And so it was

17 June 2023

We wake up earlier than usual and put on our pre-planned outfits.

In the car we go and off we go.

It is frankly, just like any other day. 

I look over at you behind the wheel. Music plays, the kind that only you and I appreciate.

The weather is fine, our families get in touch, they’re running early and we are on time (for once).

We reach our destination and everyone looks happy (for once). Maybe I had just imagined they weren’t happy before, or maybe they were just shit at expressing it.

The beautiful couples around us remind me we aren’t alone. Each day that we live, others live too.

There is one other couple like us, diverse, interracial, and quite frankly to my eyes, blooming.

The lady wears a slinky white satin dress, she’s pretty fit; and the male looks pretty formidable, if I’m being honest.

Then again so are we ;)

In 2 hours we sign papers (I did not read any terms and conditions for once).

I wasn’t afraid. All my fear had been processed in the excruciating 2 years leading up to this day.

The fear of forever, the fear of disapproval, the fear of choosing me over the (conventional) masses, the fear of making history by inviting diversity perpetually into my bloodline for generations to come.

We leave for lunch at a western brunch-type cafe (which is just the place for me, I must add), though getting a booking at this place of choice took weeks of annoying planning. 

Everyone eats, laughs, listens and is there to support us.

It feels unusual to be loved and supported (as usual), but that is how it is.

We take a million pictures, my Gen-Z brother directs the shots, we get the shots, then we disperse.

We come home and you head straight to bed. Clearly I am a pre-processor and you are a post-processor.

I lounge around at home in my beautiful white dress (which actually wasn’t my first choice of dress, but was ultimately the dress I picked after succumbing to the inevitability of imperfection). Weirdly, I refuse to change out of it as I process feelings of joy, satisfaction and pride.

After reluctantly dragging myself into the shower, and then out of it, we hold hands and go for donuts and bubble tea.

The day is ordinary and everything I had wanted it to be.

I love you, madly, and 7 years in, we find ourselves here.

And so that was that, and this is us.

A single day with a million emotions, but a humongous leap of faith is what it took to get myself here.

A triumph I had hoped; and so it was.