Rose Parade

I've never seen her look more beautiful. I'm peeking into her bedroom and she stands there, darned in a lace veil and dressed in a lace gown, the cream collar creeping up her neck, secured in place with five or six small satin buttons. And white pearls are fastened on her neck. And her cheeks are wildly rouge. And her perfume, I can smell it from across the room. I inhale deeply and she's beautiful and the whole world is lemongrass and mint and perfect things. A bouquet of yellow lilies rests lazily on the bed, carelessly tossed aside, unnoticed. I can see the nervous glee etched across her face. She keeps adjusting this one loose curl, the rest of her ginger locks safely tucked away underneath her veil. She's all white, all mine and my heart is going to burst at any moment. I see her mouth the words 'I do' as she stares into the mirror; she smiles, her teeth glimmering in the sunlight. I can feel the words on my own lips, waiting to be spoken. I watch her as she speaks to the mirror again, and the words bend around the door and find my ear, so that I may hear her. This time she introduces herself.

"Hi. My name is Lily Potter. My name is Mrs. Lily Potter."

I hear the softest of voices floating lightly across the room to where I am lingering, hidden behind the door. My throat clenches and instantly I know she's an angel. I'm so young, so stupid, I'm just a boy. No, I'm a man. Yet, still young. Still stupid. Nevertheless, I'm wise enough to know that I'll never meet any other angels. I gently push the door open and abruptly she stops speaking as she hears me enter the room, turning around to see her visitor. She looks flushed, a little embarrassed, and I walk over to her, my hands outstretched. I grab her palms, her soft delicate fingers intertwining with mine. I look at us clasped together for a moment, still trying to grasp the concept of an eternity of love. I raise my head to examine my blushing bride.

"I'm scared...," I say deliberately, slowly, and her eyes widen for moment, but I continue before she can speak. "...that I'm going to faint during the ceremony."

I start feigning panic, dropping her hands and beginning to fan myself with both of my mine. She bursts out laughing, and I smile coyly.

"Oh please, if anyone's going to faint it'll be me. Or trip. I'm going to trip on the front of my dress."

Lily crosses her arms across her chest, a mock seriousness in her expression, but I can see the laughter buried beneath her false demeanor.

"Nothing you do today could ever be ungraceful. You could fall off the moon and I'd still think you are the most beautiful."

She smiles, and I kiss her crimson lips softly, slowly; a warm kiss that lingers long after we have stopped touching. She pulls away, blushing again. I can tell she is melting on the inside. She can tell that I am too.

"Not yet James. It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, let alone kiss her!"

"I don't believe in bad luck," I say, totally convinced. She laughs and pushes me out of the room.

"It's almost time anyway. You should get out there. They'll think you are missing." She nudges me further to the door.

"Alright, alright," I say, leaving with slow, heavy footsteps.

I make like I'm walking down the hall, then quietly, secretly, I stop and turn around, peeking through the door once more, just to catch one last glimpse of her. She stands in the same spot as before, this time a huge smile is wrenched across her face. There are tiny crystal tears in her eyes, and I know I'll never find a love like hers. I turn from the door and walk down the hallway, each step a step into the future. I'm only counting the seconds before she is mine, it feels like infinity, and I'm strangely calm, I can't even tell that I'm still smiling to myself.