The wedding hall was bathed in a soft, golden glow, the lights dimmed just enough to give the place a warm, intimate vibe. Chandeliers hung overhead, their crystals catching the light and tossing it around in little sparkles. Guests with wine glasses in hand, their chatter mixing with the faint jazz playing in the background.
I stood in the center of the hall, hands stuffed in my pockets, trying to look casual as my eyes flicked to the stage. Aeri was climbing the steps, her heels clicking softly on the polished wood. She reached the corner of the stage, where a waitress handed her a microphone with a quick, nervous smile.
Up on the stage, Daniel, the groom, stood tall and proud in the center, his black suit catching the shimmering light from a spotlight above. His eyes kept darting to the back of the hall, anticipation written all over his face just to see Sara.
Aeri tapped the mic lightly, the sound cutting through the hum of the crowd.
"Hello, guys," she said, her voice bright and a little nervous. She let out a small laugh, her eyes scanning the sea of faces. "Wow, okay, that’s a lot of you staring at me." The crowd chuckled, and she grinned, loosening up. "So, yeah, I’m up here to introduce someone really special. Someone I’ve known since we were kids, running around causing all kinds of trouble."
She paused, her smile softening as she leaned into the mic. "This is someone I shared a classroom with, sat on the same creaky old bench, passing notes when the teacher wasn’t looking. We’d sneak out to the corner store, buy cheap candy, and do the dumbest things you can imagine—like trying to skateboard down that hill by the park and ending up with scraped knees and grass stains." A few people in the crowd laughed, and Aeri’s eyes sparkled with the memories. "She’s been my partner-in-crime, my confidant, my best friend. Honestly, if she wasn’t in my life, I’d have been bored out of my mind."
The room filled with warm laughter, and Aeri’s gaze softened even more, her voice dropping to something heartfelt. "I’m so grateful to have had her by my side all these years. She’s the kind of friend who makes everything better, who makes you laugh when you’re about to cry, who knows you better than you know yourself sometimes." She smirked, glancing at Daniel. "If I’d been born a boy, Daniel, I’m sorry, but I’d probably have married her myself."
The crowd erupted in laughter, a few people whistling and clapping. Daniel grinned, shaking his head good-naturedly, his hands clasped in front of him.
"No offense taken, Aeri!" he called out, his voice carrying over the noise, which only made everyone laugh harder.
Aeri waved a hand at him, her smile playful. "You’re a good person, Daniel. Don’t worry, I’m not stealing her tonight." She turned back to the crowd, her expression shifting to something brighter, more excited.
"Alright, everyone, get ready. Put those wine glasses down for a second and give it up for my best friend, my one and only, the bride of the night—SARA!"
She threw her arms out, pointing to the back of the hall, and the room exploded with applause. The guests turned as one, their cheers and screams filling the air with electric energy. The path to the stage lit up, soft white lights glowing along the aisle, and a gentle fog rolled in, curling around the floor like something out of a dream.
Sara stepped forward, her white dress catching the light, shimmering with every step. Her face was radiant, her smile wide and bright as she locked eyes with Aeri from across the room. The history between them was clear.
Sara’s gaze flickered to Daniel for a moment, her smile growing even wider, and the crowd’s cheers grew louder, carrying her toward the stage like a wave.
I stood there, hands still in my pockets, watching it all unfold. Aeri’s eyes were shining, her hands gripping the mic a little tighter as she watched her best friend approach and clapping along with everyone else.
"Way to go, Sara!" a group of her friends shouted from the side, their voices loud and playful. They raised their glasses, whooping and clapping, their energy infectious.
"Hey, Sara, don’t bully Daniel into anything crazy!" one guy called out from near the bar, his grin wide.
The hall erupted in laughter.
Sara tilted her head slightly, her eyes catching mine for a brief moment as she walked. But then her focus shifted back to the stage, her smile growing as she neared Daniel.
The music faded completely now, leaving only the sound of applause and excited murmurs. Daniel stepped forward, and offered Sara his hand. She took it, her fingers delicate but steady, and he helped her up the steps onto the stage.
As Sara reached the top, the crowd let out a collective
"Ohhhhhhh!" their voices teasing and warm as Daniel and Sara locked eyes. His grin was soft, his gaze full of love, and Sara’s smile matched his, her eyes sparkling under the lights. They stood there for a moment, just looking at each other, the world shrinking to just the two of them.
Then Sara turned to Aeri, and the mood shifted.
Aeri’s smile trembled, her eyes glistening like she was fighting back tears. She clutched the mic tightly, her knuckles pale, and took a shaky breath. Sara’s face crumpled almost instantly, her own tears spilling over as she let out a soft sob.
Without a second thought, she rushed across the stage, her heels clicking, and threw her arms around Aeri in a tight hug. Aeri wrapped her arms around Sara just as fiercely, the two of them clinging to each other like they were afraid to let go.
"Aeri..." Sara said, her voice breaking as she buried her face in Aeri’s shoulder, crying softly.
"Shhh, don’t cry, don’t cry, Sara," Aeri said, her voice gentle but thick with emotion.
She rubbed Sara’s back in slow, comforting circles, her hands steady even as her own tears threatened to fall. "You’re gonna mess up your makeup, and we can’t have that. You’re the prettiest here."
Sara let out a loud, childlike sob, her shoulders shaking. "Aeri..." she said again, her voice muffled against Aeri’s dress.
"I know, I know," Aeri said, laughing softly through her tears.
She pulled back just enough to look at Sara, cupping her face with one hand. "I’m right here for you, always. Don’t you worry about a thing, okay?"
The crowd let out a soft "aww," a few people dabbing at their own eyes.
I stood there in the middle of the hall, hands still in my pockets, rubbing the back of my head with a small sigh. What a scene. Two best friends crying their hearts out for each other, pouring years of love and memories into one moment. I couldn’t help but smile even though I have been through a lot of mess with Sara.