echoed through the church as the couple sealed their union with a kiss.

 As she snapped photo after photo, Tzuyu couldn't help but wonder what might have been if things had been different—if she had been the one standing beside Sana, promising to love and cherish her for all eternity. 

Her heart whispered the words she should have spoken beneath the starry sky, words that had remained unspoken but echoed endlessly in her mind.

"I love you, Sana," she thought, her voice a mere whisper in the depths of her soul. "I love you more than words can express, more than the stars in the sky, more than anything I've ever known."

But as she watched Sana exchange vows with her partner, Tzuyu knew that she had to put aside her own feelings and simply be there for her friend. Tzuyu knew that those words would forever remain locked away. A silent confession, a love unspoken, a regret left lingering in the shadows of what might have been.

Despite the happiness that bloomed in her heart for her friend, there lingered a twinge of sadness—a gnawing ache that whispered of unfulfilled desires and unspoken confessions.

Sana deserved a man by her side, someone who could offer her the love and companionship she desired. She couldn't help but feel inadequate in comparison—a woman who could only offer a love that dared not speak its name, a love that was relegated to the shadows, hidden from the world's gaze. Sana deserved someone who could stand proudly beside her, not someone who hid in the shadows, unable to declare their love for fear of judgment and rejection.

She knew that she could never be what Sana truly needed—a husband, a partner, a love that society deemed acceptable.

And as she watched the ceremony unfold before her, Tzuyu couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation settle over her—a quiet acceptance of the roles they were destined to play, the paths they were meant to walk. For as much as she wished things could be different, Tzuyu knew that some loves were simply not meant to be—a bitter truth that she had learned to accept, even as it tore at the seams of her fragile heart.

She would capture every smile, every tear, every moment of happiness, and preserve them for eternity, even if it meant hiding her own heartache behind the lens.

With one final click,Tzuyu's camera flashes, illuminating the scene with a burst of light, freezing the moment in time. The click of the shutter echoed softly in the air as she gazed lovingly at her friend.