"You have now been pronounced husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
I looked at Luke, who swallowed nervously. Even through my veil, I could see his slight apprehension, even though he was trying hard not to make it obvious. He took two steps towards me and slowly rolled up the veil, then gently put it over my head.
I saw his fists clench as he leaned forward, bending a little to my height, then moved closer. He watched me a little, and like he had convinced himself, he finally closed the distance and lightly pecked my lips. 
My eyes were wide open all through and he leaned away and moved backwards. That had been the one most intimate thing between us when we got married. That was the closest we ever got to being a normal couple, and the closest we ever got to being as close as us now...or in the past...or however I was supposed to convey this time zone.
So this is how it should have felt like.
I felt his lips slightly brush mine, seeking entrance, like a plea. My eyes closed as a response, and his fingers moved forward, bringing my face closer. His lips slowly conquered mine, then just as slowly opened them up, sending ripples of emotions running in my stomach, in my head and in my heart.
My hand slowly rose on it's own and held on to his hoodie, helping me hold on to him. He brought his other hand up to my waist, and I could feel his lashes fluttering against my cheek.
But I couldn't quite bring myself to focus on anything apart from his lips on mine, reminding me of how delicious falling in love could be.
Kissing him felt ethereal and responding was almost an instinct. The butterflies erupted in my stomach and I moved my hand to his hair too, my body acting on it's own.
This wasn't a kiss fueled by a few uncontrolled teenage hormones. This wasn't a kiss that would become some misdirected erotic scene.
It was a kiss that sought to speak beyond words. A kiss I sought to understand, a kiss that traveled farther than time could take me. But maybe in this short time, that is how the feelings between us has grown. To surpass the fear of being left alone, to surpass the lack of time, to surpass the broken snippets of the past.
He kissed me like I imagined athletes kissed their medals, like I was some delicate dandelion that would fall into nothingness if he was too hard. But he was just perfect, his lips soft and beautiful, moving rhythmically against mine to form the perfect symphony.
If only I had been wiser...I wouldn't have missed feeling him this way. Maybe..just maybe...this wouldn't have been the first.
He slowly broke the kiss, slowly moving his lip away from mine, leaving the tingles of his much awaited presence in his wake.
I slowly opened my eyes, my heart hammering wildly against my chest, my knees weak and may have given way had I not been sitting.
His eyes moved slowly across my face, as if he was slowly examining the piece of art his lips had created, the piece of art he has created. And all I could see in his eyes was a deep adoration. A deep sense of cherishing something.
He said nothing, but he didn't need to. His eyes had said it all, probably better than his words ever could. I went closer to him and wrapped my arms around him, his warmth engulfing my body as I buried my face in the crook of his neck.
His hands came up on my back, holding me close, almost like he always wanted to. It was a little different from the hug back at his house. In this, there was a confession. He didn't need to say it, neither did I.
"You're beautiful," he whispered into my ear as he held me close, and I could almost feel his small smile. 
But he made me like that. He made me beautiful.
 
Luke lay cuddled up in the sheets, with my hand in his hair as he rested his head on my laps, a small, sad smile on his face. I still haven't gotten over the kiss and the magical moment after, but it didn't change that his father's corpse was missing.
"Do you..." he started to say, then let out a small breath. "Think my dad could still be alive? Could he have somehow survived by some string of destiny? Is that why his body is gone?"
I swallowed. I wanted to know too. Was he alive? And if he was, where could he be?
"Your father was a good man, Luke. Good men don't end up in bad places. Alive or not. You can trust that."