UNTIL LOVE DO YOU PART

And it did, but to quickly......

***

Diana could feel the thumping in her heart, she was so nervous as she walked through the aisle, her left land interlocked in Carl’s right one. Even though her face was covered in white veil; she was still very shy. 

The church was filled with people, the ones she knew and some she hadn’t seen in her entire life; this was a family church in Georgia and today was her wedding day. The day she had waited for all her life, she was so happy and nervous at the same time. Her thoughts were confusing, she wanted everything to be over in a glimpse, yet she wanted to savor the happiness too; the smile on these people’s face were genuine and the one on her mum’s was priceless. 

Diana was as beautiful as Cinderella in the fairy tales, just that she wasn’t wearing a shoe made of glass. She was one of the rear breeds with red hair and her eyes were blue but lighter, her full lips was covered in red lipstick bringing out her beautiful face as it matched with her hair. 

The wedding gown she wore brought up her breasts, and her cleavage had a clear view but one wouldn’t see the figure eight shaped body she had because of her flowing wedding gown. 

One step at a time, they took as they walked down the aisle; the flower girls didn’t stop for once as they kept filling their path with wonderful flowers which had magnificent fragrance. Another was at the rear holding Diana’s flowing white wedding gown from touching the floor. 

The clapping didn’t stop either as they walked to the altar; Sandra Flames was fighting the tears that was threatening to fall off her eyes, she was so happy that her daughter was getting married, this was the dream of every mother who had a female child. The smile on her face was so bright, and the side of her lips were twitching as she fought back the tears. 

Carl was unbelievably calm, as if he had done this before; he wasn’t s tensed neither was he nervous, his composure was great and his gaze was focused on the altar and the man who stood there waiting for them. Carl Adams was a handsome man, he was 5’9 and had dark curly hair, his eyes were grey. He looked like a simple responsible man with his suit, there was a grin on his face and it seemed like it was permanent. 

It was as if they had been walking for hours in Diana’s eyes, her nervousness was increasing as she got closer to the altar and she avoided all the eyes that were glaring at her even though the veil wouldn’t allow them notice that she was staring back at them. Finally, they were at the altar steps and Carl was helping her up the three stairs that seemed like thirty. 

The sound of the clapping and cheering were starting to reduce and this made Diana more and more nervous as she was aware that every one in the hall had their gaze on her. She never knew this was how weddings looked like, she had been to weddings but she hadn’t been focused enough to think of how it would be if it was her, and now she was getting the answer in reality. 

The priest voice jolted her to reality as she realized that Carl was staring at her right through the veil and had a look on his face that said ‘are you okay?’ 

Diana smiled and blushed, which gave Carl the answer he needed. 

“You are all welcome to this wonderful ceremony, as we all know; this is the most important part of a wedding ceremony and without it, they cannot be called husband and wife,” the priest began, his voice was loud and clear and he spoke with so much joy. Diana had known him since she was very little, she wouldn’t have thought he’d be the one to handle her wedding rites. 

“Before i go on with the wedding rites, I’ve a very simple question to ask. I’m sure everyone seated here is either part of either families, friends, relatives and maybe friends of friends.” The priest paused and observed the crowd, he had to do it; even though it was a risky move and could destroy the union he was about to make. 

The crowd curiosity increased, and the silence that went through the all was not a usual one. Sandra Flames shifted her gaze to her husband who was sitting right next to her. Miles Flames returned the gaze, there was a grin on his face and it seemed he like he was enjoying every bit of the suspense the priest made. However, Sandra wasn’t enjoying it, her face told it all. Miles gave her a ‘don’t worry’ look without uttering a word, he returned his gaze to the altar. 

“I’m only going ask the question once, so i expect every single person in this hall to pay attention,” the priest chipped in another ounce of suspense, which resulted to little murmurings from the crowd. 

But, as soon as they heard his voice; they all paid attention, wanting to hear what he really had to say. 

“If you’re seated in this all, and you do not wish for this marriage to hold, please do raise your hand and tell us why,” the priest released the words without taking a breath. 

The crowd went wild and almost everyone was turning backwards to see if there was any one raising their hands. 

Diana almost gasped, she stared closely at the priest, he was concentrating on the crowd to see if there would be any hands. She couldn’t believe what she just heard, even though she had heard it several times at weddings; but this time it felt absolutely different. 

It could ruin everything, all what she desired could be gone in an instant. Dozens of things were going through her mind, there was no one she could think of that wouldn’t want this wedding to hold, she had few enemies in Georgia and she wasn’t sure if they attended her wedding. If anybody was going to raise their hand it’d be from Carl’s family or friends. 

