Ashley walked down the aisle with a steadier step. Bill met her gaze this time, unflinching. Rowena watched from her seat, hands folded, eyes wet but calm. The vows were spoken differently than Ashley had imagined—more deliberate. Love, she realized, wasn’t just joy, but choosing truth even when it arrived late and uninvited.
As they were pronounced married, Ashley felt something more than a rush of triumph. She felt grounded. The past had finally been acknowledged, and the future would be shaped by that honesty, whether it was easy or not. Ashley glanced once at Rowena, who met her eyes and gave a small nod of understanding.