Page 132 of Please, Forgive Me

Moments when you realize you’ve found the person who makes everything worth it, who gives meaning to every battle, every victory.

Maria Gabriela moved down the aisle, her bare feet brushing softly against the grass beneath the open sky, sunlight filtering through the trees above.

She was radiant, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Every step she took sent a new wave of emotion crashing through me—emotions I never thought I could feel so intensely.

I felt vulnerable, exposed, yet more complete than I’d ever been.

As she came closer, my mind wandered through every memory we’d built together—the teasing in the office, the heated arguments, the quiet reconciliations, the birth of our daughter, Clara…

Each shared moment only reinforced how essential Maria Gabriela had become to my life. She’d made me a better man, a better father, and now I had the honor of calling her my wife.

The field around us was lined with white flowers, and soft music played in the background, wrapping the moment in a kind of magic.

My gaze stayed locked on hers—eyes shimmering with joy, love, and maybe a hint of nervousness.

But there was no hesitation, no doubt. We both knew this was the path we’d chosen together—a path that had been written in our hearts from the start.

The officiant began to speak, his voice calm and steady, guiding the ceremony with words that were timeless and full of meaning. But for me, the only sound that truly mattered was the pounding of my own heart—a quickened rhythm that seemed to beat in sync with hers.

“Diego Bittencourt, do you take Maria Gabriela to be your lawfully wedded wife—to love her, to honor her, to care for her, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in want, for as long as you both shall live?”

My eyes found hers again, and in them, I saw the same fierce determination I’d always admired in her. She was strong, brave, and yet carried that gentle warmth that had captivated me from the very beginning.

“I do,” I said, my voice steady but full of emotion.

“Maria Gabriela, do you take Diego Bittencourt to be your lawfully wedded husband—to love him, to honor him, to care for him, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in want, for as long as you both shall live?”

She smiled at me—that smile that had always undone me—and answered with that same conviction:

“I do.”

And with those simple words, we became husband and wife.

The officiant pronounced us married, and with a smile I couldn’t contain, I leaned in and kissed her.

The kiss was full of promises—promises of a shared future, of growing together, learning together, loving each other no matter what came our way.

When we finally pulled apart, her hands still in mine, I looked around at the joyful faces of our friends and family. This was the beginning of a new life—a life I couldn’t wait to live, side by side with Maria Gabriela and our family.

“Congrats, Narcissus.”

“Thanks, brother,” I said, feeling a flicker of satisfaction at the nickname Alexandre always used to needle me with.

This time, though, there was something different in his voice—something rare and unmistakable. Admiration.

He gave me a hard pat on the back, that perfect mix of force and affection only he knew how to pull off. Our eyes met, and for a second I caught something there that surprised me: pride. My brother, the eternal skeptic, was proud of me.

“I knew you’d find the right woman someday,” he went on, a sincere smile tugging at his lips.

Alexandre had always been the more guarded one, but I knew his past still haunted him in ways he rarely let slip.

“One day it’ll be you,” I said, trying to keep it light even though I knew how heavy those words were. “What’s behind you is behind you. You deserve to be happy just as much as I do.”

He looked away for a moment, thoughtful. When he turned back, there was a quiet determination in his eyes… mixed with doubt. Something was turning over in his mind, something he wasn’t ready to say out loud.

“Maybe someday,” he murmured, leaving the thought hanging between us, making me even more curious.

Before I could push him further, I felt a presence beside me. I turned to see Maria Gabriela approaching, her white dress catching the light and making her look almost ethereal. It was still hard to believe this incredible woman was now my wife.