Behind me, I heard sniffles. Mama was ugly crying into a tissue, her lip trembling like a drumroll. Daniale had tearsrolling down her cheeks, even though she swore she wasn’t gon’ cry. Chase was sitting there stiff as hell, wiping his face with his jacket sleeve like his pride had just caught a beatdown.

“Man, what the fuck?” he muttered. “Why y’all got me crying in front of people? I don’t like this shit.”

The whole church erupted in laughter. Even the pastor had to chuckle, shaking his head with a smile.

Jacory grinned through his tears. “You love us, nigga. Just admit it.”

Chase rolled his eyes. “Whatever, bro. Just hurry up and make my sister a wife before I start sobbing like a lil’ bitch.”

The pastor smiled and cleared his throat. “Now, before we proceed, is there anyone who objects to this union?”

Silence.

Then Jacory turned slowly, raised an eyebrow, and shifted his suit jacket to show a lil’ something shiny on his hip.

“Don’t play with me behind my baby,” he said, smooth as silk but sharp as a switchblade.

The entire church fellout. Even the pastor had to cover his face before composing himself. “Well,” he chuckled, “I suppose that answers that.”

He turned to me. “Shaniya, your vows?”

I breathed in slow, like I was about to spill a truth that had lived inside me since childhood.

“Jacory,” I began, voice soft but strong, “you’ve been my best friend, my protector, my peace since we were kids. I’ve loved you through every dark tunnel, through every quiet room, through every moment I thought I was broken beyond repair.

“You have never made me feel like I had to be anything other than me. And today, I vow to always show up. To always fight for us. To always love you deeper than the ocean and harder than the world ever could.

You are my home. My safe place. My miracle. I choose you. In every lifetime. Every world. Every time.”

Jacory was done. He was shaking. Crying. Barely breathing.

The pastor turned to him. “Jacory, your vows?”

He looked at me like he was looking at salvation.

“Baby,” he said, his voice rough and rich with emotion, “I’ve been yours since I was twelve. There has never been a moment in my life where my soul didn’t beat your name. You have seen me through pain, through failure, through fear. And you still looked at me like I was worthy.

“I ain’t just loving you with my heart. I’m loving you with my breath, my bones, my blood. And I swear—I will never let you go. Not even when this life is over. I’ll find you in the next one. And the one after that.”

Then I turned toward the front row where a single white rose sat in Silas’s seat.

“For my brother, Silas,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “You told me I deserved happiness. And today, I’m finally stepping into it.”

Jacory kissed my hand. “He’s here, baby,” he whispered. “He’s proud of you.”

The pastor smiled, eyes glistening. “Jacory, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“With every piece of me,” he said, loud, sure, certain. “I do.”

“And, Shaniya, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Tears dripped down my cheeks as I whispered, “I do.”

“You may now kiss your bride.”

Jacory stepped forward and kissed me like the sky was watching. Slow. Tender. Deep. Eternal.

And just like that, I was his.