HEAVEN ON EARTH
1500 Words
PRINCE ADAMS
I stood in front of Daniel, fixing his tie like I’d been doing it for the past twenty years—not because he didn’t know how, but because somehow, I always did it better. Or maybe he just let me believe that. The knot finally sat perfectly against his crisp white shirt.
“Hold still,” I murmured, smoothing his collar with a precision that would have impressed a tailor.
Daniel looked at me through the mirror, one eyebrow raised.
“Prince Adams… are you getting emotional on me?”
I scoffed and punched him lightly in the stomach.
“Emotional? Me? Please. You’re the one who cried at that cat video last week.”
“That cat fell off a swing!” he argued, already laughing. “And don’t distract from the fact that your eyes are shiny right now.”
I punched him again—this time on the arm. He doubled over laughing, and soon we were both throwing ridiculous air-punches, looking more like children warming up for a cartoon boxing match than two grown men on wedding day.
Our laughter bounced through the dressing room, calming the nerves neither of us wanted to admit were there. I exhaled slowly.
“I’m happy for you, Daniel.”
He turned fully, and for a brief moment, the teasing dropped from his face.
“I know,” he said quietly. “And I’m grateful. Emmy… she’s everything I prayed for. Everything I waited for.” His voice thickened, his eyes softening. “I can’t believe I’m about to see her in that white gown. Bro, my heart is racing like I took an energy drink.”
I chuckled. “Take your time on Emmy tonight. Remember, she’s a virgin. Don’t go and break the poor girl to pieces.”
He dramatically dropped to the floor.
“That’s why I’m warming up!” he declared, starting push-ups. “One! Two! Three! I need stamina!”
I burst into laughter until my stomach hurt.
“Daniel, get up! You’ll wrinkle your shirt!”
“No! I must train! Four! Five—”
He collapsed dramatically, rolling on the carpet.
“My wife won’t survive me tonight.”
“You’re a goat,” I muttered, pulling him back to his feet.
A knock sounded. Daniel’s driver stepped inside.
“Sir, your car is ready,” he said, then surprisingly handed me the keys. “Mr. Adams, you’ll be driving the groom to church.”
Daniel grinned. “Of course. Who else would drive me on the most important day of my life?”
Before I could respond, his parents and siblings entered. Pastor and Mrs. Mensah led the way, tall, elegant, glowing with pride. His mother covered her mouth the moment she saw Daniel.
“My son…” Her voice cracked. “You look like a testimony.”
His father placed both hands on Daniel’s shoulders.
“You are a man today. Marriage is honorable. You have chosen well.”
He pulled Daniel into a firm, emotional hug—the kind fathers reserve for destiny-changing days.
His older twin brothers slapped his back, teasing loudly.
“Finally! Daniel is off the market!”
“Emmy is strong—she’s the only woman who could tame you!”
Daniel rolled his eyes.
Then Anita—his bright, beautiful twenty-year-old sister—ran into his arms.
“Brother Danny! I can’t believe you’re getting married! I’ve prayed for this!”
Daniel kissed her forehead. “Thank you, Ani.”
While the family prayed over him, Anita slipped to my side. I instinctively placed an arm around her shoulders—not romantic. Just natural.
Because this was my family too.
Watching Pastor Mensah pray over Daniel warmed something deep inside me. Something I rarely felt.
Belonging.
It wasn’t something I grew up with.
Not something life gave me freely.
I only found it because Daniel dragged me into his world and called me brother.
Anita leaned slightly against me.
“He’s really happy,” she whispered.
I swallowed and nodded.
“Yeah. He deserves this.”
When the prayer ended, the family filed out to their car.
Daniel and I walked out the back door where the black wedding convoy waited. I opened the passenger door for him. He hesitated, looking at me.
“Prince… what about the surprise you said you had for me? The ‘best wedding gift ever.’ What is it?”
I smiled slowly. “Relax. You’ll see it after the wedding.”
He groaned. “You know I hate suspense.”
“That’s why I’m doing it.”
