Yuna took a deep, calming breath as she stood just out of sight at the edge of the garden, about to make her bridal entrance. In just moments, she would walk down the flower-strewn aisle to Nick and their future surrounded by cherished family and friends.
Clutching her bouquet, Yuna focused on the joy of this long-awaited day rather than lingering hurt from her mother's dramatic scene earlier. Today was a celebration of the unconditional love that had carried her to where she stood right now.
As the string quartet began playing the timeless wedding processional, Yuna kept her eyes on Nick's smiling face awaiting her arrival as she slowly made her way past rows of adoring guests. In his familiar eyes, she found her anchor.
Taking her place by Nick's side, Yuna no longer felt any trace of anxiety in her bridegroom's comforting presence. All her senses were filled only with happiness and wonder at the dream taking shape before her.
The minister guiding their ceremony spoke eloquently about love being the most powerful healing force in life - one that creates hope after heartbreak and light where there was once only darkness. Yuna saw Nick's eyes shimmering with emotion as he gave her hand a gentle, knowing squeeze.
When the time came to share their vows, joyful tears streamed steadily down Yuna's cheeks as she promised Nick her eternal love, partnership and gratitude for how his unconditional care had saved and guided her. Nick tenderly wiped each tear away after exchanging his own words of devotion.
Cheers sounded as they sealed their union with a passionate kiss. In Nick's loving embrace, Yuna felt all lingering hurt and fear from the past wash away. This was a brand new beginning built on the unbreakable foundations of their history.
Later during the reception, Yuna and Nick laughed and danced together blissfully under strings of lights. Seeing their loved ones surrounding them filled Yuna's heart to bursting. After years of feeling so alone, she was overwhelmed by this outpouring of support and belonging.
As the sun set in vivid hues, their first dance as husband and wife carried Yuna back through all the memories that had led to this miraculous moment together - playing as carefree children, sharing secret dreams under the stars as teenagers, crying and comforting through hard times.
Gazing into Nick's tender eyes, Yuna understood their winding path through both joy and pain had shaped them into exactly who they must be to face this new chapter side-by-side. She could not imagine life without him. They were two fragmented souls fashioned over time into a perfect whole.
The cutting of the cake turned into playful laughter and kisses as they smooshed icing on each other's noses like the mischievous kids they had once been together. Every moment of this long-awaited celebration felt infused with nostalgia and wonder at the same time.
As the magical night drew to a close, Yuna and Nick bid farewell to the last guests with hugs and gratitude. Though exhausted, neither could bear for this dreamlike bubble of happiness to end just yet after so long in the making.
Under the luminous moonlight, they ventured hand-in-hand down to the shore overlooked by the venue. There they stood wrapped in each other's arms gazing out at the gentle lapping waves - husband and wife at long last. The future awaited bright and full of hope just on the horizons before them.
In that perfect peaceful moment, Yuna knew that no matter what joys, trials or adventures lay ahead, they would face it all side-by-side. She nestled even closer to Nick, whispering a fervent "thank you" in her heart to the forces of fate that had entwined their paths through a complicated past to arrive at such bliss.