The morning after the first wedding rehearsal, the city seemed to pulse with energy. Guests moved between venues, laughing and adjusting dresses and ties, while vendors bustled about, setting tables and arranging flowers. Nora moved through it all with a calm she hadn't expected, her mind drifting occasionally to Ethan.
She found him near the florist's table, carefully inspecting arrangements. He looked up when he noticed her, and his face lit with that familiar, gentle smile.
You found me, he said, almost as if relieved.
I did, she replied, stepping closer. I was starting to wonder if you'd sneak off to explore the city instead.
I considered it, he said with a half-smile, but then I remembered I'd rather spend the time with you.
Nora felt a small warmth in her chest, the kind that had been growing quietly over the past few days. "Good decision," she said softly.
They wandered through the reception hall together, offering light conversation to friends and family but stealing glances at each other whenever possible. The rehearsal was a blur of instructions and laughter, but in the margins of the chaos, they found pockets of calm.
During a break, they slipped out to the small courtyard behind the venue. The sun was warmer here, the air sweet with the scent of blooming flowers. Ethan handed her a glass of water, their fingers brushing briefly, sending an unexpected thrill up her arm.
I like these moments, Ethan said quietly. Just…you and me, without the crowd.
Me too, Nora replied. She realized that what she had been missing wasn't grand gestures or declarations. It was presence….someone who noticed her, who remembered the small things, who didn't rush her heart but simply walked beside it.
They sat on a bench under the shade of a flowering tree, the hum of the city faint in the distance. Ethan pulled out his phone and showed her a picture of a flower he'd spotted earlier in the morning. She laughed at his attention to detail.
You really notice everything, she said.
I notice what matters, he replied, his gaze steady on hers.
For a while, they didn't speak, letting the quiet stretch between them, filled only with shared smiles and soft laughter. It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't rushed. But in the simplicity of that moment, both of them felt the steady pull of something real.
When the rehearsal ended, they walked back together slowly, lingering on corners, finding excuses to extend the time before parting. At the spot where their paths split, Ethan stopped, offering a small, hesitant smile.
I'll see you tonight at the rehearsal dinner? he asked.
Yes, Nora said, smiling back. And maybe…..somewhere before that too.
He nodded, satisfaction soft in his expression. I'd like that.
As she walked away, Nora felt the familiar warmth settle in her chest. Hope wasn't just a whisper anymore,it was steady, growing, real.
And this time, she was ready to let it.