es he makes me laugh harder than expected, a

d realised he was not making jokes. "What

a

covered my mouth as those passing

rprised it's taken you this long to realise I am crazy and i

and stepped back

hands before I could run away like I

with him. "This is happening too fast, Oliver. You're just twent

cupped my face, rubbing his thumb over my cheek tenderly. "And this isn't ab

and nodded. "Yes, I

l to me." He said, took my hand, an

pped for us, and Oliver instructed

going to t

e we are flying to

ll the booking, asking questions when necessary. We bought last-m

r pointed out, and he was

a five-hour flight to Las Veg

ter break; you have nothing to

e out, and I slept through our flight. Oliver didn't s

having filled out the marriage licence forms online using mine and his information. We waited fo

re, and it was the perfect place. He walked like he grew up on these very stree

ing. We came to the chapel he spoke about, and its d

the excitement in his voice made

me close to himself. He pushed the chapel doo

est standing before the altar in b

ildren." He said

to get married," Oliver said, wast

r him to change his words, but he soon realised

t to be

"Yes, we want to be married tonigh

es

We have our licence," he

He approached us, and

ate celebrates and promotes it. However, in this chapel, tough

stions as long as you will mar

sk a few questions to ensure we knew what we were doing. First, he asked our age and

d the oppositi

by my side. She's the very essence of my being. I look at her and think there m

w I sound crazy, but I never want to let that go-let her go. She's everything I ev

the world to know that you are the one for me, and someday I will. This, however, is so you know that I am serious about my commitment to you.

the tears that came streaming. I knew he loved

gave me understanding eyes before exte

Oliver apologised, squeezi

eak if I didn't control the tears, yet I was overwhelme

lf." I said, my head still tilted back, and I w

you need," the prie

check, and my head dropped to behold the

g my hand and telling me all the lame jokes that are only funny because he is the one telling them. I grew up wanting love, but I never thought I deserved this much love. It takes courage to love the way he loves me, and I want to love hi

. He reached for my hand on my lap again, and his warm ones took them and gave th

re, and I've been an ordained marriage priest for over forty years.

ll join us?" Oliver as

it will be an hon

d asked if we wanted to be joined at the altar or in the office. Oliver didn't mind whichever, b

e to opt for this type of wedding, and Oliver took them and thanked him. Oliver told me it

ween a man and a woman in love in the presence of God, you have come today

ad, and Olive

ws." He said that and brought ou

to cherish, in sickness and in health, through joy and sorrow, good a

e ring, and slid it onto my fing

to cherish, in sickness and health, through joy and sorrow, good an

swered, sliding the ri

man and wife; you may

d though we had kissed many times before, this felt diffe