I walked down the street and almost immediately saw the shoe store. I ran inside excitedly, feeling as though my adventure was almost over.
I walked over to a depressed looking teenager and she looked up from her phone.
"Are you Katelynn?" I nodded in response and she handed me the envelope.
I opened the envelope hastily, wanting to know what was next.
Alright, baby. This is one of your last stops. I want you to pick out your favorite pair of shoes, it doesn't matter what kind or what they look like. I'm just going to give you big hints from now on because the printer ran out of ink and I can't show you anymore pictures. I want you to go to one of the first places you and I went together and the woman running the store will help you along the way. I'll see you soon, my love.
I gently sat my flowers down and immediately looked at the Converse. For some reason, ever since I was little I had loved them and not worn any other kind of gym shoe.
I found a pair of light pink high tops and took them up to the front.
The teenager looked up at me and sighed.
"Alright, that's all?" I nodded, not wanting to say the wrong thing and upset her. She wrote it down and waved me off.
I picked up my flowers and my shoe box and walked straight to the dress shop, knowing exactly what Niall had up his sleeve. Or at least some of what he had planned.
As soon as I walked into the shop, the woman who had helped me find my dress a few weeks before, walked up to me looking elated.
"Hi! You made it here in perfect time! Come, come!" She took my flowers and shoes and lead me to the dressing rooms where my dress was hanging.
I got undressed and she helped me into it and tied up the back. I pulled my shoes on and picked up my flowers and looked in the mirror. I looked beautiful, aside from my hair which I had pulled up into a messy bun before I left the house that morning. I couldn't help but smile. Everything was falling perfectly into place.
The woman squealed and ran out of the room. About five minutes later, she ran back in with two other women. One was holding a pink bag and the other, a curling iron.
I didn't even have to ask. I sat down and the little team went to work on perfecting me. I closed my eyes and relaxed, knowing they wouldn't want me moving around.
It must have been about an hour and they finally finished.
"You look perfect. I have done up many brides but you are the best." I giggled and opened my eyes. When I looked in the mirror I saw a completely different person. My hair was curled perfectly and my makeup was done so that it wasn't completely obvious that I was wearing it, but enough to hide my little imperfections.
I looked over at the woman who had been helping me. "Do you happen to have a note from Niall for me?" She nodded and held my hand, leading me outside. She helped me into a big black Suburban and started driving.
"Look in the glove compartment. The note is in there." I opened the glove compartment and saw the envelope. The only difference between this one and the others that I had gotten was this one was addressed to 'Mrs. Horan.' I carefully opened the envelope and a picture fell out. Before looking at the picture, I read his note.
Dear Mrs. Horan,
I guess it's almost Mrs. Horan but whatever. I still can't believe that you agreed to marry me. Just in case you didn't know, I'm a little crazy. But you make me feel like there is nowhere else in the world I want to be if it's not by your side. I have always dreamed of the day I'd meet someone who would make me feel this way. I never imagined that it would be after I died, but you know life and death are insane. I wanted to make today memorable and I hope I did. You are my snowflake and I will treat you like the princess you are. I love you, Katelynn. See you at the alter. I'll be the one wearing a tie;)
I giggled and looked out the window. We had come to a stop in front of what looked like a park. The sun had set and there was just enough moon light to see by. The woman got out of the car and opened my door for me and helped me out.
I stood in front of an archway, covered in different greenery. There were small twinkle light wrapped around the archway and along the path that I was to take. Before I even realized what was going on, I felt someone loop their arm in my elbow. I looked up to see my mom smiling at me.
"Hi, honey. Now, before you yell at me for not telling you why Niall and I had to talk alone the other day when you were over, it wasn't my fault. He didn't want me to tell you because it would have ruined all of your fun today." I giggled and kissed her cheek.
"I'm glad you didn't tell me. I just wanted to be let in on the secret. But it was definitely worth the wait. I love all of this. It was one of the cutest thing I have ever even imagined. Thank you for being here with me." My mum gave me a cheeky smile like she knew something more and was hidnig it from me.
Before I could ask her what else she had up her sleeve, I heard the wedding march begin playing. With a swift movement of her hand I looked down and saw that she had put a silver wedding band on one of the flowers in my bouquet. I felt the blush creep into my cheeks as my mum started leading me down the lighted path towards my future.
My mind was racing, along with the beat of my heart. I knew I wanted to marry Niall more than anything, but this would change things. I didn't want things to change between us because this was the best relationship I had ever had. Would he still love me in a year? Will I still want to be living forever with him? Would our friends break things up?
Right after these thoughts ran across my mind, we walked into the clearing. I stopped and looked around. I felt my mum pulling my arm, but I wouldn't budge. I was so shocked by the set up of the little clearing in the park. There were white chairs set up, where all of our friends were sitting, light pink flowers hanging from invisible lines running above our heads, the moon light shining directly on the love of my life.
Niall stood at the white alter, in a black suit and a red rose in his jacket pocket. He had his hair flattened out, just the way I liked it and his mouth turned up in my favorite smile. As soon as our eyes made contact, I almost ran down the aisle towards him. My mum had to keep me close to her side as she helped me finish the, now agonizingly slow, walk down the aisle to Niall.
I finally made it to him and my mum rested my hand in his. I looked down at our hands and couldn't help but just smile. I loved how much bigger his hands were than mine, he made me feel safe. I looked up into his bright blue eyes and his smile brightened. He turned us so that we were facing the priest.
The priest did all of his speech, having us repeat our vows to each other. The priest then asked for the rings.
Niall put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a silver wedding band and took my left hand in his.
"Katelynn, I know we only met about a month ago and this is completely new for me, but I knew as soon as I met you that I loved you. Ever since that night, I couldn't even imagine my life without you. You are perfect and I wanted tonight to be exactly the way you always imagined it, if not better. I love you with all of my heart and I am so happy that you agreed to marry me." He slipped the wedding band onto my ring finger. It made up the second half of the engagement ring he had given me. I felt tears welling up in my eyes as I took the silver wedding band that my mum had slipped me before we had walked down the aisle, and held his hand.
"Niall, I've never been a person to do things this quickly, ask anyone. But, when I met you and we had that connection, I knew that no matter how long or short the amount of time we were together, I knew I wanted to spend forever with you. When you proposed to me, and promised me that you would spend the rest of eternity with me, I knew I couldn't be with anyone else. You're the one for me and you make me so happy. To be completely honest, no amount of time with you is enough. I love every single thing about you and I am the luckiest girl in the world to be able to call you mine." I slipped the ring onto his ring finger and he smiled at me, tears in those beautiful blue eyes.
"You may now kiss the bride." Niall smiled widely and wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him and kissed me passionately. More passion was in that kiss than any we had ever shared. All of our friends and family stood up and clapped.
I had never felt like I belonged to anyone or belonged anywhere until that moment. I had a family, a husband, a best friend, and someone to call mine. I was finally at home.
