place my hand in hers, lifting her off the grass. My arms engulf her, and as she rests her head on my shoulder, she lets go of everything that has tied her to the past.

"Are you okay honey? I hate seeing you cry."

"Yeah. I'm okay. The past is where my memories of Ben need to be, in the past. Next month starts my new life, and I can't do that if I keep getting pulled into the past."

"It's time to say goodbye, sweetheart. I understand why you had to do this, and I agree that it's time to look to the future."

"So, why do I feel so horrible?"

"It's okay to grieve the loss of someone that you loved, but it's not healthy to relive those memories. You canI would have a second chance to love someone, and I am so blessed to share my life with you. Whatever lies ahead, good, or bad, we will face it together, because the love that we feel for each other grows stronger each day. My children love you as their father, and I love you with my whole heart. I am so proud to be your wife, and when I take my final breath, it will be your name that I whisper."

I extend my right hand, and Rebecca places the ring on my finger, then bends down and kisses my hand.

Pastor Johnson continues. "The sacrament of marriage changes the dynamics of your relationship. You are now bound together as one heart, and one love. By exchanging vows today,