Dave and Jessie’s relationship seemed simply perfect to many people – they had been together for almost 10 years, and finally the day of their incredible wedding had arrived... They had spent so long preparing for it and never suspected that it would have been better if this day in their lives had never happened... All the guests were shocked and still could not recover from what they had witnessed...

The Happiest Day Of Her Life Ended In Darkness...

Everything around her was pitch black... Jessie slowly opened her eyes but the first thing she felt was not fear... it was complete confusion. For several seconds, she simply stared at the dark sky above her and tried to remember where she was. There was a strange noise in her head, as if someone had erased the last few hours of her life. 

She tried to take a deeper breath but immediately winced from a strange sensation throughout her entire body. She wanted to lift her hand but even that simple movement was incredibly difficult.
— What is happening?...
She whispered.
Jessie tried to move again but her body felt like it no longer belonged to her...

Complete Confusion About What Was Happening...

She did not understand whether she was injured, why she was lying on the ground, or why it was so cold around her. The scariest part was not even that she felt terrible... it was that she could not remember anything at all.
— Where am I?...

Her voice was trembling.
— Why am I here?...
Just a few minutes ago she had been a bride smiling at the entire world... and now she was lying somewhere unknown, surrounded by complete darkness...

Her Memory Started Coming Back... And That Made Everything Even More Terrifying...

Slowly, Jessie’s consciousness began to return. Fragments of memories started appearing before her eyes. Bright lights... music... people around her... happy faces of guests...
The wedding.
She suddenly opened her eyes wider.
— The wedding...
She whispered.
The image of Dave appeared in her mind. Her fiancé... The man whose hand she had held just a few hours ago in front of everyone she loved.

— Dave...
She tried to call his name louder.
— Dave?!
But the only answer was silence.
Jessie began to panic. She tried to stand up again, pushing herself off the ground with her hands but her body was immediately overwhelmed by weakness. She fell back down and began breathing heavily.
— No...
She whispered.
— What happened to me?.. Where is Dave?...
But around her there was only darkness and uncertainty.

Her White Wedding Dress Turned Into A Real Nightmare...

A few seconds later, Jessie felt wet fabric beneath her hands. At first, she did not pay attention to it. But then her fingers touched the edge of her dress... and she froze. She slowly looked down. She was still wearing her wedding dress. The same one she had spent months choosing. The same one she had looked at herself in the mirror wearing that morning and cried tears of happiness. But now it looked completely different...The white fabric was covered with dirt, torn in some places... and there were dark stains of blood on it.

She Couldn’t Believe in It!

Jessie stopped breathing for several seconds.
— No...
Her voice broke.
With trembling hands, she began examining the dress.
— No... No...

She could not believe what she was seeing.
— Where did the blood come from?...
The girl touched her face and saw blood on her fingers.
At that moment, the fear became real.
— Oh God...

One Look Down Made Her Lose The Ability To Speak...

Jessie continued trying to understand what was happening. Slowly, she turned her head lower, toward the place she had been afraid to look at before.
And the next second, her expression changed.
She saw something that made her blood run cold.
For several seconds, she simply stayed silent...
Her eyes filled with horror.
— No...
She whispered.
She looked down and could not believe what she was seeing.
— No... Not this...
Jessie began shaking all over.

— This is impossible...
She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hold back a scream.
But the fear was stronger.
— No!!!
She screamed into the darkness.
— No!!! No!!!
Her scream disappeared among the trees.
Nobody heard her.
Nobody came to help... but what she saw at that moment was something she would never forget...

That Morning She Could Never Have Imagined Such An Ending To Her Wedding...

Just a few hours earlier, Jessie had woken up with the feeling that the best day of her life was beginning. She put on the white dress she had chosen for so long, looked at herself in the mirror, and smiled through tears.
Today she was supposed to become Dave’s wife.
Everyone around them said they were made for each other.
— I promise to make you the happiest woman in the world...

@wvlt.tv 

Dave told her during the ceremony.
Jessie smiled and replied:
— And I promise to always be by your side...
She had no idea that just a few hours later she would be lying alone in a forest, wearing the same dress that was supposed to become a symbol of happiness... but had turned into a terrifying reminder of what had happened.

The Night In The Forest Was Only Beginning...

Jessie tried calling for help again but her voice was becoming weaker. The cold was spreading through her body, and the fear grew stronger with every passing minute. She looked at the dark trees surrounding her and tried to force herself to think.

