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Christos and Zoe’s Wedding Day

NORTH CAROLINA

She’s coming for me.

Beautiful, smiling.

Mine.

We’ve gone through a lifetime to get here, but from today onwards, only death can part us. Maybe not even death.

Zoe has blossomed. At the same time, her appearance remains caught between girl and woman.

She’s been laughing and joking a lot lately, and I believe Macy’s recovery was a big factor in that equation.

Oh, and our boys, of course. She loves being pregnant and is happy to see her belly grow.

She’s also more confident. She’s bold enough to occasionally displease one person or another.

My mom, my mother-in-law, Zoe, and Bia planned the entire wedding, using Yuri as a last resort. I suspect he thanked his lucky stars because when the four of them started talking at the same time, only a translator could understand.

When I asked why she didn’t hire a professional wedding planner, she replied that this would be her one and only wedding, so she wanted to do everything she had always dreamed of.

A few days ago, we made the farm in North Carolina our permanent home. The move was discussed with the entire family, and when my parents said they would move to Chapel Hill to be closer to us, she cried.

However, I knew her happiness would never be complete without Scott and Macy around. So, after talking to my in-laws, I bought them a house next door to my parents. Thus, the four will be able to participate in their grandchildren’s lives—not only the twins to come but also many others, as we plan to contribute generously to the planet’s population.

Zoe walks arm in arm with her father, and Scott looks very proud of his little girl. He whispers something to her, and she smiles.

God, the woman is so beautiful. I am completely in love with her, with everything about her.

We have our disagreements like any couple—usually because of my overprotectiveness and the fear of something happening to her—but the fights don’t last. Zoe has the power to calm my reactive nature.

She’s still in therapy, and her anxiety disorder has subsided, although sometimes it rears its head. The other day, she woke up in the middle of the night and asked me what would become of the babies if we died.

I know it’s her mind playing tricks. It’s not something you can avoid. I have read about it. Anxiety disorder is not drama , as most people think; it’s a real diagnosis.

I even took an online course to learn how to help her deal with it. I learned that an anxiety attack can be triggered by anything. We’ve talked about it and tried to create strategies to avoid them, but it’s not always possible.

Anyway, there are almost no sad moments now, and every day spent with her is a novelty.

Zoe’s kindness is a match for her beauty.

She finally stands in front of me, and Scott hugs her before pinching her cheek. Dad comes down from the pulpit, breaking protocol, to kiss her on the forehead.

I think my wife needed it—the feeling of being welcomed into a family that loves her. Together with Macy and Scott, we form a whole package, and our kids are coming to add to it.

We opted for a small ceremony with only fifty guests—mostly family members like Odin.

Beau apologized, saying weddings aren’t his scene. I didn’t take it the wrong way. He’s already proved that he is my loyal friend. Everyone deals with what they can.

I was persuaded by my assistant to grant entry to a few handpicked journalists and photographers. Although I wasn’t too happy about it, Yuri argued that if we didn’t allow them to come, the press would speculate and turn the beginning of our marriage into hell, trying to find news.

After Macy and Mom hug her too, I finally come face-to-face with the woman of my life.

I kiss her, satiating some of the eternal hunger for her, rather than just accepting her hand to make our way down the aisle. I ignore what the celebrator of our faith, the orthodox church, says. For me, the ceremony is just a protocol for society, like the sheet of paper we will sign.

Zoe is mine, and I am hers.

There is nothing and no one that can change that fact.

Her small hand squeezes mine, holding me tight, and I can feel how excited she is.

She turns to face me, and I know it’s time for the vows. She smiles and kisses my hand before speaking.

“I was very anxious...” She pauses. “No, I still am very anxious, but I stayed that way a little longer because, in addition to never having spoken before an audience”—she turns to the guests, smiling—“I wanted everything to be perfect. At the same time, I didn’t want something rehearsed, because my story with my love has never followed a script.”

Shaking her head, she points to her face, which is red. I know how hard it must be to be the center of attention.

“I love you,” I say .

“Me too.” She gives me a light kiss. “When I met my Greek, the one you call Christos Lykaios, I knew from the start that he was my Prince Charming. A reluctant one, aloof, but my heart already knew before we both realized that he would be mine forever . Unlike fairy tales, the prince and the princess parted ways for a while. She was lost and scared, but the prince was not a man to give up easily. He found me once, and then he found me again. He loved and protected me. Thank you for joining us on this very special day. In a little while, you’ll witness the true beginning of our history and say: and they lived happily ever after. ”

Zoe throws herself into my arms for a long kiss.

When we finally pull away from each other, I prepare to declare my devotion to her in public.

“I planned to recite a poem, but I’ve just decided on something more real that doesn’t echo what perhaps thousands of couples have repeated all over the world. There are no words to express what you are to me, Zoe. You are my wife, lover, mother of my children, my home, and my soul. You are my only, the first, the eternal. My love.”