Until My Heartbeat Stops

a wedding and a conversation

Noah was extremely excited the morning of. He woke up earlier than most, you could say he was more excited than the bride and groom themselves. Dixie loved how happy he seemed.

"You're so cute." She said as they were getting ready in the hotel.

"What." He asked turning his attention to her.

"You just look so happy it's adorable."

"Thank you." He said looking down at the button on his suit.

Dixie smiled.

When they got to where the ceremony was being held, the couple was happy to see that it was outside. Dixie and Noah took their seats as the wedding began.

"Noah?"

Noah and Dixie both turned around at the sound of Noah's name.

"Lorelei?" Noah looked annoyed at first but calmed down.

"It's okay, im okay I've really been working on myself and-"

"Babe do you-."

Dixie was the first to turn her head, acknowledging the 5"1, black-haired woman. She was gorgeous.

"Hey, this is Noah and Dixie." Lorelei introduced. "I'm Nessa nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Dixie said as Nessa sat down.

"You too," Nessa replied sitting down next to her girlfriend.

The tulbe started, indicating the wedding had begun. This is where the future husband (Nate) in this case formally asks for the parent's permission to marry the bride. When the parents gave permission Surah Al-Fatiha is recited by everyone present.

"Bismillaah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem. Al hamdu lillaahi ribbil alameen—"

The tea and treats were given to the parents and couple.

The middle of the wedding went quickly. Between the Katb Al-kitaab and the Mahr.

When the Zaffe began which is like the bride and groom's first dance together. The bride is walked out by her father to accompany the groom on the dance floor. The bridesmaids were yelling as she did.

"Le le le le le le le."

The music was booming as they danced. Everyone cheered and sang. 

"Im so proud of him."

Noah heard Lorelei whisper from behind him. He couldn't help but turn around and agree. He kept thinking about how different his life turned out v.s how he knew Nate had planned it to be. He loved that his friend was happy that's all he'd ever wanted. 

"Nate man you okay? You seem so quiet." 

"Im good." 

Noah and Nate have been friends for years he knows "good" means I don't wanna talk about it. He also knows the only way Nate will ever get over what he's thinking about if he does to which Noah said

"What's wrong?"

"We broke up." 

His voice was barely above a whisper but Noah heard him clearly. 

"what did I do? I was good to her. I did everything she wanted I-i"

"you loved her."

"I love her. I don't know why. She's a pain in the ass."

"But-"

"I love her."

He could hear the tears in his voice. He knew his friend hated love for the same reason he loved it; it hurt.

"Im done with women they're such twisted creatures I hate them I hate that they can make me feel this way. Im gonna be single forever. 

"Okay, or you could--"

"No, Im gonna be single forever."

There were cutting the cake when Noah got out of his head. 

"Noah?" 

"Nate I haven't seen you in years how have you been bro."

"Good I didn't think you would come."

"Of course I came it's your wedding day dude congrats."

Nate pulled Noah into a hug. 

"I've missed you, man."

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"Hi I don't think we've met I'm Dixie."

"Aisha it's so nice to meet you."

"You two and um-congrats."

"Thank you."

"Are you okay? You look-"

"I look what?" She looked hurt and Dixie instantly regretted her words.

"No, you look beautiful sorry forget I said anything."

"It's not your fault. I'm just Im scared."

She said the last part quietly and Dixie instantly knew what was going on. Dixie had felt like this when she started dating Noah. Not because she didn't love him but because she hadn't learned to love herself. Being with him taught her that. Aisha just needed reassurance.

"You love him right?"

"More than anything I don't know what's wrong with me I-"

"Nothing is wrong with you, marriage is a huge commitment, and being scared about that isn't a bad thing. It means your are human, you're sharing you're life with someone. That's not easy. Don't look at it as you giving up your independence look at it as your independence growing to fit more than one person. You can do it I promise." 

She had a tear in her eye and Dixie gave her a hug. She knew marriage was hard and she wanted to give advice to everyone and anyone who needed it.

"Thank you, I really needed that."

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By the end of the wedding, both Dixie and Noah were satisfied with how the day turned out, and truthfully Nate and Aisha were too.