She needed to understand what had happened. She needed to get out of there... but she could not even move... But for now, she only had one question that kept repeating in her mind again and again:
— Why am I here alone?...
And why did her happiest day end this way?...

Two Years Ago, It All Started With An Ordinary Meeting...

Two years ago, Jessie and Dave could never have imagined that on that very day they would start the countdown to the catastrophe that would one day completely destroy their happy life. Back then, everything seemed so simple and beautiful that Jessie was sure only love, a wedding, and a happy family life were waiting for her ahead.

That day, the girl was sitting in a cozy café with her friends Emma and Chloe. They were laughing, talking about their studies, the latest news, and, of course, relationships. Jessie had no idea that just a few minutes later she herself would become the main character of their conversation...

Dave Was Sitting At The Next Table... And Then...

At the next table, Dave was sitting with his friends. Jessie noticed several times that he was looking in her direction but she tried not to pay much attention to it. At one point, the young man said something to his friends, they laughed, and a few minutes later a waiter approached the girls' table with a small bouquet of beautiful flowers. Jessie looked at him in surprise.
— These are for you.
The girl took the bouquet in confusion.
— For me?

The waiter smiled and pointed toward the next table. Jessie looked up and saw Dave smiling at her a little shyly. Emma immediately nudged her friend with her elbow.
— Did you see that?! He actually brought you flowers!
Chloe laughed.
— Finally, someone noticed how beautiful you are.
Jessie smiled shyly at Dave, and he raised his hand in greeting. They met right there in the café, talked for only a few minutes but even that was enough for Jessie to feel a strange excitement.

Her Friends Congratulated Her... But Inside They Weren't Laughing At All

When Dave returned to his friends, the girls immediately surrounded Jessie with questions. They said how amazing it was that such a handsome guy had approached her, how incredibly lucky she was, and what a truly romantic gesture it was. But behind their smiles was something completely different... Emma and Chloe had always believed that guys like him should be approaching them. 

They were convinced that they deserved the attention and the beautiful bouquets, while Jessie somehow always seemed too ordinary to them. Emma looked at the flowers and smiled.
— So... Are you going to wait for him to ask for your number himself?
Jessie laughed.
— Probably...
Chloe exchanged a glance with Emma...

Jessie Was Nervous…

— Or maybe you shouldn't wait?
Jessie looked at her in surprise.
— What do you mean?
— Give him your number.
The girl blushed a little but after a few seconds of hesitation she called the waiter.

— Excuse me... Could you give him this?
She handed him a small piece of paper with her phone number. Dave read it, looked up, and smiled. A few minutes later both groups went home, while Jessie spent the entire way thinking only about the stranger from the café.

She Hadn't Even Walked Into Her House Before Her Phone Started Vibrating...

Jessie had barely stepped through the front door when the phone in her hand vibrated. She immediately took it out and saw a message from Dave. On the screen it said: “I hope you don't mind that I came over to you today. You just seemed like the kind of girl I'd really like to get to know better...” Jessie stared at the screen for a few seconds and couldn't hold back her smile. 

She replied, and a light, warm conversation began between them. Dave wasn't rushing to ask her on a date, wasn't writing anything pushy, and was simply getting to know her little by little. But for some reason, that began to irritate her friends...

The Jealousy Jessie Couldn't See Back Then...

— Is he even going to ask you out anywhere?
Emma asked a few days later.
— Probably...
Jessie replied.
Chloe scoffed.
— Or maybe he's just a pickup artist collecting girls' numbers.
Jessie frowned.

— You don't even know him.
— Then why would a normal guy spend two weeks texting if he's actually interested?
Jessie didn't answer, although deep down she somehow knew that Dave was nothing like the person her friends were trying to make him out to be. And back then she still didn't understand that she had surrounded herself with completely the wrong friends... and that it would come back to haunt her...

Two Weeks Later, Things Finally Started Moving...

When almost two weeks had passed, Jessie had already stopped waiting for an invitation. She decided that maybe Dave had really just wanted to chat as friends. But one evening, her phone vibrated again.
— “Jessie, can I finally invite you somewhere? I want to see you without a phone screen between us...”
The girl laughed with happiness. She immediately wrote that she agreed but when she told Emma and Chloe about it, their reaction was completely different from what she had expected.
— I wouldn't go.
Emma said seriously.

