Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all recognizable characters and background information.
Leah:
I take a deep breath as I stand in place behind the closed doors. My stomach is assaulted by butterflies, and every emotion I've ever felt is flowing through my body at once as a bridesmaid quickly fiddles with my hair.
One last chance to smooth over my silk gown with my free hand; the other holding a bouquet of pink tulips tied with white satin ribbon.
I absentmindedly stare at the patterns in the wooden panels in front of me, anticipating what is waiting on the other side of those doors.
Two souls to be legally and spiritually bound; my life and his, about to change forever.
The music begins and the doors are pulled open to the ceremony I've been imagining since he proposed.
I realize that I'm about to take the biggest step of my life; my future about to be set in stone in the presence of everyone I know and love.
All eyes are on me; pictures being taken and proud whispers in the air.
But it is not these I can see right now.
It's him.
It's the waiting groom.
It's Sam, the love of my life.
He stands at the end of the aisle; tall, rugged and handsome, just like he's always been to me.
He smiles when our eyes meet and I take my steps towards him.
My heart is beating fast and strong, the same way it always has and always will beat for him.
I continue down the aisle to meet the fate that has been destined for me—for us—from the beginning.
I'm momentarily brought back to my high school fantasies of the day I would finally marry Sam.
The vision in front of me is almost identical to what I'd always dreamed of.
Walking into a church full of our closest friends and family, Sam's eyes only watching me as I walk down the aisle, with eyes only for him. My kid brother stands at his side, all grown up, taking his place as a groomsman.
The vision is almost identical. Almost an exact replay of what I dreamed it to be.
I'm nearly there now. Nearly at the end of the aisle; the path to my future.
I take my last breath of life as I know it, and finally, I reach him.
I stand in front of Sam, my Sam, and in that moment, it's like we're the only ones in the room. We look at each other, silently conveying messages only the two of us will ever understand.
I love you, I vow to him in my head, I will love you 'til death do us part.
And then I do it. I take the biggest step I'll ever take in my life.
I step aside.
To stand as Emily's maid of honor.