A Kiss Goodnight at the End of Forever

Chapter 6 Pt 2 - Serafina, Themself

She'd supported me when I opted for community college over her beloved UC-Berkeley and cheered as loudly at my nursing school graduation as if I'd been made chief of surgery. She was elated upon hearing I'd met someone at the hospital and didn't miss a beat when I told her the someone was a she. Of course, my father offered as much support and acceptance, but still there was something...

Maybe it was as simple as our shared gender – or, at least, as I had perceived it growing up. For as long as I could remember, she'd been my impossible model of womanhood. Gaining her approval, and thereby my own, had been my greatest struggle. As a twenty eight year old in their first life, however, I was finally old enough for perspective, and I knew – her approval was never in question. I'd always had it.

The stone path veered around an especially giant sequoia and the ceremony came into view. White rose petals speckled the flattened dirt aisle that lay before us. On each side, a dozen or so guests stood at their seats, smiling at us in joyous reverence. Tasha and I had wanted to keep the ceremony intimate. The only child of only children, I barely had any family and she'd had none since she told hers who she was, so the attendees were mostly friends. I'd let my parents invite a few guests, as long as none of them were famous. The one exception to that rule was waiting for us at the altar beneath the floral birch wood archway in his place as our officiant. Because I just couldn't say no to Uncle Barack.

My mother and I proceeded, passing the smiling faces of co-workers, childhood friends, and secret service agents. At the altar, I turned and we embraced.

"Thank you," I said.

"What for?" she asked as we released one another.

I shrugged my shoulders. "All of it."

She swallowed, closed her eyes, then took a slow, deep breath. "Okay, this is cute," she said and pointed at the line of mascara, then waved her hand over her whole face. "But I'm not ready for it to be everywhere. So... I think I'll just take my seat. I love you so much, sweetie." She gave me a final hug then went to stand next to her father.

Behind me, I heard, "Absolutely breathtaking, Serafina."

I turned to our officiant and blushed. "Thank you, Mr President."

He smiled and shook his head. "Now, now... we talked about this. To you, I'm..." The ukulele transitioned to The Temptations' "My Girl" and Uncle Barack caught himself. "No time for old lectures," he said and nodded up the aisle.

Tasha and my father, arms linked, came into view. Lucky to be unburdened by mascara, my father had let loose the proverbial floodgates, tears streaming down his reddened cheeks. But in an instant, my eyes locked on her...

Chocolate brown, almond shaped eyes smiled over olive cheeks sprinkled with freckles like flecks of cocoa and made my chest burn with delirious elation. It didn't matter what happened before this moment, nor after. All the pain and torment was justified by the look in her eyes, sharing my euphoria.

She wore a white, tea-length dress, identical to mine, though she filled hers out quite a bit better. For most of her life, Tasha had felt insecure about her weight, but every inch of her was perfection as far as I was concerned.

At the altar, they stopped and embraced as my mother and I had. My father whispered something to Tasha. Her chin quivered as she smiled and nodded, then he turned to me. I swallowed back a sudden lump in my throat as he wrapped his arms around me. After a moment, he released and regarded me in silence. Words weren't necessary as pride radiated off his broad smile.

My father joined my mother, then Tasha and I turned to Uncle Barack. He smiled at the two of us silently, allowing the moment a breath of oxygen rich forest air, then began the ceremony.