— Why? — Jessie asked naively...
Her “friends” tried to talk her out of it in every possible way...
— Because a normal guy doesn't make a girl wait two weeks.
Chloe nodded in agreement.
— Exactly. Either he's playing games, or he has several girls.
Jessie looked at them and, for the first time, felt irritated.
— What if you're just wrong?
Her “friends” exchanged glances…
— We just want to protect you.
But Jessie had already made her decision. She felt that Dave wasn't the person they were describing.

The First Date Turned Out To Be Nothing Like They Had Imagined...

On the appointed evening, Jessie arrived at a small cozy café where Dave was already waiting for her with a smile and another little bouquet. He looked slightly nervous. They ordered dinner, talked for hours, and quickly realized how incredibly easy it was to be together. Dave told her about his family, his job, his childhood, and his dreams, while Jessie laughed at his stories. At one point she noticed that he kept pausing whenever he tried to speak louder.

— Can I ask you something?
Dave looked embarrassed.
— Of course.
— Why do you speak so quietly sometimes?
He stayed silent for a few seconds and then laughed.
— Because I'm an idiot...

The Date Didn't Go According To Plan?

Jessie raised her eyebrows in surprise.
— Why would you say that?
Dave admitted that he had been sick for several days and still hadn't fully recovered but he had deliberately avoided telling her before their first date. And that it was because of his illness that he had delayed asking her out for two whole weeks...

— I wanted to look like a strong man.
Jessie burst into laughter.
— So you decided to pretend you were perfectly healthy?
— Exactly.
— Dave... That's the funniest attempt to look strong I've ever seen.
They both laughed, and all the tension instantly disappeared.

They Walked Until Late At Night... And Then This Happened...

After dinner, Dave suggested taking a walk through the evening city. They wandered slowly along the illuminated streets, bought ice cream, argued about which movie was better, and shared things that people usually never tell each other on a first date. At one point they stopped near a small park. Dave looked at Jessie.
— I think I talked too much today.
She smiled.
— And I think you finally stopped pretending.
— Maybe...
He stepped a little closer.
— May I?

Jessie laughed softly.
— You may.
Their first kiss was short, a little awkward, and unbelievably sweet. When they pulled away from each other, they both laughed.
— I guess it's official now.
Dave said.
— What exactly?
— I've completely lost my head.
Jessie blushed and smiled.

Her Best Friend Tried To “Warn” Her Again...

The next day, Jessie met Emma and told her everything. She expected her best friend to be happy for her but Emma only shook her head.
— Jessie... Why so fast?
— What do you mean?
— You met two weeks ago, and now you are already kissing...
Jessie smiled.
— Because I feel good with him.
Emma sighed.
— I still think he is a pickup artist.
— You did not even give him a chance.

— I just have a feeling about people.
Jessie looked at her friend and quietly said:
— And I have a feeling that he is a good person.
Emma smiled but for a second something strange flashed in her eyes. She was sure that Dave would not stay around for long... And deep down, she wanted exactly that to happen. Because she still did not know that two years later she would be looking at Jessie's wedding photo and remembering this conversation with a completely different feeling...

Their Relationship Started Developing Rapidly...

After their first date, Jessie and Dave practically stopped spending their evenings apart. They constantly texted each other, called each other, and found any excuse to see one another. Just a few weeks later, Dave introduced Jessie to his friends, and soon he invited her to come with him to a family dinner. Jessie was extremely nervous as they stood in front of his parents' door.
— What if they do not like me?
Dave smiled and took her hand.
— Then that will be their problem... Because I already know for sure that I like you.

His mother opened the door and immediately warmly hugged her son.
— So this is the girl who keeps making you smile all the time!
Jessie laughed, while Dave shyly shook his head.
— Mom, please...
That evening, Dave's parents practically accepted Jessie as one of their own right away. They sat around the table for a long time, told funny stories from Dave's childhood, and even showed her his old photographs. When Jessie was leaving, Dave's mother quietly said to her son:
— She is very good for you.
Dave simply smiled.

Dave Was Constantly Preparing Little Surprises For Her...

Dave turned out to be the kind of person who loved surprising Jessie with completely unexpected little things. One morning, she found a small bag with her favorite coffee and a note near the door: “For the sleepiest girl I know.” Another time, he unexpectedly came to her school with a bouquet of flowers because Jessie was taking an important exam.
— What are you doing here?!
She asked in surprise.
— Checking on how my future straight-A student is doing.

