Chapter 11: The Wedding

I had never worn a wedding dress. I would never wear one. But as I walked down the aisle, I felt more beautiful than I’d ever felt. Because I was walking toward the future. Toward Claude. Toward myself.

The morning of the wedding dawned clear and bright, the sun casting a golden glow over the city. I woke up in my apartment—my last morning as a single woman—and lay in bed for a long moment, staring at the ceiling. I was completely naked, as always, but I felt like I was wrapped in the warmth of anticipation.

Today was the day. The day I’d been dreaming about since Claude had proposed. The day I would marry the love of my life. The day I would make the most profound commitment of my existence.

And I would do it naked.

The thought made me laugh. Of course I’d be naked. I’d been naked for nearly ten years. Why would my wedding day be any different? But there was something symbolic about it, something powerful. I was walking down the aisle exactly as I was—unadorned, unashamed, completely myself.

My phone buzzed. A text from Yolanda: “I’m on my way. Don’t do anything crazy before I get there.”

I smiled. Yolanda had been my rock for years, and I couldn’t imagine going through this day without her.

“I’ll try,” I texted back. “But no promises.”

Yolanda arrived an hour later, armed with a bag of pastries and a bottle of champagne.

“Today’s the day!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a hug. “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready,” I said. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”

We spent the morning getting ready together, laughing and talking and remembering all the moments that had led us here. Yolanda had been with me through everything—the court case, the years of struggling, the rise to fame. She’d seen me at my worst and my best. And she’d never stopped believing in me.

“Thank you,” I said, as she helped me with my hair. “For everything. I wouldn’t be here without you.”

“You would have found your way,” she said. “But I’m glad I got to be part of the journey.”

The wedding was being held at a small garden venue on the outskirts of the city. It was intimate, beautiful, and completely private—no paparazzi, no reporters, just the people I loved most in the world.

Claude had arranged everything. He’d wanted to give me a day that was perfect, a day that was ours. And he’d succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.

I arrived at the venue with Yolanda, my heart pounding with anticipation. The garden was even more beautiful than I’d imagined—a riot of color and fragrance, with flowers of every hue and a canopy of trees overhead.

“You look beautiful,” Yolanda said, squeezing my hand.

“I look the same as I always do,” I said, laughing.

“Exactly,” she said. “You look like yourself. And that’s the most beautiful thing you could be.”

The ceremony was about to begin. I stood at the entrance to the garden, my heart pounding, and watched as the guests filed in. Katy was there, resplendent in a flowing dress that seemed to catch the light. My parents were there, my mother’s eyes already glistening with tears. Rachel Wilson was there, along with the rest of the sitcom team. And scattered among the guests were members of the permanent community—the people who’d become my family. They were all naked, a beautiful testament to the freedom we’d fought for together.

“Ready?” Katy asked, appearing beside me.

“Ready,” I said.

Katy walked me down the aisle. It had been my choice. My father was there, and I loved him, but Katy had been my mentor, my guide, my North Star. She was the one who’d helped me find my voice, who’d taught me that my nudity wasn’t a weakness but a strength.

The music swelled, and I stepped forward. The garden was bathed in sunlight, and the air was filled with the scent of flowers. Claude was waiting at the altar, his eyes shining with love and joy. He was completely naked, just like me—he’d chosen to join me at this moment, to show the world that he accepted me fully, completely, without reservation.

“Hey, you,” I whispered as I reached him.

“Hey, you,” he whispered back.

The officiant began the ceremony, but I barely heard the words. All I could see was Claude. All I could feel was the love radiating between us.

“I take you to be my wife,” Claude said, his voice steady and full of emotion. “In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse. I promise to love you, honor you, and cherish you for all the days of my life.”

I repeated the vows, my voice trembling with emotion. “I take you to be my husband. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse. I promise to love you, honor you, and cherish you for all the days of my life.”