Ari's Song Pt. 10
Take me back to the time when we walked down the aisle
Our whole town came and our mamas cried
You said I do and I did too
As soon as Ellie Robbins and Maria Torres found out about their daughter’s engagement, the news spread faster than a California wildfire. Before either girl could really absorb the idea of being engaged, their mothers had already planned over half of their wedding. Both girls knew how much the wedding meant to their parents, their mothers in particular, so neither really had much of a problem with their mother’s taking control. After all, it gave them more time spend with each other just enjoying the feeling of being together. They were however, adamant about a few specific details regarding the wedding. They both wanted to write their own vows and they wanted their reception to be held in the Robbins’ back yard, as it was a place that held so many memories for the girls.
Initially, the girls had agreed to a long engagement, wanting to wait until they had made some head way in medical school and had had time to plan. However, with the excitement from their mothers and their willingness to help plan the entire wedding, that coupled with the realization that once medical school began, they would have hardly any time to get married, let alone plan the wedding, the girls decided to marry at the end of the summer before returning to California for school. To the girls, the date of the wedding was just a number; all they wanted was to be able to call the other their wife.
So that’s how Arizona ended up where she was now, alone in her bedroom and having not seen Calliope in nearly 48 hours. Both sets of parents, again mainly the mothers, had thought the girls should go the traditional route and not see each other the night before the wedding. However, instead of just the night before, their mothers thought it would be nice to have some quality mother-daughter bonding time right before the wedding and had only permitted the girls to call each other over the last two days instead of seeing each other. Their reasoning had been that the couple had spent nearly every day together for the past 14 years and would get to spend every day together for the rest of their lives, so two days wouldn’t kill them. ‘That’s what you think,’ both girls thought to themselves upon hearing the news.
However, it was finally their wedding day and Arizona would be seeing her beautiful bride in less than an hour. As Arizona stood in front of the full length mirror admiring her beautiful wedding dress and imagining the breathtaking view of Calliope in something similar, she couldn’t help but feel sad at the thought of those who got cold feet before their weddings. All Arizona could feel was excitement and anticipation at seeing her love standing at alter with her, and the feeling of complete and utter contentment and belonging she was sure would overcome her at finally being announced as Calliope’s wife. So when her father stepped into the room to announce it was time to head to the church, it was all Arizona could do not to run to the awaiting limo.
When the limo finally arrived at the church, tears sprang to Arizona’s eyes at the sight before her. The church was beautiful and the entry way was lined with soft pink and white roses, but what affected Arizona the most was the massive amounts of people waiting inside to witness the girls’ declaration of love for one another. Arizona knew her parents, as well as Calliope’s, were well respected in the community. And she knew that both her and Calliope had made many friends and acquaintances over the years, but the amount of people in the church before her was infinite it seemed. It was as if the whole town had come; and it filled Arizona’s heart with joy and pride that so many people cared for her and Calliope.
It was 2 o’clock and the wedding was ready to begin. The girls had decided that they both wanted to walk down the aisle, but Callie had insisted on going first because she wanted to watch Arizona as she walked down the aisle to meet her. Arizona happily agreed because she didn’t think she would be able to wait for Calliope anyways, without running to meet her half way at least.
So with Calliope waiting for her at the alter Arizona began her march down the aisle with her father dutifully at her side, keeping her from sprinting to Calliope. With her eyes locked on Calliope’s tears brimmed in Arizona’s eyes, while her full dimpled smile was on display. Glancing away briefly Arizona smiled brightly at her mother, who was already sobbing. And as she shared a brief smile with Callie’s mother, she couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her at seeing Mrs. Torres sobbing as well. Once her eyes returned to their favorite sight, Arizona never looked away again as she continued her walk into Calliope’s awaiting hand.
Overcome with emotion, Arizona barely registered what was being said until Callie cleared her throat and began to recite her vows, “Arizona Robbins, the day you moved into town was the day my life changed forever, so much so that I don’t remember a life before you. Before becoming my partner, you were my best friend. We laughed together, played together, and cried together as children. And as we grow old I hope we can continue to laugh together, play together, and cry together as wives. I promise to not only be your best friend, but also your partner in every sense of the word. I promise to love you everyday for the rest of our lives and to honor you and this commitment for eternity. “
By the end of Callie’s vows both girls had tears in their eyes and all Arizona wanted to do was kiss her bride. Just as she was about to, she was brought back by the minister instructing her to begin her vows. With a shaky breath she began, “My sweet Calliope, I remember the day I got permission to call by your full name. You said only your family was allowed to call you Calliope, but that I was special and that you liked when I called you Calliope. I don’t think you realized then what those words meant to me, but the day you told me I was special was the day I fell in love you. At the time my love for you was one of admiration and friendship, but over time that love grew into a passionate and intense love that not only held admiration, but also pride and joy for the things you accomplished and the side of you that only I was allowed to see. Loving you has been like breathing to me. And even when I stop breathing, I will still be loving you. That I promise to you from now until forever.”
The tears in each girl’s eyes were now freely falling and the sobs from their mothers could be heard over the sniffling coming from the rest of the church. The two girls gently exchanged their rings with soft whispers of ‘I do’, the smiles on their faces radiating more and more each second they were closer to being wives. And before the minister could even finish, ‘You may now kiss…’ Arizona had catapulted herself into Callie’s arms, kissing her wife with all the love and emotions she had in her.
As the two women stood in front of the church sweetly kissing, neither heard the erupting of applause from the guests. The only thing that existed in the entire world just then was each other, wife and wife.
