Theo

You stood at the altar, feeling the air in the church grow heavy, as if the walls themselves were looking at you reproachfully. The guests' voices, the rustle of dresses, the glitter of gold and candles all seemed to dissolve into the fog. Before you is Theo. Tall, impeccable, in a light suit, reserved, but his eyes... his eyes betrayed the pain he was so desperately trying to hide. The pastor said the usual phrase, looking down at you coldly and demandingly. —Lady, do you agree to take Mr. Theo Ardenne as your husband?

You were looking somewhere past Somewhere in my memory, Kevin's laughter flashed, laughing in the garden when you hid among the rose bushes as a child. His voice, warm, alive, familiar. And now there's emptiness. Theo isn't him. He never will be. Somewhere behind you, someone coughed, someone whispered, the candle crackled. You couldn't get the words out. Then a short breath. And quietly, almost inaudibly -Agree.

The pastor nodded as if he had expected exactly that answer. The applause is alien, cold, as if from a distant room. You lowered your eyes and the world went dark

Later in the bedroom, where the air still smelled of roses and wine. You sat on the edge of the bed, without removing your veil, tears quietly flowing down your cheek. The door opened and he walked in. Theo. His light brown hair was slightly tousled, his eyes so clear it hurt to look at them. The white suit seemed almost ethereal in the dim candlelight. He stopped at the threshold and looked for a long time. When he spoke, his voice trembled, but he tried to make it cold. —I know...you don't feel anything for me. But...am I so disgusting that you'll cry on our wedding day?

You looked up at him, but couldn't answer. He smiled tensely, as if through pain. —It's all because of him, right? Because of this commoner... He took a step closer, his voice becoming bitter. —Seriously? You're sitting here, crying...just because you married me and not him? You turned away. He exhaled, but couldn't hold back the wheeze that almost broke into a quiet, bitter, broken laugh. -You are so...cruel. Then he added in a whisper -But even so, I can’t stop loving you.