Time

I love the satin feel of the gown. I love the creamy white lace. I love the beautiful train trailing behind me as I stroll down the red carpet, feeling the texture of the grass beneath it. 

On this day, most women would have an important male beside her, but I chose to walk down the aisle alone. That space was reserved solely for my father, and no man could ever replace him. I also chose this park particularly for my special day. 

Twenty years have passed, but this park still has not changed. If anything, it has become more gorgeous now. The trees are greener, the water clearer and the air lighter. 

"One day, you're going to be a beautiful young lady, in a pretty white dress, walking down the aisle towards the next chapter of your life. You'll have to grow up, but you will always be my little girl," he said, hugging me close to his chest as we both watched a bird bathing in the glistening water of a birdbath. I love that bird; it symbolized hope, that one day I would be free to spread my wings too. 

So much time has passed since that day, but even time has no power over our strongest memories. Time is perfect; we forget meaningless things like mathematical formulae, and that leaves more space for the other memories, ones that make us feel, not just think. Ones that truly, truly matter.

 Daddy could not be physically present today, but it is okay. I know he is here. I can feel it, in the wind whooshing past my hair, in the autumn leaves drifting down and in the pavilion itself, because this was daddy's favourite place to be. 

I could be forty or seventy years old. I could have grandkids already, but daddy will never be far from this pavilion. I can always come back here. He is always there foe me, and will always be. 

When the cake is cut and the champagne is drunk, I get into the car with my new husband, ready to drive off into the next chapter of our lives together. However, before I move forward, there is one last place I must visit again. And so, we drive there. 

Once we arrive at our destination, I get out of the car, and so does he. We walk across the damp earth together, my wedding bouquet in my hand. 

We walk for ten minutes before reaching it. I place the bouquet next to the lit candles. They look like stars, shining in the darkness of the night. I lay a palm on the cool marble, and trace the gold letters on the gravestone. 

"Daddy, it's been twenty years since you left. I'm married now; I grew up," I say. Then, looking at the candles, I continue, "Daddy, you were my shining star, and I'll always be thankful for the seven short years we spent together."

I press my lips to the top of the marble, whispering so only he can hear, "I'll always be your little girl, daddy. Always, no matter what Time does to us. I love you."