— And what if I failed?
Dave handed her the flowers.
— Then these flowers will be a consolation.
Jessie laughed and hugged him tightly. She felt incredibly happy. It seemed to her that after meeting Dave, her life had finally become exactly the way she had always dreamed it would be. But life was already preparing a terrible test...

Dave's First Meeting With Her Parents Went Completely Differently Than She Expected...

A few months later, it was time for Dave to meet Jessie's parents. The girl was even more nervous than she had been before meeting his family.
— Dad can ask way too many questions.
She warned him.
Dave smiled.
— Nothing to worry about. I will survive the interrogation.
During dinner, Jessie's father really did question him for a long time about his work, plans, and family. But Dave answered calmly and honestly, without trying to impress him. At the end of the evening, Jessie's father unexpectedly raised his glass.

— To the two of you.
Her mother smiled.
— And may everything work out for you.
Jessie looked at Dave and felt her eyes fill with tears.
— I guess they accepted you.
Dave quietly laughed.
— Then now I definitely cannot let you go.
And while everything seemed so perfect at first glance, a real nightmare was already unfolding behind Jessie's back... But she had no idea about any of it...

One Meeting With Her Friend Left Behind A Strange Feeling...

Emma continued spending time with Jessie, although she now brought Dave into their conversations more and more often. She constantly asked where he worked, where they went, and when they were planning to see each other. One day, during an ordinary conversation, she suddenly asked:
— Is Dave home right now?
Jessie looked at her in surprise.
— No... Why are you asking?

Emma immediately smiled.
— Just curious.
Jessie did not think anything of it... She still considered Emma her best friend and could not even imagine that something completely different was happening behind her back. She was so happy in her relationship that she did not notice her friend's strange looks or some of her overly personal questions.

One Evening, Dave Decided To Have A Very Difficult Conversation...

One evening, Jessie and Dave were sitting at home after dinner. They usually talked and laughed a lot but that evening Dave looked unusually serious. Several times he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but then fell silent again.
Jessie immediately noticed his state.
— Dave... What happened?
— We need to talk.

The smile instantly disappeared from her face.
— About what?
Dave looked away.
— I do not know how to tell you this...
Jessie's heart painfully tightened. Emma and Chloe's words instantly came back to her mind, about how he was supposedly not serious and would eventually leave her...

Could Her Friends Really Have Been Right About Dave?!

— Do you want to break up?
Dave suddenly looked up.
— What?! No!
— Then why are you talking like this?
He let out a heavy breath.
— Because I need to tell you something... And I am afraid that you will misunderstand me.

Dave took out his phone and simply stared at the screen for a few seconds.
— Do you remember Emma?
Jessie frowned.
— Of course... She is my best friend. Why are you asking?

Dave Showed Her The Messages... And Jessie Could Not Believe Her Eyes

— She was texting me... Dave said quietly...
At first, the girl even laughed.
— So what?
Dave turned the phone toward her.
There was a conversation on the screen. Emma was asking when Dave would be alone, suggesting that they meet without Jessie, and openly flirting with him. 

In one of the messages, she had written: “You could come out with me sometimes... Jessie does not necessarily have to know everything.”
Jessie read the message several times.
— No...
She slowly raised her eyes.
— This cannot be...

Jessie Was In Shock...

Dave shook his head.
— I did not want to believe it at first either.
— Did you reply to her?
— I immediately made it clear that nothing would happen between us.
Jessie felt as if everything inside her was turning upside down.
— Why did you not tell me earlier?

— Because I was afraid of ruining your friendship.
For several seconds, the girl simply remained silent, trying to understand what was happening.
— She is my best friend...
Jessie whispered.
— I trusted her more than anyone...

The Conversation With Emma Turned Out To Be Even More Painful...

The next day, Jessie called Emma herself and asked her to meet. They met at the same café where Jessie had once first met Dave. But now the place felt completely different.
— Why were you texting him?
At first, Emma pretended that she did not understand.
— What are you talking about?
Jessie silently placed the phone on the table and showed her the messages.
Emma's face changed.
— Jessie...

— Do not.
The girl shook her head.
— Just tell me the truth.
Emma lowered her eyes.
— I did not want anything serious...
— Then why were you flirting with my boyfriend?
— I just...
She fell silent.

Finally, Jessie Understood The Whole Truth...

