Epilogue

I watched as the most beautiful woman I have ever seen walking down the stairs. Her vibrant blonde hair tied in a tight bun at the back of her head. The stunning white dress flowed down around her, making her feet look invisible in the white heeled shoes. Her face was made up to be more beautiful than I ever imagined, and her eyes were sparkling with the blue eye shadow that was placed above her already blue eyes. A smile was plastered on her face, and although I knew she was happy, she looked more nervous than I had ever seen her. I remembered her in high school as the loud and boisterous girl who would out-yell anyone she came across, but now I don't think she could even find her voice.

"You look... breathtaking." I quickly stood up from the seat I had been sitting in for the last half-hour, amusing myself with the game on my phones. I hadn't expected to see her like this so soon. I hadn't expected her to take my breath away so quickly. "He's the luckiest man alive. Honestly, Jenny, you could make the Gods cry right now."

A quick slap to my arm and a few blushes later, she put her arm around mine and walked to the door, "I wouldn't want anyone else to walk with me down the aisle as much as I want you to right now, Mattie. You've been through everything with me. You've seen all my worst times and my best times. Thank you so much for coming with me."

I choked back a few tears, rolling my eyes slightly, "I'm not the only one that'll be walking you down this aisle, remember your father. He'll be right beside you the whole time, even if he's not physically there."

Carefully wiping her eyes, Jenny rolled up the front of her dress, "I know, but it's you who's going to get me to where I need to be. I lost two of the most important people in my life, and I am so glad that you're here with me. You're the brother I never had, but the brother I will always cherish. You make people happy by just being you, and I hope one day, I'll walk you down this aisle once and for all."

I had to chuckle at the last part, but before I could continue the conversation, the music outside the door started playing. Taking a few deep breaths, Jenny turned to me and half-smiled, "Am I doing the right thing?"

A quick slap to her arm and a few words later, I looked her in the eyes and smiled, "You're going to make the most beautiful wife ever known to man. Julian is so gosh darn lucky to have you. I can't wait until you start making babies, and I can give them lots of sugar and leave them with you."

She laughed lightly as the door opened, and people stood up and turned to see us walking. I felt myself turning red, not wanting all the attention to be around me. I just had to remember they were here for Jenny and Julian, and they were not staring at me. As we walked to the front of the aisle, I let her go with a slight peck to the cheek.

I don't remember much more about the ceremony. I just watched as they said their I do's and kissed in front of everyone. We retreated to the dinner hall, and sitting in front of everyone gave me the nervous shakes.  Thankfully, Jenny made sure I was alright, and ever so often her gentle hand would find my thigh with a gentle squeeze, assuring me everything would be okay.

Dinner and dancing commenced later on, and everyone was having a great time and seemed to be enjoying each other's presence. Standing in the back corner, I watched as everyone danced with their significant others, slightly making me jealous at the thought of not having anyone. In five years, I hadn't even thought of dating; I hadn't even wanted to think about finding someone else.

Sure, I went on dates and everything, but nobody ever fit the profile just right. I moved from the wall to retrieve another glass of punch from the bowl, and sipped on the red juice that somehow found its way down my chin. Grabbing a napkin, I quickly cleaned myself up. I watched Jenny laugh with her new husband, someone I would call a good friend.

"You seem to be having a terrible time. Are you lonely or something?"

I turned to see Mrs. Winters, a glass in her right hand, her left resting on one of the chairs nearby. "You don't seem to be enjoying yourself as much as you would like people to believe. How are you holding up? I know you would have loved Mr. Winters to be here right now."

She gave me a shallow smile, "We all don't get what we want, Mattie. You and I know that best out of everyone here, am I right?"

I gave her a slight chuckle, nothing too over-the-top, I knew exactly what she meant when she was talking about it. I wished for so long everything I did had included Morgan, but she was just as lonely as I was. A few months after Morgan passed away, Mr. Winters was in a plane crash, ending his life far too short as well.

"Shall we dance?"

Mrs. Winters giggled, "I suppose the mother of the bride and the pretty much brother of the bride should look a little more lively, shouldn't we?" She took my hand and walked on the dance floor, swaying with the slow songs that came out of the speakers.

I was in my own little world at that moment, just enjoying being with someone who understood. The music seemed to blend together until someone interrupted us. "I'm sorry, may I dance with this gorgeous man?"

I opened my eyes to see a man standing next to Mrs. Winters, "Oh, Mattie, this is Jenny's cousin, Myles Summers."

THE END

# # #