Finding Forever (15 page)

Everything was going just like she’d dreamed. Her prince charming was about to make her the happiest woman on earth. Nothing compared to the way he made her feel inside. Without him she didn’t know where she’d be. He lifted her heart and spirits with just one smile. With him she felt like she could reach the highest mountaintop.

Angels sang in her ear every time she said his name. There wasn’t any doubt in her mind that their love wouldn’t stand the test of time. And, yes, in the past she’d dated other men, but Whitney had never felt a love like the one she and Koran shared.

After putting the finishing touches on her makeup, Whitney sat back and took a good look at herself in the mirror. The reflection gazing back at her was stunning. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Koran’s face when he laid eyes on her.

“You ready, sweetheart?” her mother asked, peeking her head inside the door.

“I was born ready,” Whitney replied, standing up.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the wedding site in a stretch limousine. Nervous jitters filled the bottom of Whitney’s stomach as the driver opened the door. The baby was kicking. Whitney took a calming breath and realized that she had nothing to worry about. This was her destiny. The elevator ride to the rooftop of the building was short.

Once the wedding planner gave the cue, her parents began their walk down the aisle. When Whitney heard Chrisette Michelle’s soulful voice singing, she knew it was her time to go. This was the moment she’d been waiting for. Her eyes immediately filled with tears when she and Koran’s eyes connected. Every fantasy she had ever wished for had come true.

A huge white gazebo, draped with white sheer curtains that were held open by iceberg garden roses and greenery, overlooked the city’s skyline. Twinkling lights surrounded the gazebo and bordered the rooftop. Two medium-size Grecian columns filled with white roses, nerine lilies and gardenia foliage sat on both sides of the rose petal covered aisle leading to her king.

Koran was the very definition of what a man was. Not only was he caring and hardworking, but he was fine as hell. The suit he wore fit his measurements to a tee. It was black, but the button-up shirt he wore underneath it was white. The satin tie he wore around his neck was white, as well. The smooth, spinning waves in his hair were dizzying. Whitney swore she could smell his Yves Saint Laurent Cologne at the other end of the aisle where she stood.

A bright smile lit up his face. Words couldn’t describe how undeniably beautiful Whitney was. Some of her hair had grown back, so she rocked a sleek, short cut. Her makeup was exquisite—grey, smoky eye shadow, pink blush and almost nude, pink lip-gloss. Diamond chandelier earrings swung from her ears, enhancing her features. The dress she wore highlighted her baby bump. She had chosen a white, strapless, empire-waist gown that swept the floor, with a trail of rosettes stretching from her right breast to the back of the dress.

Only four people were in attendance so Koran and Whitney opted not to have any groomsmen or bridesmaids. Whitney gave a warm smile to her parents, Sheek and Malik, as she made her way down the aisle. The sun had just begun to set. An orange and gold hue painted the sky. After handing her mother her bouquet, Whitney and Koran stood face-to-face, holding hands.

“We are in this holy and sacred hour to witness the uniting of these two devoted hearts. This most blessed and lasting human relationship was first celebrated with quiet vows in a time of man’s sins. God saw that it was not good for man to live alone, so he created a woman and gave her onto him for his companion, his wife. Who then in the name of the Heavenly Father gives this woman to marry?” Reverend Joseph asked.

“I do,” Whitney’s father spoke up.

“Marriage can be a lifelong unfolding of love and kindness, backed by the will to make it last. Koran, you are now entering into a relationship that may be met with plenty privileges, but also many obligations. This woman you love is about to become your wife. Your joy will be her joy. Your sorrow will be her sorrow. Your people will be her people and your God, her God.”

After a brief pause Reverend Joseph turned to Whitney.

“Whitney, you too, are entering into a relationship with many privileges, but also many obligations. The man you love is about to become your husband. Your love will be his inspiration and your prayers his tower of strength.”

Reverend Joseph faced Koran and said, “Do you, Koran, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and respect her, honor and cherish her, through health and sickness, prosperity and adversity, so long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” Koran answered with tears in his eyes.

“Do you, Whitney, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and respect him, honor and cherish him, through health and sickness, prosperity and adversity, so long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” she sobbed, barely able to speak.

“May these rings be blessed as a symbol of this affectionate union. May you find in one another the love for which all men and women yearn. May you grow in understanding and compassion. May the home you establish together be such a place of sanctuary that all who are here today and others find that these two are true friends. Koran, you may now recite the vows you have written for Whitney.”

“Whitney, from the first day I laid eyes on you I loved you. I knew you would one day become my wife. Your beauty is what attracted me to you in the beginning, but I see now that your beauty is more than skin deep. You’ve come back into my life and changed it for the better. Everything I do now makes sense. You’ve given me permission to be who I am and as a result of that, I’m willing to share all I have and am with you. I don’t know how I ever got by without you. Every night I thank God that I found you. I love you, ma.”

“Whitney.” Minister Joseph nodded his head toward her to let her know it was her turn to speak.

“It’s not so easy loving me. It gets so complicated, all the things you got to be. Everything’s changing, but you’re the truth. Nothing or no one can replace the love I have for you. Right by your side is where I belong. You’re all I know. I don’t feel safe in this world without you. I pray that we’re never apart. My dreams have come true, because of you. You’re the reason I believe in love. There is no low or high of my heart you haven’t seen. And don’t ask me why I love you, because it’s obvious. Your tenderness has made me a better woman. I love you from now until the end of time.”

“Koran, when you place this ring on Whitney’s hand, please repeat after me.”

Koran gently took Whitney’s left hand.