Jessie gave a bitter smile.
— Were you jealous of me?
Emma did not answer.
And that silence was enough.
Jessie slowly stood up from the table.
— I do not want to see you anymore.
— Jessie, please...
— No.
She shook her head.

— I considered you someone I could trust for far too long.
The girl turned around and walked away without looking back... and promised herself that she would never be that naive again.
She still did not know that this was far from the worst thing... Because ahead of Jessie and Dave was the wedding that they both believed would be the beginning of a new happy life... and neither of them suspected how terrible that day would turn out to be.

Dave Turned Out To Be Completely Different...

After Jessie finally cut Emma and her other friend out of her life, she gradually stopped paying attention to the words of her former friends. Time passed, and day after day Dave proved to her that they had been wrong. He never made her doubt his feelings, never disappeared without an explanation, and never treated their relationship like just another short-lived romance. If Jessie was tired after studying, he could unexpectedly show up with her favorite food. 

If she had a difficult day, he did not try to give unnecessary advice but simply stayed by her side and listened. He remembered even the smallest things she had once told him in passing, and then turned them into little surprises. One day Jessie came home completely exhausted and found a bag with her favorite dessert by the door. There was a note on it: “You do not need to be strong today. Just rest.” She immediately called Dave.

This Had Never Happened To Her Before...

— Did you seriously come here just for this?
— I know that after a hard day, what you need is not advice but chocolate.
Jessie laughed.
— You know me too well...
— I try.

And it was at that exact moment that Jessie realized for the first time how peaceful she felt when she was with him. She no longer needed to pretend to be perfect to feel loved. Their relationship was becoming deeper and deeper. They already knew each other's habits, understood each other's moods from a single look, and could spend an entire evening together almost without saying a word. Dave became the first person Jessie called whenever something important happened, and the first person she told even about the smallest things…

Their First Anniversary Began With An Unexpected Surprise...

As their first anniversary approached, Jessie was sure they would simply spend a romantic evening together. But Dave unexpectedly asked her to pack a small suitcase and categorically refused to tell her where they were going. At the airport, Jessie saw the destination on the screen and literally froze. They were flying to Venice. She stared at the screen for a few seconds and then turned to Dave.
— Are you serious?!
He smiled.

— Did you really think I would let our first anniversary pass like an ordinary day?
Jessie threw her arms around him right in the middle of the airport. A few hours later, they were already walking through the narrow Venetian streets, riding in a gondola and taking pictures near the canals... everything seemed simply perfect! And this was only the beginning...

Romance Like In A Movie!

Dave had booked a small romantic hotel in advance and asked them to prepare her favorite flowers in the room. They had dinner at a cozy restaurant, laughed, remembered how they had first met, and tried to imagine how quickly that year had passed. Jessie looked at the lights reflected in the water and felt incredibly happy.
— I cannot believe a whole year has already passed.
Dave smiled.

— And I cannot believe that I once almost got scared to approach you in that café.
— You? Got scared?
— Of course. You were too beautiful.
Jessie laughed.
— It is too late to back out now.
— I was not planning to... Jessie noticed that Dave had suddenly become very serious but she did not let it show...

But Dave Had Another Surprise That Jessie Had No Idea About...

After dinner, Dave suggested that they take a little walk. They slowly walked along the canal until they reached a quiet place where there were almost no tourists. The Venetian lights reflected in the dark water, while music could be heard somewhere nearby. Dave stopped near a small bridge and turned to Jessie. He looked into her eyes for several seconds, as if he were trying to remember every detail of that moment.
— Jessie... Do you know that you changed my life this year?
She smiled.
— I hope for the better.

— In the best possible way.
He took both of her hands.
— I spent a long time thinking about what exactly to say to you right now... But it seems that the right words still would not be enough.
Jessie felt herself beginning to get nervous.
— Dave...
He got down on one knee in front of her and took out a small box.
Jessie immediately covered her mouth with her hand...

A Moment She Would Remember With Pain In The Future...

— Oh my God...
Dave opened the box.
— I cannot promise you that our life will always be perfect. But I can promise that I will always be there. On the good days... and on the hardest days. Jessie, will you marry me?
For several seconds she simply looked at him through her tears.
— Yes...
She laughed and cried at the same time.
— Of course, yes!

