"Take a step, Bells. Breathe. Don't forget to breathe. Take another step. Breathe. Smile, Smile, Smile. Goddamn it Bella, breathe! Just a few more steps!" I thought to myself as I slowly closed the gap between me, the altar, and him.
While walking, I surveyed the tiny church I was currently in. The white candles flickered, sending a haunting glow over the red roses. My bridesmaids' dresses shone bloodred in the flickering candlelight and set off their pale skin. Renee stood slightly behind them, smiling aloofly, a mother's proud glow about her while a tear slowly slipped down her face.
As the distance between me and the altar was shrunk to a few mere steps, I felt my heart beat faster, and faster, and faster. "So this is it," I thought excitedly, taking the last few steps to him, to the rest of my life.
I hugged Charlie, whispered "I love you, Dad," in his ear, kissed his cheek, and squeezed his hand. He smiled his blessing and released me to him, the love of my life.
The last haunting note of the organ melted into the air, and I stepped up to the altar, handed my bouquet away, and met Renee's eyes. She mouthed, "You look beautiful, Bells," and beamed.
I turned to him and smiled shyly, although I don't know why I was still shy around him. He took my hand, rubbing his thumb back and forth over the back of it. I squeezed his hand knowing that this was it, this was forever.
We gave out vows, his of course being eloquent and beautiful, making mine sound choppy and meaningless in comparison. When we came near the 'I do's' and the preacher said, "…speak now or forever hold your peace," an unfamiliar rush cascaded over me. I strained my ears to hear, just in case, even though there was obviously no noise in the church.
"You may now kiss the bride." The preacher said, and Mike's blue eyes came closer and closer and closer to me his face coming closer, closing the space between us.
Seconds before our lips touched, that voice, so long unheard, echoed through the church with a resonating bang of the doors.
"Bella, please…no…I…," Edward said, his perfect voice cracking, "Please don't do this! I'm sorry, Bella, I'm so sorry."
Renee rushed onstage just in time to catch me as a fell to the floor in a dead faint.