Especially the bride’s.

Sitting in the beautiful powder room of a five-star mansion hotel, Laura softly strokes a hand over her gorgeous wedding dress. It’s been tailored to her perfectly and matches the only thing she had left of her past: a small light blue brooch. Carefully, she pins it to the place right above her heart, the small blue flower laying beautifully against the white of her dress. The sight of the familiar old brooch makes Laura look into the mirror with a melancholic smile. She can’t believe she’s here, getting married to the love of her life within the span of an hour.

Before she can reminisce any further about the past, her maid of honor, Kaylee, walks into the powder room and lets out an instant gasp. “Oh, Laura, you look beautiful!” Kaylee exclaims, “But where’d you get that brooch? Something old, something blue?”

“Well,” Laura starts, debating whether she’s going to tell her best friend of the past five years about her life before they’d met. “You know what they say, something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, right?” Kaylee’s eye gives a small, barely perceptible twitch as she beholds Laura’s old, slightly damaged brooch.

“This is my something old and my something blue in one,” Laura says, turning away. She won’t be explaining it any further tonight.

“Okay then,” says Kaylee, quickly plastering the smile back on her face. “At least it makes your dress look extra pretty.”

Laura stifles a wince but manages to smile back at her friend. “Are you ready?” she asks while smoothing down Laura’s hair for the umpteenth time.

“I think so. I’m a little nervous, Kaylee,” Laura admits with a slight tremor in her voice.

“Everyone is nervous on their big day. Come on, I bet David can’t wait to see you in your dress.”

It takes Laura longer than she’d like to admit to steel herself. There isn’t much time to calm her nerves because Kaylee is already pulling her towards the door. Before she knows it, she’s making her way down the stairs, step by step, trying her hardest not to fall. When they finally reach the foyer, Kaylee helps her straighten her dress. Her friend frowns at the brooch again but doesn’t make any further comments.

Reminiscing about the past, Laura stands in the breathtaking garden, waiting to get the green light to turn around so that David can finally see her in her dress. In the silence, she softly traces her finger over the brooch. Despite Kaylee’s obvious disagreement with her choice, she’s glad that this sole piece of her past is with her on this important day.

Thinking about her past, Laura almost misses when Kaylee tells her to turn around. When she does, David’s reaction is all she’d hoped for. His eyes move over her face, her wedding dress, and then stop at the brooch.

“Is that—” he starts, and Laura nods quietly. He walks up to her.

“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to be able to call you my wife.” David kisses her softly, both of their eyes lined with silver.

The guests arrive. After having a moment to take the first photos, Laura and David are ushered back into the mansion. They bid each other farewell with a kiss. “See you at the altar,” David says and shoots her a wink before he leaves.

Alone in the hallway, Laura looks around at the wedding reception. Guests have started to file in, and she watches Kaylee and David’s best man greet them for a while. An unknown, uninvited guest catches her eye—a small, unfamiliar boy just outside, looking into the mansion. He looks disheveled and a little dirty, and he’s way too thin. Laura’s heart clenches. She quickly turns to one of the mansion’s attendants and asks her to welcome the boy.

“Do you know the boy, miss?” the lady asks her, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

“No,” Laura says, gaze still on the gaunt-looking boy hiding in the hedges. “No, but he looks a little lonely and hungry.” Laura looks at the brooch and softly strokes one of the dull jewels. “I want you to welcome him inside and give him something to eat,” she says to the lady.

“As you wish, miss,” the attendant says, leaving Laura at the landing to go speak to the boy.

Satisfied with her deed, Laura turns back to the powder room for a final touch-up. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Laura gives herself one last look in the mirror, her heart fluttering with nerves and joy. With a deep breath, she steps out of the powder room, her dress whispering against the marble floor. The hallway, bathed in soft light, feels like a bridge between her past and the future she’s about to step into. She positions herself, waiting for the cue.

The brooch at her heart gleaming softly, the doors open revealing the aisle stretched out before her, a path lined with the faces of loved ones. As she steps forward, the music rises, a melodic guide towards her future. At the far end, David awaits, a beacon of her newfound happiness. Among the guests, she spots the boy, his presence a mysterious blessing. Smiling, she walks on, each step a beat in their shared symphony.

Reaching David, Laura takes his hand, their fingers intertwining like their futures. The officiant’s voice blends into the background as they exchange looks, promises unspoken but felt deeply. Around them, the world fades, leaving only the reality they’re about to embrace. This moment, a threshold to forever, is marked by the warmth of their hands joined, a silent vow of unity and love.

