The hours remaining until you and Sara tied the knot flew by fast and with every minute that went by, you found the excitement you once felt about your wedding day with her quickly dwindle.
You tried to pull yourself together, telling yourself that it was too late to turn back now. It was your big day and you've been waiting for it to come around.
Now that you're standing in the little dressing room, where you were staring at your reflection in the mirror in the beautiful white dress you picked out for today.
You felt beautiful. Your best friends gushed, complimenting you left and right, unaware of the war going on inside your mind.
"You look so beautiful, y/n," one of them gushed and hugged you tightly before your other friends joined in on the hug.
You put on a smile. You didn't want to let them, your bridesmaids and best friends, as well as Sara and the guests in attendance down.
"Come on. Your soon-to-be wife is waiting for you."
Usually, you'd blush at the mention of Sara becoming your wife. But for some reason, today you were forcefully smiling. It wasn't coming naturally, much to your dismay.
They tugged at your hand and helped you put your veil on before they entered the room. The doors opened wide, everyone stood on their feet and looked toward the doorway to watch you come inside.
You pulled your veil down as the music started. Walking through the doors, you were met with gasps and a teary-eyed Sara at the alter, nearly in tears as she stared at you and practically saw her dreams coming true right in front of her eyes with every step you took.
"You look stunning." She spoke and took your hand when you were close enough to her. Your hands shook as hers intertwined with yours, but not for the reasons she thought.
You stared at her, taking every piece of her beauty in. She looked even prettier than you thought she would. But that didn't surprise you; she's just so lovely.
But despite the beauty in front of you and the love you have for her, you couldn't help but notice the disappointment you felt as you looked between her and the crowd of family and friends who were teary-eyed from the beautiful moments and love taking place right in front of their eyes.
"Y/N?" Sara spoke and brushed your thumb across your knuckles to get your attention.
"Yeah? What?" You asked in confusion as you gazed back at her. You'd been in your own head, daydreaming about Jade, completely unaware that she was saying her vows.
"The vows. Your vows. I just finished mine. Are you gonna say yours?"
You swallowed thickly, trying desperately to ignore the way your heart sank deeper and deeper in your chest as it all became more and more real.
"Oh, right," you mumbled and racked your brain in an attempt to remember the words. "Sara," you said as you squeezed her hands. "I love you..."
You paused, watching her smile grow.
"I..." you stopped and shook your head. "I love you, a lot, but... I can't do this."
Her eyes went wide, the room filled with gasps and chatted from everyone in attendance.
"What?!" She mumbled, becoming shocked and angry.
"I'm sorry. I just can't."
You rushed off the alter and tried to ignore all the commotion and eyes on you as ran out. Sara chased after you, meeting you outside the doors where you both stared at each other tearfully.
Only, this time, it obviously wasn't tears of joy gathered in your eyes and hers.
"I-I don't understand." She mumbled.
"I know. I don't know how to explain it. I was so excited to marry you, Sara. I love you, I truly do. But this isn't what I want anymore."
She swallowed thickly and stared down at her feet.
"I'm sorry." You said as your lower lip wobbled. "I swear I love you."
"I love you too. More than I ever loved anyone in my life. I always will."
She dropped your hand and lowered her head with a sigh.
"Are you upset?"
"Yeah." She nodded. "I've got every right to be. Don't you think so?"
"You do." You agreed. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah. Me too." She sighed and bit her lip to try to hold back any tears from falling down and keep her voice from cracking as she prepares to speak again.
"But if this isn't what you want then we shouldn't go through with it. This is a lifelong commitment. If we're not committed now, if we're not on the same page on the day of our wedding, then we shouldn't go through with it. If you're having second thoughts, picturing someone else up there that isn't me, then it's not meant to be, and there's nothing I can do to change that."
There was a moment of silence before she rubbed your arm softly. She still looked devastated when your eyes met, still filled with tears, and understandably so.
"I hope you're happy. I don't mean that sarcastically, y/n. I hope you find happiness. Because you deserve it. I love you a lot, but I also love you enough to let you go. I hope you find someone to love you the way you deserve; wholeheartedly."
"Thank you." You said with a sad smile then hugged her. "I hope the same for you."
She nodded and pulled away before saying, "I should go now. Gotta change and tell everyone what's going on."
You nodded before making your way back to your room where you wiped off your makeup, changed out of your dress, and took off your engagement ring to set it on the table before you walked out.
You were so in your head that you almost didn't notice Jade on the sidewalk. But when you did your breath hitched. You slowly went to sit beside her and to your surprise, she looked sad as her eyes met yours.
"Y/N?" She gasped. "What are you doing out here? Why aren't you in your dress?"
"Why are you sitting out here? You didn't go home?"
She sighed sadly before shaking her head.
"Why?"
She wanted to confess, but she worried she'd ruin your day.
"Don't let me ruin your day. Please. Go get married." She chuckled and tried to put on a smile to hide her aching heart.
"I'm not getting married."
She frowned.
"What? I thought you loved Sara? Why wouldn't you go through with it? When we talked, you seemed so excited."
"I was." You said before looking away from her to stare ahead, watching the grass move with the wind instead. "But then I got up on the altar and..." you paused and then sighed. "I realized that Sara wasn't the one I wanted to see standing in front of me."
She felt her heart hammer against her chest as the words fell from your lips. She held out hope, wondering if the lucky person you dreamt of being there with you on your special day was her. But she didn't want to get her hopes up. So she sat there without saying anything and listened instead.
"I saw..." you paused and turned to look at her. "You. Gosh, Jade, it's like everywhere I look now all l I see is you. I think about my future now and it feels like something is missing. It's been weighing on my mind and now, all I can see when I try to picture what my heart truly desires for the future, all I see is you."
It felt so surreal. The love she has for you never stopped, never faded. She was smiling, which brought you relief. You could see the stars in her eyes. But then, the worry and guilt replaced her happiness.
"I never meant to show up and ruin your day."
"You didn't." You assured and moved your hand just a little closer to her. "You helped me. You made me realize what I truly want. If you hadn't, if you'd shown up further down the line, if I had gotten married today, things would be so different and so much messier."
"Everything happens for a reason... right?"
You nodded and waited for her to speak. She never said anything about how she felt and you wondered if she felt the same like you thought and hoped she did or if it was only in your head.
"Please say something."
She looked back at you and then, finally, laid her hand over yours.
"I feel the same about you. I've never stopped loving you. It hurt me to find out you were getting married, but I had to see you one last time before you did. Because even if this hadn't taken place, if you and Sara did marry today, I at least wanted you to know that I was thinking of you and you'll always hold a special spot in my heart."
You both went silent, simply smiling a little and staring up at the sky.
"Where do we go from here?" You wondered.
"I don't know. But I also don't mind. Because as long as I've got you by my side, I'm okay with whatever happens." She confessed and softly kissed your hand.
You put your head on her shoulder, feeling both exhausted but also a little curious and excited at the thought of your future with Jade ahead of you.