The night before the wedding arrived quietly, like the soft hush before a sunrise. There were no fireworks, no dramatic revelations just stillness. A sacred kind of silence, the kind that settled over Crystal's heart like a blanket, warm and terrifying all at once.
Tomorrow, she'd be a wife.
Tonight, she was a woman on the edge of forever.
Crystal spent the evening at a hotel suite with Alana, Sierra, and her younger sister, Vanessa. The suite was filled with laughter, champagne, face masks, and a growing pile of bobby pins and beauty product bottles that seemed to multiply by the minute.
"You know," Alana said as she fluffed pillows unnecessarily, "this is your last night as a free woman."
Sierra rolled her eyes. "She's not being imprisoned, Alana. She's getting married."
"Same thing sometimes," Alana teased.
Crystal chuckled but said nothing. She was listening more than speaking tonight soaking everything in, every glance, every joke, every moment.
Because this was the night before.
The night before everything changed.
Later, after the others had gone to sleep,Crystal stood on the balcony, wrapped in a blanket. The city shimmered beneath her, lights like stars scattered below instead of above.
She clutched her phone, staring at Justin's name.
She hadn't seen him all day not since they decided to stick with the tradition of not seeing each other the night before the wedding.
But it didn't feel right not to hear his voice.
So she texted him.
Crystal: You up?
He replied instantly.
Justin: For you? Always.
Crystal: I miss you.
Justin: Come to the window.
She blinked.
She walked back into the suite, past the girls snoring gently, and pulled aside the curtain.
And there he was.
Across the street, standing under a streetlamp. Hands in his pockets. Looking up.
She opened the window.
"You're insane," she whispered loudly.
He grinned. "Maybe. But I couldn't sleep."
"You know we're not supposed to see each other."
"I'm not seeing you," he said, smirking. "I'm looking at the building. Completely legal loophole."
She laughed, hand pressed over her heart. "Tomorrow's the day."
He nodded, voice low but steady. "You ready?"
"I am. You?"
"I've been ready since the first time you called me out for ghosting you on texts."
She grinned. "I never let you forget."
"Exactly why I'm marrying you."
They stood in silence for a moment, just looking. Like the world had paused to let them have this space. This peace.
"Get some sleep," he said softly. "Tomorrow, I marry the love of my life."
Her heart swelled.
"Goodnight, Justin."
"Goodnight, future Mrs. Miller."
Back in bed, Crystal finally closed her eyes.
She dreamed of soft white fabric.
Of vows whispered under a sky full of light.
Of Justin's hand in hers, steady and sure.
And when morning came, she would step into that dream—
Only this time, it would be real.
The morning of the wedding broke in golden light.
Sunlight streamed through the hotel curtains like a divine promise, soft and warm, casting delicate shadows across the white robe Crystal wore as she sat in front of the vanity mirror.
But even with the soft glow and the hum of excitement from the bridal suite around her, Crystal's heart was a storm.
Not of doubt.
Of depth.
Of knowing that in just a few hours, her life would never be the same.
Vanessa zipped her into the dress the simple crepe silk gown that made her feel strong and steady and utterly herself.
"You look like... you," Vanessa whispered, stepping back to admire her. "But braver."
Crystal turned, her eyes glassy. "That's exactly what I was going for."
Her mother entered then, dressed in deep navy blue, clutching a handkerchief she hadn't yet used but would.
The moment she saw Crystal, she gasped. "Mi amor... you are the most beautiful bride I've ever seen."
Crystal smiled. "Mom, please don't start crying yet."
"Oh, I will. I've been saving it all for the aisle."
Alana peeked in. "Car's ready. Time to get our bride to the altar."
Justin stood at the front of the ceremony space, fingers lightly tapping his thigh as the string quartet played a gentle tune. He looked calm—on the outside.
Inside?
A full-on orchestra.
He hadn't slept much. Who could sleep when their entire future was wrapped in a woman with eyes that haunted you in the best way?
He turned to his best man, Elijah. "Tell me I don't look like I'm about to pass out."
"You don't," Elijah said, then paused. "Okay, maybe a little."
Justin chuckled, shaking his head. "Thanks, man."
Then the music changed.
And the crowd rose.
And he saw her.
Crystal stepped into the garden aisle framed with white roses and eucalyptus, the breeze lifting her veil like it too wanted to witness the moment.
She walked slowly, eyes locked with Justin's.
And suddenly, the nerves were gone.
There was no crowd. No whispers. No camera clicks.
Just him.
And the quiet, solid truth between them.
The ceremony passed like a breath.
Vows written in secret now spoken aloud.
Crystal's voice trembled only once, when she said:
"I never believed in forever... until you showed me that love doesn't have to be perfect to be true."
And Justin's reply:
"I fell in love with you on the day you told me your heart was still healing and I've never wanted anything more than to protect every broken piece."
Tears streamed down cheeks. Even the officiant blinked rapidly as he cleared his throat.
And then, the moment.
"Do you, Justin Miller, take Crystal Gomez to be your wife?"
"I do," he said, without hesitation.
"And do you, Crystal Gomez, take Justin Miller to be your husband?"
"I do," she whispered, eyes shimmering.
"By the power vested in me... I now pronounce you husband and wife."
"You may kiss—"
Justin didn't wait.
He kissed her like she was air and he'd been holding his breath for years.
The crowd erupted in applause, but all Crystal heard was his heartbeat against hers.
Steady. Home.
That night, at the reception, they danced their first dance under fairy lights.
Laughed through speeches.
Cried when her grandmother's locket was placed around her neck by her mother during the family toast.
And when it was just them again sitting at the sweetheart table, tired, giddy, married Justin leaned in close and whispered:
"You're my greatest 'yes.'"
Crystal smiled, touching her ring.
"And you're my forever."