As Peyton made her way down the aisle, everything seemed flawless until the minister locked eyes with her, his face turning ghostly pale as he murmured, “I cannot marry you.” What should have been the most joyous moment of her existence unraveled before a bewildered audience, leaving her to confront a history she thought was behind her.

It was actually happening. After nearly a decade together, Jeremiah and I were finally tying the knot. It felt surreal that the day had arrived.

A full year of meticulous planning, every aspect double-checked, and now it was time to walk down the aisle. The very church where my parents had exchanged vows made the moment feel even more meaningful.

The ceremony was intended to be straightforward yet heartfelt. Father Peter, our longtime priest, had gone through every detail with us. He had been nothing but patient and supportive, guiding us at every turn. I trusted him without hesitation. But just as I prepared to leave the dressing room, things started to fall apart.

Mia, my closest friend and maid of honor, came rushing in, clutching her phone. Her face was pale, hesitation in her eyes.

“Mia,” I said, my heartbeat accelerating. “What’s going on?”

She hesitated before speaking. “Father Peter’s in the hospital. He won’t be here.”

I blinked, processing her words. “What?”

“It sounds serious,” she muttered, chewing her lip. “But he arranged for someone else to take his place—a colleague of his. He assured us we could trust him.”

A knot formed in my stomach. “A replacement? We don’t even know who he is.”

“I know,” she said gently. “But there’s no alternative. It’s too late to find someone else.”

She was right. The church was filled with guests, Jeremiah was already standing at the altar, and everything was set in motion.

Fighting back tears, I squeezed my eyes shut. This wasn’t how today was supposed to unfold.

The moment the church doors swung open, the music began. My heart pounded against my chest. Clutching my bouquet with a vise-like grip, I forced myself forward. This was the moment. I had to keep moving.

The aisle stretched endlessly ahead. Jeremiah, waiting at the altar, smiled when our eyes met. His expression was full of warmth, the same way it had always been. He was my reason for pressing on.

But then, something felt off.

The substitute priest stood beside Jeremiah, looking visibly uneasy. As I drew closer, I noticed him dab at his forehead, his hands trembling. His gaze locked onto me, widening in what appeared to be shock, as though he had just seen someone he never expected.

What’s wrong with him? I wondered, slowing my steps. His face drained of color, beads of sweat forming along his temple.

A few feet away, he suddenly leaned toward me and whispered, “I can’t perform this wedding.”

I froze, disbelief washing over me. “What… why?” I whispered, my mind reeling.

Jeremiah glanced between us, clearly perplexed. Before he could react, the priest’s voice rose slightly, addressing the congregation. “I will not officiate this marriage!”

Gasps filled the air, murmurs spreading like wildfire.

“Why?” I whispered again, my pulse racing.

Jeremiah’s tone was steady but laced with tension. “Father, what is the issue? Is something wrong?”

The priest didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he continued staring at me, his expression haunted. He glanced past me toward the entrance before locking eyes with me once more. Whatever he saw left him shaken.

“I—” he started but cut himself off, swallowing hard. He looked physically ill.

Jeremiah placed a reassuring hand on my arm. “Peyton, do you know Father Luka?”

I stood motionless, my mind scrambling to make sense of it all. There was something familiar about the priest. His hair was shorter, his face slightly changed with time, but his eyes—those were unmistakable.

Luka.

The name struck like lightning. Memories surged—late-night talks about dreams that never came to be, promises that were broken, a farewell that happened too soon. Luka, my first love.

He stared at me, still overwhelmed. Then, as if deciding he couldn’t take it any longer, he abruptly turned and strode toward a side door.

Without thinking, I followed. My heels clacked against the marble, but I barely noticed. I needed answers. Catching up with him just outside, I found him hunched over, catching his breath like he had just run a race.

“Luka,” I whispered, his name foreign on my lips after so many years.

He straightened, still pale, avoiding my gaze. “Peyton… I didn’t expect this.”

“Luka—I mean, Father…” I fumbled over my words. “I never imagined you as a priest.”

He let out a dry laugh. “When you left me ten years ago, it shattered me. I didn’t know how to move forward. I was lost. This—” he gestured toward the church, “—was the only way I could find meaning again.”

His expression softened, filled with sadness. “Seeing you now brings everything back. Everything I tried to bury.”

The weight of his confession lingered between us. He looked like a man unraveling.

“I don’t think I can do this,” he admitted, his voice unsteady. “If you prefer, someone else can perform the ceremony. I just—it doesn’t feel right.”

Taking a deep breath, I returned to Jeremiah, who stood patiently at the altar, concern in his eyes.

Softly, I explained everything—Luka and I, our past, and why he was struggling to proceed.

Jeremiah listened quietly. When I finished, he took a moment before nodding. “Are you alright?”

“I think so,” I replied, though my heart still raced. “If you want someone else—”

He shook his head. “No. If you’re okay with it, then so am I. I just want to marry you.” His warm smile steadied me. “Let me talk to him.”

Jeremiah approached Luka, who still seemed ready to bolt.

“Father,” he said gently, “You were the first man Peyton loved. It would mean a lot to me to have your blessing.”

Luka studied Jeremiah for a long moment before sighing deeply. “Alright,” he said quietly. “I’ll do it.”

As the ceremony resumed, Luka’s demeanor shifted. He carried himself with newfound composure. Every word he spoke held weight, and by the time he pronounced us husband and wife, I knew—we had all found closure.

As I stepped into my future with Jeremiah, I glanced back. Luka watched us, a faint, unreadable smile on his lips, before slipping away into the light.

Finally, we were free.