Disclaimer: Nothing is mine!
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Breathe. Will counted to ten in his head and reached out to knock on the door in front of him. He paused, his knuckles centimeters away from the wood.
No. Another ten.
One.
His breath shook as he inhaled.
Two.
Exhale.
Three.
Inhale. Was Jem insane? Walk her down the aisle?
Four.
Exhale. So what if Henry couldn't do it? Why should he? Tessa's a capable woman; surely she would be able to walk herself down the aisle. He didn't need to.
Five.
Inhale. Nonsense. Of course he wouldn't make her walk alone. It was her wedding day. He couldn't do that to her.
Six.
Exhale. Her wedding. Jem's wedding. Their wedding.
Seven.
Inhale. Literally handing the woman he loved over to his best friend. Fitting.
Eight.
Exhale. Jem. It was his parabatai's day. Why couldn't he be happy for him? Why couldn't Jem fall in love with someone else? Anyone else?
Nine.
Inhale. But that's not how it works. It was Jem and it was Tessa. Within the hour, they would be married.
Nine and a half?
Exhale. He arranged his features to look like that of a man who was happy his brother's wedding day had arrived, rather than one who had been dreading every day since the date had been set, knowing that as each one passed, the day drew closer. He was positive it wasn't very convincing but it would have to do. He could do this.
Ten.
It was time.
He raised his hand for the second time but was interrupted. The door swung inwards and he came face to face with Sophie. Her eyes widened at his appearance and a hand flew to her chest, but she quickly recovered. Shock molded into suspicion, fear into annoyance.
"What are you doing here?"
Her tone was accusatory. Will found he didn't care.
The figure behind her came into view and he froze.
Inhale. Catch. Falter. Choke.
She was wrapped in a golden dress that clung in all the right places and her hair was pinned in an elegant up-do. Her cheeks had a rosy tint to them and her eyes seemed to glow. Striking.
She had been frantically pacing in front of the mirror bur as she caught sight of Will's reflection, she stopped mid-stride, spinning to face him.
She looked nervous.
What are you doing here?
Hundreds of words flew through his head but he couldn't hold onto any. It wasn't that his mind was blank; it was too full.
For the first time in his life, books failed him. Words failed him. He was speechless.
No words. No breath. No Tessa.
He was going to be sick.
She was beautiful. Absolutely stunning.
Who was he kidding? He couldn't do this.
Be it ten seconds or ten years, he would never be able to do this.
She was perfect. She was Jem's.
There was nothing he could do about it.