Words of love and commitment fill the air, their vows a tapestry of promises and hopes. Laura’s voice is steady, and David’s is full of emotion. They pledge their lives, hearts, and futures to each other, their words sealing a bond as ancient as time. Rings, symbols of their endless circle of love, are exchanged, glinting in the soft light, witnesses to their solemn oaths.

As the pronouncement echoes “husband and wife,” applause bursts forth, a cascade of joy and celebration. Hand in hand, Laura and David step forward, their departure from the ceremony not an end but a beginning. The crowd’s cheers follow them, a lively symphony of well wishes and happiness. Outside, the sun dips low, but the day is far from over, though in a way that Laura and David could never have imagined.

In the quiet of the powder room, Laura and David share tender kisses and gentle embraces, a brief sanctuary of calm amidst the day’s whirlwind. They help each other out of their ceremony attire, playful and loving, slipping into their dinner wear. The laughter and soft whispers between them fill the room, a testament to their joy and the intimacy of their bond.

Hand in hand, Laura and David make their grand entrance into the dining hall, greeted by the cheerful clapping of their guests. The room sparkles under the chandeliers, tables set in elegant decor, faces of friends and family alight with happiness. They find their seats at the head table, their eyes gleaming, ready to share this feast of love and gratitude with everyone who means the world to them.

As guests settle, attendants step forward, announcing the evening’s flow. Dinner will be accompanied by speeches from the newlyweds, followed by an open floor for others to share their thoughts during the party. The room buzzes with anticipation, guests leaning in, eager for the words of love, laughter, and life that are about to fill the air, marking the celebration with shared stories and blessings.

Standing together, Laura and David begin their speech, voices brimming with happiness. They thank everyone for joining them on their special day and for the love and support guiding them to this moment. Their sincere gratitude resonates, touching the hearts of all present, a warm acknowledgment of the journey they’ve embarked on, not alone but surrounded by those who cherish them.

Laura starts with the tale of how they met—quirky and unexpected, with David chiming in to add color to the story. Their playful banter, peppered with fond reminiscences and light-hearted jabs, has the dining hall erupting in laughter. The joyous sound fills the room, a lively melody of shared amusement and affection, the perfect start to a night to remember.

As they take their seats for dinner, David leans closer to Laura, curiosity in his eyes. “Did you invite someone I don’t know?” he asks, mentioning the boy he spotted among the guests. Laura pauses, a fork midair, the question catching her off guard. It takes her a moment, and then she recalls the hungry, solitary figure at the edge of their celebration and begins to explain.

Laura’s confusion clears as she remembers the boy she found outside. She tells David about the disheveled, hungry boy hiding in the hedges and how her heart couldn’t bear to leave him out. She had asked one of the attendants to let him in and give him something to eat, acting on a compassionate impulse. She starts to ramble, wanting to explain why she would invite someone they didn’t know for their special day.

David listens int

ently, his eyes softening with understanding. “You did the right thing,” he reassures her, squeezing her hand. He can’t explain why but the fact that she’d had the heart to include an unknown, hungry boy among their guests touched him deeply.

David and Laura share a quiet, knowing look as they finish their dinner. The reception continues, filled with laughter, love, and stories, but the boy lingers in their minds. They notice him standing by the punch table, looking around wide-eyed. In a spontaneous decision, Laura beckons him over, gently guiding him to the microphone. Her action surprises the guests, but their curiosity grows as the boy begins to speak.

With a trembling voice, the boy begins to share his story. He introduces himself as Samuel, a name that echoes through the silent room. He recounts how he had been lost and alone for as long as he could remember, living on the streets, struggling to survive. His journey had led him to this mansion, drawn by the warmth and laughter that seemed so distant from his everyday life.

He continues, his voice steadying with each word. He speaks of the kindness shown to him today, a kindness that was a rarity in his world. Samuel’s eyes fill with tears as he thanks Laura and David for their generosity. He speaks of a hope rekindled within him, a belief in the goodness of people, and a chance at a new beginning.

The room is spellbound, the weight of Samuel’s words touching every heart. Laura feels a lump in her throat, tears streaming down her face. David, too, is moved beyond words. The boy’s story had become an unexpected, poignant part of their special day, a reminder of the impact of simple acts of kindness and the power of love to change lives.

As Samuel finishes his tale, the room erupts in applause, a standing ovation for the courage and resilience of this young boy. Laura and David rise, walking over to embrace Samuel, their hearts full. The rest of the evening is a celebration not just of their union but also of the human spirit and the connections that bind us all. The boy’s presence has turned their wedding day into a beacon of hope and compassion, a memory that will forever be etched in their hearts.