Pedestal
~Maija�s POV~ I sit, fairly calmly, in a small anteroom of the quaint country church, waiting for my cue. I know that somewhere in this building, my fianc� is pacing nervously but I feel no need for such a display. My calmness is derived from two sources; firstly, my soon-to-be husband�s ex-partner sent a lovely long letter stating her best wishes and her lame excuse for not joining us in Finland, and secondly, Dominic hadn�t been upset by her decline of the invitation. When Dominic had originally proposed, I was afraid that he was settling for me because he couldn�t have her. To tell the truth, I�m still afraid but I refuse to let the emotion register on my face. I�ll hide it deep inside, a feat made easier by her conspicuous absence. The perky blonde was his first love, and while she�s never shown the slightest romantic interest in him, I�ll always wonder. If she asked, would he drop me in an instant and rush back to her side? Will he always be thinking of her? When he kisses me, will he picture her? He worships the woman like a goddess. How can a mere mortal like me hope to compete with that? I swing my foot back and forth, pleased by the silken rustle of my dress, and shift impatiently. The first notes of the bridal march echo through the church. My father holds out a hand to help me up and I gladly accept. Our steps synchronized and in time with the music, we walk through the archway. We pause, and I smile as my eyes scan the pews filled with a plethora of family and friends. I freeze and my gaze retraces the path it took a moment earlier. She�s here. She came. She looks gorgeous. I grind my teeth in frustration and shift my gaze to the front, struggling to keep my features locked in a happy expression. He isn�t looking at her, I realize, slightly surprised. He�s looking at me. My smile becomes genuine once again. I finish walking down the aisle and find myself standing next to the man I love. As we say our vows, his eyes never leave my own. I finally realize that Dominic may have Allison Monroe on a pedestal but he�ll have me in his arms for the rest of his life. The End
