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I bent down and placedthe coolness wash over my skin As I closed my eyes, I quietly whispered my reply to the words only my soul could hear “I love you, too, Mama”

One with the earth, one with the sea, may the waves of the ocean bless me be

I stood straight and walked in the direction of my temporary life, where I’d say “I do”

When I walked up the aisle, purple lilacs htened as I stared at ainst my skin as my palms sweated with nerves When I raised my head to look in front of me, I met Damian’s eyes, and for the first time, I noticed a look I hadn’t seen from him yet

Was it… wonderment?

He stared athimself from his trance as he cleared his throat I couldn’t even pretend that he didn’t look a The Beast cleaned up nicely in an all-black suit and bare feet in the sand His blue eyes stood out more with the ocean as a backdrop to the ceremony

As I reached my placement, I turned to him “Hi there, Beast”

He sniffled a bit and nodded “Hello, Cinderstella”

I smiled

He almost did, too

“Oneaway slightly as she flipped through her book

Da mine away from him

“You…” He flicked his thuet the best of him “You look…”

“Pretty?” I grinned

“No”

I frowned “Oh”

“Didn’t rimaced and led under the sand as he shifted around slightly When he lifted his head, that saave me when I walked out sat there heavily in his eyes This ti,” he whispered So low that only I heard So tender that butterflies invadedinto tears

Never in my life had anyone used that kind of word to describe me Pretty? Yes Cute? Sure Adorable? All the ti? That felt like a secret word reserved in a collection of words never used to describe a woman like me

Mes!