Dave stood up, and Jessie hugged him tightly. They stood in the middle of Venice at night, laughing and crying with happiness, completely unaware that this period would one day become their most precious memory. Neither of them could imagine then that the happiest day of their lives would one day become the beginning of the most terrible tragedy...

Their Return Home Turned Into A Real Celebration...

When Jessie and Dave returned home from Venice, they had barely had time to unpack their things when relatives and friends began coming over. Everyone wanted to personally congratulate them on their engagement. Jessie's mother could not stop looking at the ring on her daughter's finger, while her father hugged Dave several times and patted him on the shoulder.
— Well, now you are officially a member of our family.
Dave laughed.

— That is exactly what I was hoping for.
That evening they had a small family dinner that unexpectedly turned into a real celebration. Everyone talked about Venice, looked through the photos, and tried to guess what the wedding would be like. Jessie sat next to Dave, glowing with happiness. None of the people there could even imagine that if they had known what would happen later, they would have begged Jessie and Dave never to have that wedding...

They Decided To Have A Wedding No One Would Ever Forget...

Almost immediately after getting engaged, Jessie and Dave began discussing their wedding. They did not want to rush and decided to give themselves enough time to prepare absolutely everything. They planned the wedding for the following summer. Jessie dreamed of a beautiful outdoor ceremony, with lots of flowers, candles, and long tables for the guests. Dave mostly wanted a big party after the ceremony where everyone could dance until late at night.
— Just promise me we will not spend all our money on this.
Jessie said, laughing.
— I promise.

Dave paused.
— Well... I will try.
Jessie laughed.
— I knew it.
They chose the venue, discussed the menu, music, photographer, and even the color of the napkins. Every time they thought they had planned everything, another new detail appeared. But Jessie even loved this chaos. To her, every little thing brought them closer to the day she had imagined since childhood.

After Work, They Rehearsed Their First Dance...

The wedding preparations gradually became part of their everyday lives. After work, Jessie and Dave went to first-dance rehearsals several times a week. At first, it looked anything but romantic. Dave constantly mixed up the moves, stepped on Jessie's feet, and kept messing up at exactly the same part.
— Dave! You went the wrong way again!

— I am just trying to add some individuality to the dance.
— You are adding a nervous breakdown to me right now.
They both laughed.
Gradually, their movements became more confident. They learned to feel the rhythm, hold each other properly, and stop constantly looking down at their feet.

The Preparations For The Worst Day Of Their Lives Were In Full Swing...

Sometimes after rehearsal, they would stay in the empty hall for a few more minutes, simply hugging each other and imagining how they would dance in front of all their loved ones.
— Can you imagine, in a few months we will actually be here...
Jessie said quietly.
— I can already imagine you crying.
— And you?

— I will pretend I am not crying.
She smiled.
— We will see.
Back then, they still did not know how terrifying it would be to remember that carefree conversation after that very day...

Choosing The Wedding Dress Was Supposed To Be One Of The Happiest Days...

A few months later, Jessie went with her mother to choose her wedding dress. She had booked an appointment at one of the most beautiful bridal salons in the city in advance, and for several days before the fitting, she was practically counting the hours. Inside, dozens of dresses were waiting for her - from classic designs to luxurious gowns with long trains. Jessie tried on one after another, came out to her mother, and asked every time:
— Well?
Her mother smiled.

— Beautiful... But I am sure we have not found your dress yet.
Finally, the consultant brought out a completely different dress. It was snow-white, with a delicate corset, a long train, and fine details woven into the fabric. When Jessie stepped out of the fitting room and looked at herself in the mirror, she froze for a few seconds.
— Mom...
Her mother looked at her and covered her mouth with her hand.
— This is it.
Jessie smiled through her tears.
— I think so too.

And Then Something Happened That No One Expected!

While Jessie was standing in front of the mirror, Dave unexpectedly appeared in the salon. He had come to pick up some documents related to the wedding preparations and had absolutely no idea that Jessie was trying on her dress at that exact moment. The door opened, and he accidentally saw her. Dave froze in place.
— Dave?!
Jessie turned around in surprise.
Her mother immediately threw up her hands.

— Get out! Get out right now!
Dave raised his hands in confusion.
— What? Why?
— You are not supposed to see the bride in her dress before the wedding!
Jessie laughed.
— Mom, please...
But Jessie's mother looked completely serious.
— It is bad luck! What are you doing?!

The Newlyweds Believed In The Best... And They Were Wrong...

