Chapter 6 – Marry My Best Friend

She'd looked beautiful in her gown, with her brown hair in curls floating around her shoulders like she was an angel sent from Heaven. As she'd walked down the aisle with all their friends and family, with her father holding her arm to give her away like she'd always dreamed of when she was a little girl, Daryl felt in his pit of his stomach that this bright future that most couples had on their wedding day was only to be short lived, but he didn't care. He had her for now, and he was going to be the best husband he could be.

Her parents had understood her wish to marry him, and they hadn't fought her on it. Her father had been a little more cautious, but after having a heart to heart and some major emotional healing with Carol over the past couple of months, he'd promised to be there for her no matter what and to help her enjoy the most beautiful day of her life.

When they'd said their vows, she'd grown weary, and Daryl had grabbed her hand and looked right into her eyes, whispering that he was there and he had her, and if she was tired, they could sit. But she wanted to stand on her wedding day, stand there with him. And afterward, he'd carried her out of the church and to their car, and they'd said goodbye to friends and family and driven away.

That night, he'd held her close and stroked her hair and kissed her softly, promising her the world, even if he only had so long to give it to her. They'd shared memories and laughter and tears, and he'd broken down, and she'd broken down, too. And it didn't matter, because they were each with their best friend, and they knew that breaking down was ok, so long as the pieces got picked up when it was all said and done.

"Are you happy?" he asked, as he checked off Marry My Best Friend from her list and gave her hand a squeeze.

"Yes," she said with a sleepy smile. "Thank you, Daryl." She always got so tired these days, always nodded off so easily, but she was fighting it.

"What about this one?" he asked softly, nodding toward the paper and to the last item on her list.

"That one," she whispered, "I wrote for both of us." The paper rattled in Daryl's trembling hands, and his shoulder shook as the realization hit him. Carol gently rested her head upon his shoulder as the tears stung his eyes once again. He blinked them back and took a deep breath, determined to be strong for her. Still, he couldn't help the sob he choked back as he peered down at the final words scrawled on Carol's paper.

7. Accept that it's ok to move on. Life is short, and that's ok. It's what you do with your time on earth that matters in the end. It's ok to be scared, but you have to keep going.

Carol kissed his shoulder then, and he curled his fingers with hers, and he held her close.

"It's gonna be ok," she promised. "It will be." He shook his head, and she kissed him again. He pulled her in close, and they lay there together, knowing their time was short, knowing it was coming too fast for either of them. But she was right. They had to accept it. They couldn't live in the fear of knowing that tomorrow could be their last day together, but they had to accept that it was ok. It was life. Life was messy sometimes. What counted was that they'd made the most of their lives together, and no matter what came next, he could carry this memory with him for the rest of his days on earth.

The End