He muttered something under his breath and got in. I slid behind the wheel.
As we drove, my mind drifted to the gift waiting at the reception.
The land he’d dreamed of for seven years—the place he wanted to build his free community sports center. He thought someone else bought it long ago.
What he didn’t know was that I had tracked down the owner, negotiated for months, and purchased the land in his name.
With architectural designs included.
His dream was about to breathe.
And me?
My flaw—one I’d never admit aloud—tightened around my chest.
I was fiercely loyal, protective to a fault… yet emotionally guarded.
I could move mountains for the people I loved, but letting them see how deeply I cared?
That was harder.
Maybe because I’d grown up learning that showing love invited disappointment.
But today, giving Daniel that gift felt right.
Maybe the closest thing to saying I love you, brother without using the actual words.
We arrived at the church, stepping into what looked like a fairytale.
White roses framed the entrance.
Soft gold drapes fell like sunlight.
A massive floral archway glowed under the morning sun.
Guests floated around in stunning fabrics, perfumes, and excitement.
Daniel straightened his suit.
“You look like the groom of the century,” I said.
He grinned. “And I feel like it.”
The church doors loomed ahead.
“Ready?” I asked.
He inhaled deeply, squared his shoulders.
“I was born ready.”
Together, we walked toward the moment that would change his life forever—
a heaven-on-earth beginning.
---
THE BRIDE—EMMY
Emmy’s bedroom buzzed like a tiny wedding headquarters. Two photographers moved quietly, capturing every detail—her gown hanging by the wardrobe, the rose-gold slippers, the bridal perfume bottle shaped like a crystal teardrop.
Princess, the makeup artist, blended foundation with tender precision.
“Close your eyes, sweetheart… perfect. Today is your day. Let me give you magic.”
At the far end of the room, the stylist adjusted the photo backdrop—cream fabric, baby’s breath, soft roses.
“It has to look like heaven,” she murmured. “Only the best for a bride.”
The door opened and Priscy swept in—glowing, dramatic.
“Are we all forgetting that church starts at ten? If we delay, Daniel will faint before the vows!”
Princess shot her a playful glare.
“Madam, calm energy!”
Priscy lifted her chin. “This is my calm.”
Everyone laughed.
Minutes later, Emmy’s mom entered with a breakfast tray—oats, milk, bread, eggs, fresh orange juice.
“Wedding or not, my baby must eat,” she insisted.
“Mom, my makeup—!”
“And so? If you faint, I will carry you myself.”
Priscy snorted. “Aunty, please! Her eyeliner!”
The photographers captured everything—the laughter, the tenderness, the mother feeding her grown daughter small bites of bread.
Then Emmy’s father stepped in.
“Everything going well?”
“Yes, Daddy,” Emmy whispered.
He smiled softly, nodded, and stepped back before his emotions betrayed him.
Twenty minutes later—
“Makeup done,” Princess announced.
The wardrobe stylist took over.
“Okay ladies, let’s get our bride into her gown.”
Four women surrounded Emmy. The lace slid over her skin like a whisper. The pearl-beaded bodice hugged her perfectly.
The room gasped.
Emmy’s mother clutched her chest.
“Oh… my… goodness.”
Priscy blinked rapidly.
“Emmy… you look—oh my God—you look like an angel.”
She hugged her lightly, leaning back to protect the makeup.
“Best friend, I’m so happy for you.”
Princess smiled.
“Face the mirror, dear.”
Everything fell silent.
Emmy stepped toward the full-length mirror.
Her heart hammered.
Her breath caught.
She lifted her hands to her mouth, eyes filling instantly.
Priscy rushed over.
“No no! Look up!Don’t cry!Tilt your head—tilt! Not a single tear must fall. Your makeup is expensive!”
Everyone laughed through their own tears.
Emmy whispered shakily,
“Thank you… Princess, thank you. And Aunty Stylist… I can’t believe this is me. I can’t wait for Daniel to see me. He will scream.”
Priscy laughed.
“No—he’ll faint. And I’ll pour water on him.”
- Writer
