Nice To See You Again

Fresh white roses lined the aisle, and crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow across the room. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Bellagio fountains danced against the Las Vegas skyline. It was the perfect place for a wedding. I stood near the bridal suite, smoothing an invisible wrinkle from my lavender bridesmaid dress before taking a slow breath. "Mylene, can you help Sophie with her veil?" one of the bridesmaids asked. "I've got it," I said with a smile. I carefully pinned Sophie's lace veil into place before stepping back to admire my best friend. "You look beautiful," I said softly. She turned to face me, her eyes already shining with happy tears. "You really think so?" "I know so." Sophie wrapped me in a quick hug before another bridesmaid laughed. "Okay, save the tears for the ceremony!" The room filled with laughter, and I laughed right along with them. I was genuinely happy for Sophie. No one deserved a day like this more. I just wished the date didn't mean something else to me. My phone buzzed inside my clutch. October 18. My breath caught. Seven years. Today would've been my seventh wedding anniversary... If I'd ever made it down the aisle. For a moment, the laughter around me faded. I could still picture my wedding dress hanging in my childhood bedroom. The invitations had already been mailed. The flowers had been picked. Every little detail had been planned down to the last place card. An entire future had been waiting for me. It never happened. "Mylene?" I blinked and looked up to find Sophie watching me. "You okay?" I forced a smile, the kind I'd become far too good at over the years. "Yeah," I said. "Just feeling emotional. It's a beautiful day." It wasn't a lie. I was emotional. Just not for the reasons everyone thought. "It's time," the wedding coordinator announced. I picked up my bouquet and fell into place beside Sophie and the rest of the bridal party. Today wasn't about the life I never got to have. It was about celebrating the life my best friend was about to begin. Still, as I walked toward the ceremony, I couldn't help but wonder what my life would look like if seven years ago had gone the way I'd always imagined.