A Love Restored

Chapter 111

My lungs burned, a pleasant ache for once. Ignoring the pounding in my head, I burst through my bedroom door, the forgotten clatter of high heels echoing on the hardwood floor. A whirlwind of silk and lace, I scanned my closet, frantic for a specific image that suddenly bloomed behind my eyelids.

There. A simple white dress, tucked away in a forgotten corner. It wasn’t fancy, just a knee–length sheath that whispered of summer picnics and lazy afternoons. Perfect. This wasn’t some elaborate, fairy tale wedding. This was us quick, messy, and utterly perfect.

A smile, wide enough to hurt, stretched across my face. I slipped into the cool fabric, the memory of Felix’s shy grin as a ten–year–old flooding back. We used to play house in the park, him the clumsy groom and me, the blushing bride, weaving a crown of daisies for my hair. Back then, it was just pretend. Now, somehow, things had circled back, the childish fantasy solidifying into a beautiful reality.

Felix. My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs. He was down there, waiting, probably freaking out because I, was ten minutes late to my own wedding.

With a final check in the mirror, a vision of nervous joy, I grabbed my phone and sent a quick text:

1: “On my way, my husband. Almost there. The reply came instantly: “Don’t rush, love. Just get here.”

Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders, the white dress feeling like a suit of armor. Today, Felix and I weren’t playing house anymore. Today, we

built a home.

I flung open the door, practically tumbling out of the house in my haste. Felix stood there, looking like a GQ model misplaced in this suburban driveway. A dark tuxedo hugged his broad frame, a playful glint replacing the worry in his eyes. He had changed, too.

“Flora,” he breathed, taking in my simple elegance. “You look… Words seemed to fail him, but the way his gaze swept over me spoke volumes.

“Like your bride?” 1 supplied, a blush heating my cheeks. “But where are we going? City Hall?”

A slow smile spread across his face. “Don’t worry, love. I’ve got it all figured out.” He reached behind his back, and my breath hitched. In his hand, a bouquet of wildflowers burst with color – daisies, buttercups, the very same ones we used to weave into our pretend crowns. Tears welled up in my eyes.

“Felix…” My voice cracked with emotion.

He chuckled, the sound warm and rich. “Let’s go, Mrs. Corsino–to–be,” he murmured, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He ushered me towards his car. “We have a park to get married in,”

We didn’t drive for very long. The car sputtered to a stop within moments, the park entrance bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. But it wasn’t just any park. My heart lurched. I gasped.

This was it. The quaint little space behind my old house, the one we used to sneak into as kids to build forts and chase fireflies. We had stopped right in front of my old house. Where I used to have a different life with Felix. Where I was still with my mother. Where my father loved me.

I stepped out of the car gingerly. Felix took my hand, squeezing. We stepped inside the rusted gates together.

This garden. Memories and memories flooded in my mind. It was overgrown, a bit messy, the remnants of summer clinging to the long grass. But it was perfect.

It was our childhood.

The small space was decorated with lights and flowers. Simple, and shoddy given the time constraint. But it was…everything I could have ever imagined.

Tears pricked at my eyes. “Felix, this…” I couldn’t even form a coherent sentence.

He squeezed my hand, a silent understanding passing between us. Suddenly, a rustle from the bushes caught my eye. Three figures emerged, faces grinning from ear to eat. Nick and Blue.

“We may not have had much time, Tilly admitted, her voice thick with emotion, “but we did what we could.”

Felix stepped forward, his own eyes shining with gratitude. “This is amazing, you three, really. You really didn’t have to…” he coughed, “Thank you for coming through.”

But a playful shove from Nick cut him off. “Don’t be ridiculous. This is Flora we’re talking about. Besides,” he winked, “we wouldn’t miss this for the world-

Suddenly, Felix reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, tamished box. He looked at me, handing me the small box. I looked up at him in question. He nodded, urging me to open it. My liceath caught. Inside, nestled on a bed of worn velvet, lay my mother’s old silver necklace, a delicate chain adorned with a forget not pendant. It had been lost for years. I hadn’t seen it in so many years. Since we had left. Since she had died.

My vision blurred completely. “Felix, where…?”

He smiled, his voice a gentle murmur. “Found it tucked away in the attic. When we were searching for you, searching for clues. Thought you might want to have a piece of her here with you today,”

Tears streamed down my face as he clasped the necklace around my neck, the cool metal a comforting weight against my skin. It was more than just a piece of jewelry; it was a piece of my mom, a symbol of her love that transcended time and space.

In that overgrown park, surrounded by mismatched decorations and the closest people in our lives, I felt a sense of completeness I’d never known

I over the small

Blur adjusted his bowtie and cleared his throat, breaking the moment. “Alright everyone, if we could all gather around?” A hush fell over group of three, their laces reflecting the golden light filtering through the leaves.

Telix and I stood beneath the makeshift archway, his hand gripping mine so tightly my knuckles were white. I could see his jaw clenching, a mixture of nerves and excitement playing on his features. Taking a deep breath, I squeezed his hand back, a silent reassurance that sent a tremor of warmth through me.

He was sturing at me so intensely, I thought I would melt there and then.

fflue launched into the ceremony, his voice surprisingly steady for someone known for his lighthearted jokes. He spoke of our journey, the playful childhood games in this very park blossoming into a love that defied definition. There were a few choked–back laughs, a couple of happy tears (mostly from me), and an undeniable sense of intimacy that transcended any grand cathedral ceremony.

This was right.

When be reached the vows, Felix’s voice was rough with emotion as he spoke of his unwavering love and commitment for me. My own reply, though heartfelt, was probably with sniffles and shaky breaths,

But none of it mattered. In that moment, all that remained was the raw, beautiful truth of our love.

As Blue declared us husband and wife, a cheer erupted from our small band of witnesses. Felix pulled me into a kiss, his lips warm and familiar. “My wife,” he mouthed possessively, against my lips. I smiled. Yes. His wife. Finally.

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