The Last of Us

Chapter 24

Lena's health had been on a steady decline, but these past few weeks were harder than ever. There were moments when she looked at me with confusion in her eyes, moments when she didn't recognize me, her Ethan. Those moments were the hardest, breaking my heart in ways I didn't think possible. But despite the pain, I refused to let it break me. I couldn't. Not when I had promised to stand by her side.

One morning, Lena woke up and, after a long, quiet pause, she said, "I think we should get married now."

Her voice was soft, and there was something in her tone that sent a chill down my spine—like she knew time was slipping away. But I didn't hesitate. I knew that if this was something she wanted, I'd make it happen.

And so, we began planning. A small, intimate wedding, just us and the people who mattered most. We didn't need anything extravagant or fancy. We just needed each other, and the love that had carried us through everything.

Lena chose her dream wedding dress—a simple, elegant gown that made her look like she was glowing from the inside. When she showed me a picture of it, I could see how much it meant to her, how much she wanted to feel beautiful and cherished on this day.

The morning of the wedding, I stood at the small chapel we had chosen, surrounded by a few close friends, my family, her parents, and Mark. Mia and Sarah were there too, standing by Lena's side like they always had.

The room was filled with a quiet warmth, a kind of reverence that came with knowing how precious this moment was. I could feel the weight of it all, the uncertainty, the love, the hope we clung to despite everything.

I stood there, waiting, my heart pounding as I watched the door open. When Lena walked in, wearing that dress, I swear the world stopped spinning. She was radiant, more beautiful than I had ever seen her, and for a moment, I forgot about everything else. I forgot about the illness, the fear, the pain. All I saw was her—my Lena.

She walked toward me slowly, her smile small but real, and her eyes locked on mine. My chest tightened with emotion, and I couldn't stop the tears from welling up. When she finally reached me, I took her hands in mine, looking down at her with so much love I thought my heart might burst.

"I'm glad we're doing this," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

Lena smiled up at me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Me too," she replied softly. "I wouldn't want to marry anyone else."

The ceremony was brief but perfect. The vows we exchanged weren't just words—they were promises, spoken with the weight of everything we had been through and everything we still faced.

"I promise to love you, even when you don't remember me," I said, my voice breaking. "I promise to hold onto every memory, every smile, every moment we share. I'll carry them for both of us, Lena. I'll never let them fade."

Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she squeezed my hands. "I promise to love you for as long as I can," she whispered. "For as long as I'm here... I'll love you with everything I have."

The room was quiet as we exchanged rings, a few soft sniffles from our friends and family, but no one said a word. It was as if everyone understood how fragile this moment was, how much it meant.

When the officiant finally pronounced us husband and wife, I pulled her into my arms, kissing her gently. I held her close, feeling her warmth, her heartbeat against mine, and I knew that no matter what happened next, we had this moment.

As the ceremony ended and we stood together, surrounded by the people we loved, I whispered in her ear, "I love you, Lena. And I always will."

She looked up at me, her eyes full of tears but her smile brighter than I'd seen in days. "I love you too, Ethan. Thank you... for never giving up on me."

And as we stood there, I knew that no matter how much time we had left, I would cherish every single second of it.