Dave looked at Jessie and smiled.
— I do not believe in things like that.
— Neither do I.
Jessie answered.
She walked closer to him.
— Look how beautiful it is.
Dave could not take his eyes off her.
— You are incredibly beautiful...
Jessie's mother sighed heavily.

— You can laugh all you want... But I am warning you.
Jessie hugged her mother.
— Mom, it is just superstition.
Dave nodded.
— Nothing bad is going to happen.
They both smiled and continued discussing the dress, while her mother watched them anxiously for a few more seconds. She could not explain why such an unpleasant feeling had suddenly appeared inside her. But she was right... Only no one understood then just how terrifying that feeling would turn out to be.

Jessie Felt As Though She Was Living In A Dream...

The closer the wedding day came, the more often Jessie found herself thinking that she could not believe what was happening. Not so long ago, she had been sitting in a café with Emma and Chloe and had no idea that the guy at the next table who sent her a bouquet of flowers would one day become her fiancé. Now their entire home was filled with wedding invitations, boxes of gifts for the guests, and the final details of the decorations. Dave pretended to be completely calm but Jessie could clearly see how nervous he was.
— You have already checked the guest list for the third time.
She said one evening.

— I just want to make sure everyone is coming.
— There are four hundred people, Dave.
— That is exactly why I am worried.
Jessie laughed and sat down beside him.
— We will handle it.
He looked at her and took her hand.
— I know. We always have.
But how wrong they were...

When The Wedding Day Finally Arrived, Everything Looked Like A Real Fairy Tale...

Jessie and Dave's wedding was exactly as they had imagined it. The huge venue was decorated with hundreds of flowers, candles, and beautiful arrangements, while long tables had been prepared for nearly four hundred guests. Music was playing from every direction, photographers were running between the guests, relatives were hugging and congratulating one another, and Dave's friends joked that they had never seen him this happy before. 

Jessie was getting ready with her mother and several close friends. When she finally put on the dress, everyone around her fell silent for a few seconds.
— Well?
Jessie asked with a nervous smile.
Her mother looked at her, and her eyes filled with tears.
— You are beautiful...
Jessie immediately felt herself starting to cry too....

The Last Moments Of Their Happiness...

— Mom, do not start. Otherwise, I will ruin my makeup.
— Today, you are allowed to do anything.
At the same time, Dave was standing with his friends and trying to look calm. But one of them noticed him looking at his watch yet again.
— Are you nervous?
— No.
— Dave, you have checked the time five times in one minute.
He let out a heavy sigh.
— Okay. Yes. A little.
When Jessie finally appeared and started walking toward him, Dave literally froze. All four hundred guests disappeared for him in an instant. He was looking only at her.

— You are crying...
Jessie whispered softly as she came closer.
— No.
— I can see it.
— It is... the wind.
She laughed.
— We are indoors, Dave.
He smiled through his tears.
— Then I am just very happy.
And at that moment, no one could imagine that this happiness would last for such a terrifyingly short time...

The Celebration Continued Until Late At Night...

After the ceremony, the real celebration began. Guests congratulated Jessie and Dave, made toasts, gave them gifts, and remembered funny stories from their lives. Their parents could not hide their tears, their friends danced until they were exhausted, and Jessie and Dave kept telling each other that they could not believe how many people had come to share this day with them. There were so many gifts that the newlyweds did not even have time to look through all the boxes.
— I think we are going to need a separate room just for the gifts.
Jessie said.

@wvlt.tv 

Later, it was time for their first dance. The very music they had practiced to for so many weeks after work finally began playing in front of all their loved ones. Jessie rested her head on Dave's shoulder.
— Just do not step on my foot.
She whispered quietly.
Their loved ones surrounded them, applause filled the room, camera flashes went off all around them, and Jessie felt as though this was what absolute happiness looked like. But at one point, Dave received a message and became serious for a few seconds.
— What happened?
Jessie asked.
He quickly put his phone away.
— Nothing. They were just confirming the time of our departure.
— So our surprise is coming soon?
Dave smiled.
— Even sooner than you think...

The Guests Decided That Jessie And Dave Had Prepared The Most Incredible Finale...

