Music Recomndation: A Thousand Years by Christina Perri.
.......
The celebration had thinned into the kind of quiet that only ca after long, aningful joy. The garden slled of lilies and champagne.
The guests were scattered. Ronan and a few of Dominic’s n stood by the terrace, laughing quietly. Ruby had fallen asleep in one of the cushioned chairs, her tiny hand still clutching the bouquet Celeste had given her; and Amara was standing at the edge of the dance floor, barefoot, with her heels abandoned beside her.
Celeste was still in her gown. The veil had been removed, her hair loosened slightly, and the faintest hint of fatigue rested on her face. But she was glowing. From peace.
Dominic had just finished slow-dancing with her, whispering sothing only she could hear, before Ronan stole him away with a toast that ended in laughter and clinking glasses. Celeste watched him go with a soft smile, then turned when she felt a gentle tug on her hand.
Amara stood there, eyes glistening. "Dance with ?"
Celeste blinked, a surprised laugh breaking through her lips. "You hate dancing."
"I know," Amara said, smiling through the faint tremor in her voice. "But I almost died, rember? I think I earned a pass."
That was enough. Celeste laughed and let her friend pull her gently onto the floor.
The music shifted into a slow, hauntingly beautiful lody, the kind that didn’t ask for perfection, just honesty. The two of them stood in the middle of the small circle of light, and for a mont, they didn’t move. They just looked at each other.
Celeste’s eyes softened, shimring in the dim glow. "You’re really here."
Amara nodded, her lips trembling into a faint, fragile smile. "I am."
"I thought you—" Celeste’s voice cracked.
Amara reached out, pressing a finger to her lips. "Don’t. Not tonight. No ghosts tonight."
Celeste nodded, but the tears still gathered in her eyes anyway.
Amara took her hand, guided it gently onto her shoulder, and began to move. Her steps were almost clumsy. It made Celeste laugh again.
"You’re terrible at this."
"I warned you," Amara chuckled. "I was made for chaos, not choreography."
Their laughter blended with the music. For a while, it didn’t feel like the world had ever hurt them. It was just two souls who’d been through too much, learning to breathe again.
When the music quieted, Celeste sighed, resting her head briefly against Amara’s shoulder. "You know what’s funny?"
"What?"
"I used to imagine this mont. The wedding, the peace. But I never thought you’d actually be here for it. You were gone for so long, Amara. And I didn’t even get to say goodbye."
Amara’s grip tightened slightly. "I know. But I heard you anyway."
Celeste looked up, confused. "Heard ?"
"Yeah," Amara said, her smile trembling. "When I was fading in and out, I heard you calling my na. Over and over. You wouldn’t stop. I think that’s what brought back. You were always too stubborn to let go."
Celeste’s eyes filled again. "That’s because you’re my person."
Amara laughed softly, brushing her cheek. "And you’re mine."
They swayed in silence for a while. The world around them blurred with laughter fading, lights softening, and ti slowing down.
The breeze caught the edges of Celeste’s gown, making it flutter like the surface of a calm sea. Amara’s dress, a soft erald that hugged her lightly shimred under the lights. The contrast between them was striking.
"You’re glowing," Amara murmured.
Celeste chuckled. "That’s the pregnancy."
"No," Amara whispered. "That’s happiness."
Celeste bit her lip, glancing at her. "I didn’t think I’d find it again."
"I didn’t think I’d live long enough to see you find it," Amara said quietly. Then she exhaled. "But you did. You got everything you deserve, Cel."
The nickna slipped out naturally.
Celeste smiled through her tears. "Not everything. I still need you around."
"You’ve got ," Amara said. "Forever. I’m not leaving again."
Celeste pulled her into a hug then, tight, and almost desperate. The kind of hug that didn’t need words, just shared heartbeat and shared mory.
Around them, the soft chatter resud. Dominic had returned, watching them from across the floor with a small smile that didn’t quite hide the emotion in his eyes. He had seen what losing Amara had done to Celeste.
He whispered sothing to Ronan, who gave a knowing smirk and raised his glass in their direction.
The music picked up again, this ti a faintly nostalgic tune. It was one that Celeste and Amara both recognized from years ago, when life was simpler and their biggest worry was sneaking out of dorm rooms without getting caught.
Amara laughed when she recognized it. "No way. They didn’t."
Celeste grinned, wiping her cheeks. "Dominic probably bribed the musician."
"Then we can’t waste it," Amara said, straightening. "Co on. The old dance."
Celeste gasped. "You rember it?"
"I never forget our chaos routines," Amara said with a smirk. "Even if I forgot to breathe for a while."
Celeste snorted through her tears, and together they began to move — a ridiculous, half-rembered sequence of steps from years ago. A twirl here, a clap there, a mock bow at the wrong ti. They stumbled. They laughed. They looked like children again while dancing to the rhythm of ’shut up and dance’.
Dominic stood by the terrace railing, watching. His smile widened when Celeste burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"That’s the sound I fell in love with," he murmured to himself, referring to her laughter.
Ronan chuckled beside him. "She’s got her back, Dom. Both of them, finally breathing again."
Dominic nodded slowly. "Yeah. Finally."
On the dance floor, Amara was wiping her tears, breathless from laughter. "I can’t believe we used to think we were so cool doing this!"
"We were terrible!" Celeste laughed.
"Still are," Amara added.
They clung to each other again, swaying slowly as the music softened one last ti. Amara’s voice dropped low. "I saw Elias."
Celeste blinked, startled. "What?"
"In my dreams," Amara whispered. "I don’t know what it ans, but he smiled. He didn’t say anything. Just smiled. I think... I think he’s okay with how everything ended."
Celeste nodded slowly, her heart tightening. "I never thought I’d one day hear myself say this, but he loved you, Amara."
"I know," Amara said softly. "And because of that, I got to see this. You. Happy. Safe. Loved."
Celeste closed her eyes, let the tears fall freely. "I know you wish he was here."
"Maybe he is," Amara murmured. "Just... in another corner of the room."
They both turned slightly, looking toward the open garden. The candles flickered. The air shifted with just gentleness, almost like a breath of peace.
Celeste smiled faintly. "Then I hope he’s dancing too."
Amara looked at her, eyes glassy, and whispered, "He is."
The music faded completely. The applause ca, soft, and warm.
Dominic crossed the floor, his steps slow, deliberate. When he reached them, he placed a kiss on Celeste’s forehead and another on Amara’s temple.
"Thank you," he said quietly to Amara.
"For what?"
"For bringing her back to life," Dominic said simply.
Amara smiled, tears spilling down her cheeks again. "You did that, Dominic. I just helped her rember."
He smiled faintly.
She laughed, shaking her head, and turned back to Celeste. "Go, Mrs. Cross. Your husband looks like he’s one slow song away from losing his patience."
Celeste chuckled and hugged her again. "I love you, Amara."
"I love you more," Amara whispered.
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