Forever And A Day

Ashley Wells pulled up to the Oakwood Country Club, her SUV loaded with boxes, flowers, and other wedding decorations. She was the event planner for her friend Rachel's big day, and she was determined to make everything perfect. As she stepped out of the car, Rachel rushed over to hug her. "Ashley, I'm so glad you're here!" Rachel exclaimed. "I don't know what I would have done without you." Ashley smiled and hugged her back. "You know I'd do anything for you, Rach." The two friends chatted for a few minutes, going over the final details for the wedding.

Ashley had spent weeks planning this day, and she was confident that everything would go smoothly. With a final check of the timeline, Ashley sent Rachel off to get ready, while she finished setting up the remaining decorations. As she worked, Ashley felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. She had always loved planning events, and this wedding was one of her biggest challenges yet. Finally, after what felt like hours, everything was ready. The flowers were arranged, the chairs were set up, and the cake was perfectly decorated. Ashley took a step back to admire her handiwork, feeling a sense of satisfaction. This was going to be a perfect wedding. Just then, the DJ announced the start of the ceremony, and the guests began to take their seats. Ashley slipped into her designated spot at the back of the room, ready to keep an eye on things. As the bride walked down the aisle, Ashley felt a lump form in her throat. This was it – Rachel's big day. The ceremony was beautiful, with personalized vows and a special song performed by a friend. Ashley wiped away a tear as Rachel and her groom exchanged rings. As the newlyweds were pronounced husband and wife, the room erupted in cheers and applause. Ashley joined in, grinning from ear to ear. In the chaos of the moment, Ashley's phone slipped out of her pocket and fell to the floor. As she bent to pick it up, she collided with a tall, handsome man. "Oh no, I'm so sorry!" Ashley exclaimed, as they both reached for their phones. But as they stood up, Ashley's eyes met the man's, and she felt a shock of recognition. "Ryan?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the din of the reception. Ryan's eyes widened in surprise, and he took a step back, his face pale. "Ashley?" he repeated, his voice equally shocked. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the noise of the reception fading into the background. Then, without thinking, Ashley's fingers brushed against Ryan's as they both reached for their phones. In the chaos of the moment, they mistakenly exchanged phones. Ashley's eyes widened in horror as she realized what had happened. "No, no, no! Our phones!" she exclaimed. Ryan's face mirrored her distress. "How did this happen?" he asked, holding up Ashley's phone. Ashley took a deep breath and tried to think clearly. "We need to switch them back," she said, holding out her hand for Ryan's phone. But as their hands touched, Ashley felt a spark of electricity run through her body. She quickly pulled her hand back, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. Ryan looked at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Sorry about that," he said, his voice low and smooth. Ashley shook her head, trying to clear it. "It's fine," she said, taking a step back. "Let's just switch phones and forget this ever happened." Ryan nodded, and they quickly exchanged phones. As Ashley took her phone back, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. But as she looked up at Ryan, she saw something in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat. It was a spark of recognition, of connection. And Ashley knew that she wasn't going to be able to forget this encounter anytime soon. As they stood there, the noise of the reception swirling around them, Ashley felt like she was stuck in time. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. All she could do was stare at Ryan, and wonder what could have been. But as the moment stretched out, Ashley knew she had to break the spell. She took a deep breath, and forced herself to smile. "It was good running into you, Ryan," she said, trying to sound casual. Ryan's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled back. "Yeah, same to you, Ashley." And with that, they parted ways, leaving Ashley to wonder what had just happened. As she made her way back to the reception, Ashley couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine. ____________________________ Ashley walked back to the reception, feeling a little dazed. She couldn't believe she had just run into Ryan, her high school sweetheart. As she mingled with the guests, Ashley's mind kept wandering back to Ryan. She wondered what he was doing now, and if he was happy. Just then, Rachel, the bride, grabbed Ashley's arm. "Hey, girl, what's wrong?" she asked, noticing Ashley's distracted expression. Ashley hesitated, unsure if she should share her encounter with Ryan. But Rachel's curious expression made her spill the beans. "I just ran into Ryan," Ashley said, keeping her voice low. Rachel's eyes widened in surprise. "Ryan Thompson? Your old boyfriend?" Ashley nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. "Yeah, that's the one." Rachel leaned in, her voice conspiratorial. "What happened?" Ashley shrugged. "We just exchanged phones by mistake, and then we talked for a bit." Rachel's eyes sparkled with excitement. "And?" Ashley sighed, feeling a little frustrated. "And nothing, Rach. We just talked." Rachel raised an eyebrow. "You're not curious about what he's doing now?" Ashley hesitated, unsure if she should admit the truth. But Rachel's knowing expression made her nod. "Yeah, I guess I am." Rachel grinned mischievously. "Well, maybe you'll find out more about him soon." Ashley rolled her eyes, laughing. "You're a bad influence, Rach." As they chatted, Ashley couldn't shake the feeling that her encounter with Ryan was just the beginning of something bigger. And as she glanced around the reception, she wondered if Ryan was watching her, too.