But, the fact that Carl was still unbelievably calm was unusual and it was giving her creepy vibes. He wasn’t even checking the crowd if someone was going to raise their hands, his gaze was fixed on her and she was sure he could see the uneasiness in her face. He had this ‘don’t worry, everything would be okay’ look on his face; like he wasn’t concerned at all. Carl had always been a calm and gentle man but he wasn’t all that gentle when he was with her, although that was what attracted Diana to him at first. But today, it was an extraordinary type of calmness. 

Sandra heart leapt when she heard what the priest said, she quickly held her husband’s hands, but what he said surprised her a little. It was as if the men weren’t moved by these things. 

“Why are you scared, have you offended anyone who wouldn’t want this marriage?” Miles asked, there was this silly grin that curled up his lips, he was somewhat joking and still serious. 

“No of course, I’m just..... I mean anything could happen, i wouldn’t advise this kind of questions in weddings, at least not for my daughter’s.” Sandra defended herself, turning her head backwards to see if there was anybody raising their hands. 

“It has already been said Sandra, and it seems like there’s no one who against this wedding,” Miles concluded and concentrated his gaze on the altar once again. 

When Diana heard the priest voice, she felt so relieved, it was as if she had been holding her breath ever since the priest said those words. 

“Now that we’ve no one against this union, we can now proceed with the wedding rites; thank you all for your patience.” The priest apologized and came forward to stand just few meters from Diana and Carl. 

The smile on Carl’s face brightened up and so did Diana, they held each other hands and awaited instructions from the priest. 

Sandra was so happy that her husband was a man without worry, the moment that just ended showed her the amount of faith that her husband had, somehow she wished she was just like him but she was a woman who couldn’t help but worry and fret at the slightest thing, she was a woman after all. 

“Please let’s all stand as the couple take their vows,” the priest said with a smile, staring at the beautiful couple in front of him, he was sure that what he did a moment ago would have given them goosebumps but it was necessary although not compulsory. 

“Please repeat after me as you recite your vows, one after the other; I’ll start with you, Carl.” The priest grinned. 

“Repeat this, I Carl Adams, take you, Diana Flames to be my beloved wife, i promise to be true to you in good times, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.” 

Carl repeated the vow staring into Diana blue eyes through the veil, he couldn’t wait to open it and kiss that lips. 

Diana also said her vows with so much joy in her heart. Finally, she would be a married lady in few minutes. She was in her late twenties and her mother had been worried if she was ever going to get a husband and out of nowhere, he appeared and they fell magically in love. 

They only dated for two years before Carl proposed, Diana didn’t hesitate. 

“Thank you so much, you can now have your seats,” the priest told the audience and continued with the rites. 

He held both their hands joining it together, his gaze was on Carl first, then he spoke loudly and clearly. 

“Do you take Diana Flames as your lawful wife from this day, for better for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish her until love do you part? If you do, say i do” 

“I do,” Carl confirmed, he wasn’t removing his gaze from Diana for one second. 

The priest turned towards Diana and repeated the same thing. 

“I do,” Diana agreed, she couldn’t hold back the blush that flushed around her cheeks, she allowed it; she didn’t fight it. It was needed at this moment. 

Carl’s best man quickly walked up the stage and handed over a ring to the priest, he blesses it and gave it to Carl. He inserted the ring in Diana’s finger, he wanted to kiss her hand but he held himself back. 

The groom maid of honor brought another ring to the priest which he blessed and handed over to Diana. She also placed the ring in Carls finger while she blushed. 

The priest then hesitated a little before he said the words everybody was waiting for. 

Carl hands were itchy, but he loved the suspense too, the feeling was wonderful. He married a very beautiful wife and this made him very proud and happy. This moment would be in his heart for ever, even to his grave. He loved Diana, so much that he couldn’t explain it and the fact that she reciprocated that love was soothing and it brought peace to his mind and life. 

Diana wanted to yell at the priest for inserting suspense at this very point, her heart beat couldn’t remain stable; any moment from now Carl was going to open the veil covering her face and press his lips to hers in front of all these people. She wasn’t going to pass out, Diana assured herself. 

Sandra Flames covered her mouth with both hands, this was the most embarrassing part in weddings, and it brought back memories of when she and Miles were standing on the altar. She wasn’t as shy as Diana though but she was sure Diana inherited a littler bit of the shyness from her. Just as calm as Carl was, that was how Miles was then; and even now Miles was as calm as the night. Although the grin wouldn’t leave his face. 

“I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss your bride” the priest finalized and took few steps backwards. 

Carl raised the veil and took a satisfactory look at Diana’s beautiful face before placing his lips on hers, as his lips brushed hers; as he felt the warmth of her tongue clashing against his, Carl suddenly collapsed towards Diana. She held him quickly from falling, and immediately the crowd went into pandemonium......