Our whole town came and our mamas cried
You said I do and I did too
As soon as Ellie Robbins and Maria Torres found out about their daughter’s engagement, the news spread faster than a California wildfire. Before either girl could really absorb the idea of being engaged, their mothers had already planned over half of their wedding. Both girls knew how much the wedding meant to their parents, their mothers in particular, so neither really had much of a problem with their mother’s taking control. After all, it gave them more time spend with each other just enjoying the feeling of being together. They were however, adamant about a few specific details regarding the wedding. They both wanted to write their own vows and they wanted their reception to be held in the Robbins’ back yard, as it was a place that held so many memories for the girls.
Initially, the girls had agreed to a long engagement, wanting to wait until they had made some head way in medical school and had had time to plan. However, with the excitement from their mothers and their willingness to help plan the entire wedding, that coupled with the realization that once medical school began, they would have hardly any time to get married, let alone plan the wedding, the girls decided to marry at the end of the summer before returning to California for school. To the girls, the date of the wedding was just a number; all they wanted was to be able to call the other their wife.
So that’s how Arizona ended up where she was now, alone in her bedroom and having not seen Calliope in nearly 48 hours. Both sets of parents, again mainly the mothers, had thought the girls should go the traditional route and not see each other the night before the wedding. However, instead of just the night before, their mothers thought it would be nice to have some quality mother-daughter bonding time right before the wedding and had only permitted the girls to call each other over the last two days instead of seeing each other. Their reasoning had been that the couple had spent nearly every day together for the past 14 years and would get to spend every day together for the rest of their lives, so two days wouldn’t kill them. ‘That’s what you think,’ both girls thought to themselves upon hearing the news.
However, it was finally their wedding day and Arizona would be seeing her beautiful bride in less than an hour. As Arizona stood in front of the full length mirror admiring her beautiful wedding dress and imagining the breathtaking view of Calliope in something similar, she couldn’t help but feel sad at the thought of those who got cold feet before their weddings. All Arizona could feel was excitement and anticipation at seeing her love standing at alter with her, and the feeling of complete and utter contentment and belonging she was sure would overcome her at finally being announced as Calliope’s wife. So when her father stepped into the room to announce it was time to head to the church, it was all Arizona could do not to run to the awaiting limo.
When the limo finally arrived at the church, tears sprang to Arizona’s eyes at the sight before her. The church was beautiful and the entry way was lined with soft pink and white roses, but what affected Arizona the most was the massive amounts of people waiting inside to witness the girls’ declaration of love for one another. Arizona knew her parents, as well as Calliope’s, were well respected in the community. And she knew that both her and Calliope had made many friends and acquaintances over the years, but the amount of people in the church before her was infinite it seemed. It was as if the whole town had come; and it filled Arizona’s heart with joy and pride that so many people cared for her and Calliope.
It was 2 o’clock and the wedding was ready to begin. The girls had decided that they both wanted to walk down the aisle, but Callie had insisted on going first because she wanted to watch Arizona as she walked down the aisle to meet her. Arizona happily agreed because she didn’t think she would be able to wait for Calliope anyways, without running to meet her half way at least.
So with Calliope waiting for her at the alter Arizona began her march down the aisle with her father dutifully at her side, keeping her from sprinting to Calliope. With her eyes locked on Calliope’s tears brimmed in Arizona’s eyes, while her full dimpled smile was on display. Glancing away briefly Arizona smiled brightly at her mother, who was already sobbing. And as she shared a brief smile with Callie’s mother, she couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her at seeing Mrs. Torres sobbing as well. Once her eyes returned to their favorite sight, Arizona never looked away again as she continued her walk into Calliope’s awaiting hand.
Overcome with emotion, Arizona barely registered what was being said until Callie cleared her throat and began to recite her vows, “Arizona Robbins, the day you moved into town was the day my life changed forever, so much so that I don’t remember a life before you. Before becoming my partner, you were my best friend. We laughed together, played together, and cried together as children. And as we grow old I hope we can continue to laugh together, play together, and cry together as wives. I promise to not only be your best friend, but also your partner in every sense of the word. I promise to love you everyday for the rest of our lives and to honor you and this commitment for eternity. “
By the end of Callie’s vows both girls had tears in their eyes and all Arizona wanted to do was kiss her bride. Just as she was about to, she was brought back by the minister instructing her to begin her vows. With a shaky breath she began, “My sweet Calliope, I remember the day I got permission to call by your full name. You said only your family was allowed to call you Calliope, but that I was special and that you liked when I called you Calliope. I don’t think you realized then what those words meant to me, but the day you told me I was special was the day I fell in love you. At the time my love for you was one of admiration and friendship, but over time that love grew into a passionate and intense love that not only held admiration, but also pride and joy for the things you accomplished and the side of you that only I was allowed to see. Loving you has been like breathing to me. And even when I stop breathing, I will still be loving you. That I promise to you from now until forever.”
The tears in each girl’s eyes were now freely falling and the sobs from their mothers could be heard over the sniffling coming from the rest of the church. The two girls gently exchanged their rings with soft whispers of ‘I do’, the smiles on their faces radiating more and more each second they were closer to being wives. And before the minister could even finish, ‘You may now kiss…’ Arizona had catapulted herself into Callie’s arms, kissing her wife with all the love and emotions she had in her.
As the two women stood in front of the church sweetly kissing, neither heard the erupting of applause from the guests. The only thing that existed in the entire world just then was each other, wife and wife.