Quarantine Prompt #5 from Anonymous on Tumblr Anne and Gilbert on the wedding day
Anne had long been an admirer of noticing little details.
Anne noticed the small pearls embedded in the dress she wore as she walked down the aisle. She'd recognized the small bracelet on her wrist, the shimmering silver cross a promise from Mary to always stay close. Anne watched the eyes of everyone in the chapel turn to look at her with a puzzling fondness that Anne still hadn't come to recognize. She'd seen the mesmerizing colors on the floor when they passed the stained-glass windows and painted them to memory. She'd been memorizing the soft way the organ played the wedding march, watching the player ease himself into the white and black keys as if it were a saving grace.
She had turned her cheek to see that Diana was using the handkerchief Anne had stitched with their names together in a forest of trees. Anne could see Diana holding tight to her mother's hand, Mrs. Barry smiling warmly as Anne passed.
Finally, Anne's eyes settled on the man in the suit standing in front of everyone, with eyes only for her. Anne had long felt a lot of things and felt them all at once. There was no exception on her wedding day, and she felt much like the world was spinning around her fast. It was so hard to capture the little things, but she tried desperately.
Anne felt her own throat close up as she spotted the little roses lining the church aisle.
Anne sensed tears prick her eyes when she looked to her right and saw Matthew struggling to keep from crying as he walked Anne down the long red carpet rolled out just for her.
When Gilbert stepped down to offer Anne his gloved hand, it woke her up from her own daze. He was wearing his best suit and a new tie that Anne herself had picked out. The tie was covered in the deepest blue and stitched with the brightest white dots. It had reminded Anne of the night sky and the stars that filled it. Gilbert was new shining star.
Anne took Gil's outstretched hand and then she looked over at Matthew. Her father, for all intents and purposes, was staring at her like he couldn't just let go. Anne leaned down to press her lips against Mathew's firm grip on her hand. Mathew's grip loosened with her silent promise that everything would be okay. Anne supposed Mathew was happy she was marrying Gilbert, but a part of Mathew had never liked change.
When Anne turned back to Gilbert, her heart bursting at its seams, she reasoned that she'd always welcomed change but shied at it like any average human. Gilbert wasn't a big change, not really. She'd known him since they were school kids and loved him more than she loved anyone before, even Diana.
"Are you ready?" he asked, whispering into her ear as he brought her to the steps.
Anne's freckled hand clasped in his own, like he was her anchor, "ready for forever."
"Forever." Gilbert agreed.
Anne loved little things.
She loved the way Gilbert never let go of her hand that night, not even long after the vows had been said.
She loved the way the wine slid down her throat as she laughed with Diana and the other girls.
She loved dancing with her family under the pale moonlight, until her feet were blistered from her fancy white shoes.
She loved how Gilbert kept calling her his wife, over and over, as if it was unbelievable, so unbelievable that Anne would have fallen for his charming grin.
She loved the line of discarded clothes down the hallway when they finally made it back to Gil's apartment.
She loved the little touches and warm commitment.
She remembered every moment, even as she fell asleep in Gil's arms, until it was tattooed to her memory forever.