In hot pursuit, racing down the blossom driven path, Mark suddenly stopped as he panted for breath while waiting for Christian and Ben to catch up. Their feet dragging didn’t help calm his mind, and as it swam wildly trying to find its route, Mark already knew the one he wished to take.

"Come on guys! Hurry up! We… I have to get there! Before its too late!" Mark hollered, turning to Christie quickly after. "How much longer do you think?"

"I… I dunno! I…"

"Stop stuttering! We haven’t got time! What church? Where? How long?" Mark fired, refusing to ease.

"Hey, calm down mate, its not her fault." Paul stepped in.

"Yeah Mark, come on. There’s no need for that." Christian calmed, catching up. "Now Christie, think back to when we were back at the house. What church were they going to? Did one of them say? Just think. Don’t worry about us being he-"

"I… ten minutes!" Christie smiled. "It’s St Paul’s church!"

"Right, great!" Christian enthused. "Come on!"

Running already ahead at the sound of the name, Mark pushed the others aside as Louise was the only image that seemed clear. If he didn’t get her now, when would he? She was tied down enough with the place she was living, but with firm laws stating it too, then they’d be no hope in cutting them loose. This was his chance and he was going to grab it with both hands, steadily.

"Wow! A church named after me as well as a saint!" Paul grinned.

"They’re to do with the same thing!" Ben exclaimed before sprinting once again.

"Paul! Move! We haven’t got all day!" Christian instructed, gently taking Christie’s hand and dashing ahead.

"Oh come on! Can’t you give the little guy a rest!" Paul whined, picking up his speed slowly, not wanting to be left behind.

Insides sinking, plummeting, drowning in dread, Louise peered eerily out of the window, looking dangerously up to the church, letting her eyes trail after up to the sky. Everything was so clearly set out; the sky a crisp blue, the clouds a fluffy white and even right down to the gravel stone being a basic sandstone colour, so why wasn’t her mind? Was she the only complicated person in this world with complicated issues, or was it all down to the position she was placed in?

Stepping out of the car, pinching the dress so it wouldn’t drag, the breeze that almost stole her veil unsteadied her as she grabbed it quickly. Glancing down, watching the gravel beneath her crush under her small heel, she inhaled deeply knowing that what they had prepared for, she’d have to live up to. Quickly regaining her focus to the people around her, she smiled adequately as she headed forward, the chauffeur closing the door behind her. It was now or never…

"Louise. Come on; sort that dress out quickly! We have not got any more time to waste! Anton and everybody are waiting for you." Abigail snapped, dragging her forward as she fussed briefly with her dress.

Feeling dizzy in panic, desperation, she tried stepping back a little hoping her own space would give her that boost of confidence, but her own space is what she had wanted all along and marrying into the family that would never grant it was like getting in a boat with a hole in, believing it would float. It was never going to happen.

"Louise. Come on!" Abigail told sternly. "Let’s not get cold feet now. Let’s get into that church."

"I… I can’t." Louise sighed weakly.

"Yes you can! You will! You are!" Abigail ordered. "You will not show this family up, my Anton up just because of your silly insecure worries, now come on!"

Snatching her wrist and hauling her forward, she ordered that the veil and trail of the dress was lifted from the ground, in which it was as no one was to disobey Abigail, not on her son’s wedding day.

Gazing behind her, wanting her nightmare to crack and she be able to jump straight out, she knew it was like wishing upon a falling star. The car was there, its brilliant white blocking the entrance, ensuring that she couldn’t leave while Abigail was attached to her side, pulling on her arm like a leash; a leash that once gripped hold of, would only get tighter and tighter, never letting go. Focusing ahead of her, smiling as late stragglers quickly ran in, it cracked her inside, leaking the truth and letting it flow. Would she ever get out of this?

Being pestered once more for the final time as she stood at the threshold, Abigail ran in down the church, leaving Louise with her last words.

"Don’t you dare mess this up for my Anton…"

Growing limp, her bouquet and body slumping, the sudden chorus of the organ began chiming, bringing her mind to its utmost halt and her body to its final tenacity. Taking her weary, first huge step, it much more like a leap inside, the smile she had created so long ago wouldn’t form, bringing her head low. Refusing to look at the people around her, she felt rivers want to burst inside and anxiety levels peal. She didn’t want this, couldn’t do this but couldn’t stop this.

Thinking back to the times where she was happy when she was living in their sociable division, only one person seemed to attain her attention and bring a smile from its core. These emotions were real and as she continued down the aisle, she knew that living false for the rest of her life would only shatter anything she wanted to grab. The future may look blurred but isn’t that far better then living by a schedule, a schedule you could never keep?

"Lou!"

And then that was it. That was her blur becoming clear, her dream making an entrance and her emotions surfacing. That was her emotions percolating and her heart thumping and that’s what made her stop.

Slowly turning, not wanting to destroy the image she had envisaged in her mind, a voice the other side of her called, shouted, pulling her the other way.

"Louise, no! I won’t let you do this!" Anton called. "You are mine! Not his! Mine!"

"Lou, I… I love you." Mark cried down the church, bringing Louise right round and facing him.

Gazing up the aisle, it like a tunnel of light for her, the shouting behind her was shafted out as Mark’s sincere eyes told her all she needed to know. Walking promptly towards her, their sight not losing any concentration, just gaining more, the room around them zoned out as Louise’s smile appeared. Nothing else mattered to her and as Mark finally reached her, taking her hands in his, the butterflies inside exploded, sprinkling a glint of happiness as the flowers fell to the floor.

"Lou, Louise… I love you." He smiled. "I don’t care about anything else right now other than you. I don’t care that you’re in the middle of this wedding, I don’t care that you are with Anton and I don’t care that everyone around you has these expectations. I love you and that’s enough for me."

"Mark, I… I love you too." She radiated.

Gripping her hand tightly as she soaked up his comfort, Mark led her slowly out of the church where the others stood amiably, watching on.

"Louise! No! You will not do this to me! Not now – not after all this!" Anton exclaimed, charging up to where they were both heading. "I am better then him! I am better then he’ll ever be!" He yelled, stopping in his tracks as they continued to ignore him.

The point is, it can’t. But where love enters and love wins, anything can happen.