A Wedding and A Divorce

Spring 2019

"I always knew we had no future together.

But that past, with your presence, was my most beautiful present ever."

Faith Heming clenched her hands as she sat with her back straight in the beautiful church. She stared at the man who stood in front of the altar, his head bowed in prayer. From her body to her eyes, nothing betrayed the storm brewing inside her as all remained calm on the surface.

A gentle smile played along her lips as "Here comes the bride" started to play and the ornate doors of the old Victorian church opened slowly. All the eyes turned to look at the bride to catch a glimpse of the girl. After all, today was the wedding of the century. The most eligible bachelor and the most beautiful woman were getting married. But that was not all, two of the most powerful families on the continent were coming together after a hundred years! This wedding would be a big turning point from an economic point of view as well.

Even as Faith turned her body, her eyes did not leave him, not interested in the bride. He turned back slowly and inexplicably her heart tightened. Because, instead of looking at his bride, his eyes connected to hers, for just that brief second before they looked at his bride. But that second was something that caused a thousand times the pain to Faith. She saw the gentle smile he gave the girl. The kind that he had once upon a time always given her and was unable to tear her eyes away. 

Closing her eyes, she imagined for a moment that she was the bride who he was waiting for and captured that look deep in her heart. At this moment, if someone were to just throw a look her way, they would see the yearning in her eyes and the pain. However, she soon composed herself and then that too was gone.

The rest of the celebrations passed away in a daze and Faith danced away the evening with friends and family, congratulating the bride and groom and drinking and wishing them a long, happy life. But like all celebrations, this too came to an end.

As Faith walked home, a small hand wrapped around her waist. Startled, she looked sideways and smiled at her best friend.  "Are you supporting me or wanting me to support you."

"Both, honey! How are you doing? You seem extremely happy despite..."

"Of course I am happy. One of my best friends got married today."

"What best friend! I am your only best friend. A person you have not spoken more than two words to in two years is barely an acquaintance not even worthy of calling a friend. I don't even know what you saw in hi.."

"Hey! Today is a happy day, Grace! Let's not spoil our mood! The night is still young, let's go out and have some fun. We can hit a few bars and go dancing! Though we are a bit drunk, we'll have some hangover soup before and then.."

"Alright alright! I don't understand what you are so happy about but since you are happy after a long time, I definitely won't rain on your parade. Let's go!"

Staggering under the dim lights, the two women flagged a cab and entered a nightclub dancing till their feet were covered in blisters and their faces flushed red with the alcohol effects.

Late into the night, Grace supported her best friend as she tried to open the door to her apartment with the other. The girl was going to regret this tomorrow. For a moment, Grace could not hold back the sigh of pity she felt for Faith. For the first time after five years, she had seen her old friend smile again.

But she knew that this smile was not the same as the one in the past, for that carefree one had been long stolen.

"Hey! What are you sighing for?" Faith called out.

"I am sighing over your weight! Do you think it is easy for someone of my small stature to support a tall woman like you?"

"Fine Fine sorry! I'll just lean against the door and.."

Before Faith could complete more, she swayed, even more, causing both women to almost fall over.

"Hey! Faith Heming! Why did you drink so much since you cannot hold your liquor!"

"Because I am happy tonight! So happy that I don't want to remember this night! You know tonight is the wedding night.."

Grace shook her head and finally pushed her friend into the apartment. The girl did not even look where she was and simply collapsed on the first available surface. The floor.

"Oh Faith! What am I going to do with you?" This exasperated statement caused Faith to break into laughter.

"I don't know. I don't even know what I am going to do with myself. But Grace, should I tell you a secret?"

"Hmm.." Grace finally succeeded in opening the door.

"I am getting a divorce."

Grace stilled and turned to look at Faith who was now sitting on the floor. Had she heard correctly? For years now, she had urged the girl to leave that man and go to Adi. After all, she had known that Adi had been longing for her...and he would have accepted her.

And tonight when Adi had finally moved on, and married another woman, Faith was divorcing her husband?