None of the guests expected what happened next. The music became quieter for a few seconds, people started looking up, and then the sound of approaching helicopter blades could be heard above the venue. At first, the guests did not understand what was happening. And then Jessie saw the helicopter.
— Dave...
She slowly turned to her husband.
He was smiling broadly.
— Surprise.
The guests literally erupted into applause. Some started screaming with excitement, others took out their phones, and Jessie's parents did not even understand at first that their daughter and son-in-law were really about to fly away in a helicopter.
— Are you serious?!

Jessie asked.
— You did not think we were just going to leave in a car, did you?
She covered her face with her hands and laughed.
— You are crazy.
— Only today?
— No. Always.
According to the plan, the helicopter was supposed to take the newlyweds to DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, where their journey would continue. The flight was intended as a special farewell to the guests before Jessie and Dave spent the night at a hotel in downtown Atlanta. Everything looked like the perfect final scene of a romantic movie. The newlyweds climbed into the helicopter, the guests waved goodbye to them, photographers tried to capture the last shots, and Jessie, glowing with happiness, leaned against Dave.
— This is the best day of my life.
She said.
Dave kissed her on the forehead.
— And only the beginning of our life.
Those were some of the last words she would hear from him...

But Even Before Takeoff, Dave Felt That Something Was Wrong With The Weather...

The rain began even before the helicopter took off. The sky was getting darker and darker, and visibility was gradually getting worse. To most of the guests, it did not seem particularly dangerous. But Dave had dreamed about the sky his entire life and knew much more about aviation than most people. His father later said that Dave had dreamed of flying since he was ten years old and eventually became a first officer at Delta Air Lines. That was why he understood perfectly well how dangerous poor visibility could be.
Before takeoff, Dave looked toward the pilot and expressed his concern.
— Visibility is almost zero...
He said.
According to his father, George, Dave knew that flights normally did not take place in such poor visibility.

But the pilot assured the newlyweds that he would be able to take the helicopter higher and continue the flight at a greater altitude. Jessie later told her father-in-law that this was exactly what the pilot had told her.
Dave looked at his wife. She was still smiling and had no idea how worried he was.
— Is everything okay?
She asked.
He fell silent for a second.
— Yes... Everything will be okay.
Jessie took his hand.
— We are almost on our honeymoon.
Dave smiled, although perhaps inside he was feeling something completely different.
The helicopter took off and disappeared into the thick fog. The guests continued watching it for some time, unaware that tragedy was already very close...

Just A Few Minutes Later, Everything Changed Completely...

The helicopter never reached DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. Flying through the thick fog, it crashed. What had seemed like a fairy-tale beginning to their wedding journey just minutes earlier ended in a terrible catastrophe. Dave and the pilot died instantly. Somehow, against all odds, Jessie survived.
When she regained consciousness, there was no longer a beautiful wedding around her, no hundreds of guests, no music, and no applause. She was trapped beneath the wreckage of the helicopter, injured, disoriented, and completely alone. Beside her was the body of her husband.
The man she had been laughing with, making plans with, and talking about the future with just minutes earlier...

— Dave...
She tried to call out to him.
But there was no answer.
Jessie spent nearly five horrifying hours beside the wreckage. She did not know whether the rescuers would find her in time. She waited, hoped, lost strength again and again, and tried not to lose consciousness. The most terrifying part was that she was beside Dave but there was nothing she could do for him anymore.
And that morning, she had been looking at him at the altar...
Just a few hours earlier, he had promised that he would always be by her side. On the good days... and on the hardest ones.
And now the hardest day of her life had come just a few hours after those words...

When The Rescuers Finally Found Jessie, No One Could Believe That She Had Survived At All...

Nearly five hours of waiting beneath the wreckage came to an end only when Jessie finally heard the rescuers. She was alive... They pulled her from beneath the wreckage and rushed her to the doctors. After such a terrible crash, everyone expected the worst. But it was later discovered that Jessie had suffered only bruises and cuts, as though a very powerful guardian angel had been protecting her...
But no one could imagine what was happening inside her.
Just a few hours earlier, she had been a bride walking toward the altar in the dress of her dreams. Then she became a wife. Then she flew away with her husband toward their honeymoon. And now Dave was gone...

His father, George, later said that it was incredibly difficult for the family to cope with what had happened but their Christian faith was helping them endure the loss.
— The only place where we can find answers and peace is God.
Jessie and Dave had found each other, become husband and wife, and believed that they had an entire life ahead of them.
And perhaps that is why Jessie will remember every second of that wedding for the rest of her life... Because we need to enjoy every moment of life, because we never know when our last day will be...