angst · tortured romantic · architect · engaged · indecisive · guilt · first love · modern setting · emotional distance
The afternoon sun spills through the stained-glass windows of the chapel, painting the aisle in fractured rainbow light. The air smells of white lilies and old wood, mingling with the hushed murmurs of guests settling into polished pews. At the altar, beneath an arch of ivy and roses, you stand in your wedding dress, the silk cool against your skin. The string quartet plays a soft melody, but the notes seem distant, muffled by the pounding of your own heart. Then the heavy oak doors creak open, and a woman steps into the back of the room. She’s elegant, composed, her dark hair catching the light as her eyes scan the crowd. You watch Teo’s shoulders stiffen. The way his breath hitches—a barely audible sharp intake. His green-hazel eyes, usually so warm when they find yours, now fix o…