UNTIL THEN

Chapter 1

1st November, 2015
New York.

Watching Astrid walk down the aisle, all I could of was the butterflies I felt the first time I met her she had her long brown hair dangling over her shoulders in a pink dress. The thoughts of her elegance and how stunning she looked always, the way she swayed her hips gracefully from left to right and back. Thinking of Astrid there's nothing not to love about her, she walked even further towards the altar with her dad by her side and butterflies I felt that day seemed to fall to from the walls of my stomach.

"So when do you intend to give up this charade?" Lisa asked looking straight ahead at the altar

"Excuse me?" I asked

"You haven't gotten your eyes off the bride since she stepped in" she said

"Well no one has" I replied rolling my eyes at her

"So you're just going to pretend this doesn't hurt one bit?" she questioned

"I'll be fine" I replied adjusting my oxygen tube

"Is that the lie you tell yourself?" She questioned looking at me

"Lisa!" I yelled a bit loud to have distracted those in the row before us

"No hard feelings just saying" she said raising her hands to surrender

The rest of the program at the wedding went accordingly, Lincoln had said his vows and I watched as Astrid smiled beautifully while listening

"Lincoln, meeting you was the best gift God gave me after my salvation and I promise to do my best to love an cherish you, to be there with and for you, to care for our family and to endlessly love you" Astrid said

One more butterfly from the side of my stomach fell

"You may speak or forever hold your peace" the pastor said and the words echoed in my ears, Lincoln and Astrid turned their backs to face the church and I gulped a lump of breath stuck in my throat, it was so hard to breathe I had to adjust my breathing tube for a minute.

"this is your chance, speak or forever keep your lips sealed" Lisa quaked and I ignored

"Can you at least smile back at your girlfriend she's been smiling at you from the bridal train" she said and I shifted my gaze from Astrid to Alex, she was actually smiling. Her smile always brightened my mood, but it wasnt enough to keep the butterflies alive.

The church program ended and we proceeded to the party, it was elegant and elaborate.

"When Astrid told me she spent 40 million on the wedding I thought she joked" Lisa said picking up a glass of champagne from the waiter passing by

"This is elaborate what?!" She said

"Hi baby" I heard Alex say from behind us

"Hey" I said turning around after whispering a 'fuck you' to Lisa before she walked away smiling at Alex and I

"Whats her deal?" Alex asked

"Dont get bothered by her, its just Lisa" I said smiling at her

"have you had anything to eat?" Alex asked after placing a soft kiss on my lips

"Yeah and you?" I said holding her by her waste

"Yeah I mean the day had been quite eventful but was able to grab a bite of Kaira's burger" she sakd smiling

She's so beautiful when she smiles,

"Why're you staring at me?" She asked

"You look so beautiful tonight" I saod and he smiled

"Gotta go babe, maid of honor duties" dbe said snd pecked me before leaving

I dialed Marks number, it was beginning to get stuffy at the party, so I called him to take me home.

"How do you feel?" He asked as he drove out

"Good" I said lookimg out the window
"Drop the act, Lexis" he saod befire showing his pass at thr entrance

"You can't ignore the truth" he said

"Drop it Mark" I sakd looking out the window

"What?, you'll report me to Mother?" He asked and i burst out laughing

Mark was one of the few I was grateful for

"But seriously how do you feel?" He asked

"I'm okay Mark" I said adjusting my oxygen tube

"If you say so" he said swerving right to my apartment

"Hows Alex?" He asked

"Gorgeous as always" insakd

"Why're you smiling, thats my girlfriend" I sakd

"Admiring a friend" he sakd

"Really?, say one more thing about her and I'll break your jaw" I sakd

"Fine just tonight" he sakd and tben took one last turn to thr apartment

"Also the investigator found where Nick stays, its in California" he said

"Send me the address" I said anxiously

"Lex, one more thing you might want to take things slow, its been 18 years. If he wanted to be found he would have come home" je sakd

"You don't know Nick, if you met him when were kids youd know he's a great guy" I said

"If you say so, I'm just saying be careful" he said.

I got down from the car and then went into my apartment, I had been living in New York for five years. Been in several clinical trials for Cystic fibrosis I was diagnosed at age 2.

Living has been hard ever since but I did anyway. My older brother, Nick left the house when he was 12 and I havent seen him since then, everyday I wonder if he's in a good condition or eating well, I wonder why he left. There was so much I wanted to ask, I wanted to give him a hug, even if it was one more time and say to him I miss you so much, Nick.