“With this ring . . .”

“With this ring,” Koran followed.

“I thee wed.”

“I thee wed,” he spoke, sliding a three-carat canary yellow diamond ring onto her finger. “With my worldly goods, I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, for better or for worse, till death do us part.”

“Whitney, when you place this ring on Koran’s hand, please repeat after me.”

“With this ring . . .

“With this ring,” she said as her bottom lip trembled.

“I thee wed.”

“I thee wed. With my worldly goods, I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, for better or for worse, till death do us part.”

Heavy tears dripped down her face and onto her chin.

“Koran and Whitney, your families are here to bless your marriage. Your family and friends have all been a part of your individual lives and have shared with you your hopes and your dreams . . . your triumphs . . . your sorrows . . . your suffering. Now that you have pledged your love for each other and have sealed your pledge with marriage, I do by the power vested in me pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”

This was the moment Koran had been waiting for. The love of his life was now, finally, his wife. Koran stepped forward and cupped Whitney’s face in his hands. Time seemed to stand still as he gazed into her eyes. Without warning, he placed his lips onto hers. Whitney melted in ecstasy as the white butterflies they’d ordered were released into the air. Koran’s caramel kisses devoured her and locked up in his embrace, where she belonged. This was love in its truest, rarest form. Whitney prayed to the heavens that the feeling she was feeling would last forever.

Finding Forever

The sky was darker than usual as Koran stepped outside. It was a stark shade of gray. The leaves on the trees were fading fast and a dewy mist saturated the ground. Something in the atmosphere alarmed Koran’s soul. He didn’t know what it was, but it had him on edge. The entire morning his stomach had been doing flip-flops. Koran tried his best to shake the unsettling feeling as he made his way down the walkway and to the mailbox. Advertisements and other miscellaneous mail filled the box. Koran was about to dump all of it in the trash, but then he came across a letter from Jefferson City, MO. His GED test results were back.

A crisp, cold air swept through Koran’s fingers as he eagerly tore open the envelope. A feeling of accomplishment overtook him as he realized he’d passed with flying colors. Whitney was the first person on his list that he wanted to share his news with. Closing the mailbox, he ran up the walkway and into the house.

Whitney was upstairs lying down. Since the wedding she’d become even more fatigued and weak. Her body had completely stopped reacting to chemotherapy. With each visit the doctors felt less and less hopeful that she’d survive, but Whitney stayed positive. She was a fighter. She’d beat cancer before, so no one could tell her she couldn’t beat it again. Back upstairs, Koran entered the bedroom to find her sitting up with a pillow behind her back, propping her up.

The little hair that had grown back was long gone. Whitney was so embarrassed by her appearance she refused to walk around without a scarf on her head. Dressed in a paisley pink silk scarf, a pink spaghetti strap camisole, pajama bottoms and socks, Whitney gave Koran a half smile. He couldn’t see it though. A hospital mask covered her face. Whitney was in so much pain that even smiling hurt.

“Babe,” he said, excited. “Guess what? I got good news.” He took a seat on the edge of the bed near Whitney’s feet.

“What is it, baby?” she whispered back. Even her voice sounded weak.

“I took my GED test and I passed. I got the results back today.” Koran held up the test results.

“Congratulations, baby. Why didn’t you tell me you were studying for it?”

“’Cause I wanted to surprise you.”

“I’m so happy for you.” She stretched out her arms for a hug and Koran quickly took her into his arms.

“I love you, baby. I’m so proud of you.” She kissed his cheek.

“Thanks, ma.”

“So what’s next?”

“Since the school year has already started, I’ma register for classes in December so I can start in January.”

“That’s what’s up. I’ma have me a college man,” Whitney joked.

“Oh, I ain’t stopping there. Remember those vacant buildings on the Rock Road in Wellston?” Whitney nodded her head. “I’ve been thinkin’ about buying them.”

“I think that’s a great idea.”

“Yeah, I’ma talk to some people about that soon.”

“Can you help me to the bathroom, baby? I have to use it.”

“You know I got you.” Koran held her hand and helped her up.

Suddenly, Whitney started to feel faint. The walls were closing in on her and the bathroom seemed so far away. It was like she was walking down a never-ending corridor that led to nowhere. Her legs felt like Jell-O. Whitney couldn’t feel anything, because all of her senses were rapidly shutting down.

Koran was right next to her, holding her arm, but he was none the wiser. Whitney wanted to warn him, but the words wouldn’t form. Before he knew it, her body had gone limp. Whitney almost fell face forward on the floor, but Koran wouldn’t allow it. His quick reflexes kicked into high gear and instead of falling forward, she fell to her knees.

Koran gently laid her on her back, and then raced over to the phone. His heart raced a mile a minute as he dialed. It seemed like his fingers weren’t moving fast enough. Then the phone began to ring. A second later, an operator came on the line.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“My wife is pregnant and she has cancer. She just passed out. I NEED HELP NOW! I THINK SHE’S DYING!!!!!!!”

Finding Forever

Life continued to go on around Koran. Nurses did their rounds, janitors cleaned, and visitors got snacks from the vending machines. But Koran was stuck in time. His mind wouldn’t stop going back to the moment Whitney fainted. Why hadn’t he noticed that she was in distress? Koran had trained himself to be prepared for such a situation. He had promised to always protect her and he’d failed.

The look on her face before she fainted flashed before his eyes. Whitney lay unconscious for only a matter of minutes, but it had felt like an eternity. Koran called out her name over and over, and she hadn’t replied. After gently shaking her, she came to.

“Baby . . . what happened?” she asked.