The music faded, slow and steady, until only the quiet breeze and distant rustling of the ocean remained.
The guests took their seats without a sound. The chairs were arranged in perfect rows, white fabric brushing against shoes, sunlight stretching gently over the aisle.
Damon and Svetlana stood in front of the arch, surrounded by friends, family, and the quiet weight of everything they had shared to reach this point.
The officiant, a calm older man in a dark suit with a warm presence, stepped forward. He held a small black booklet in his hands and gave a soft nod to the couple before speaking.
