"Darian, you may kiss the bride."
Dad doesn't move. Mum's hands stop shaking for the first time in days as she leans in. Uncle Jory forces a cough. Dad hesitates but plants a quick peck on Mum's lips as the crowd enthusiastically applauds. Except Uncle Jory.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife!" The priest announces whilst staring at Mum. "As the bride doesn't have a maid in attendance, I now call to the stand, Darian Kaymar's best man… Iron Blood Jorren!" The crowd erupts into applause as Uncle Jory slowly begins to approach the altar, maintaining eye contact with Dad the whole way there. As he approaches the altar, the priest offers a handshake, Jory ignores. When attempting to step up, Jory clips his foot on the step, causing him to trip and stammer forward a step before standing up straight and taking the microphone off of the priest, flashing him a… glare? As he thanks him.
He walks to the centre of the altar, microphone in hand, taking a deep breath and an extended blink before speaking, "U-um." He wipes his forehead with a sigh before continuing, "Th-thank you all for coming today. Today is uh… Thank you all, this is truly a day to remember. The coming together of a family. Of two loved ones. Two people who I simply couldn't imagine existing without one another." He grips the microphone tighter, "Without Elira, I really doubt Darian would be who he is today." He turns to face Mum with a smile, "So… th-thank you." He glances at Dad who's staring at the floor before continuing, "These two illustrious individuals, coming from different paths, different backgrounds," He sighs, "different families… are now able to forget all of that! None of it matters anymore as they are now together, happily married as Kaymars." He pauses, looking at everyone in the crowd before turning to face the priest, Mum and Dad. "Thank you." he says before handing the microphone back to the priest as the crowd stands and applauds.
As the clapping begins to fade… wait, what's Dad doing?
"Sorry kid." Jory whispers.
The sound of Jorren's heartbeat fills the room.
A blue light?
"I feel dizz-"
My eyes flutter open: everyone… asleep.
I'm being carried?
I groan, attempting to wake up.
"Aven?" A voice said my name.
"Shh, go to sleep, Aven."
The sun sets.
"Where am I?" I ask as I drag myself out of the bed that I'm in. "My house? Why am I here?" I sit up in my bed, "Jory knocked me out again. Someone must've carried me home. But what about the rest of the wedding and dinner?" My ears continue to ring, "This one felt worse than last time. Why and how does he do that?"
"Why? Why Elira?!"
"Dad?" I wonder, "Why can I hear Dad's voice outside?"
I glance out the window: still snowing, there's moonlight. It must be the night of the wedding.
"I'm sorry, D. I didn't think you'd notice"
"Why is Mum's voice shaking…She's crying."
I tiptoe towards the door.
The floor creaks.
I squint my eyes.
He's shaking too?
"You Idiotic Bitch! Elira, why didn't you just say?!"
I stop moving, choking on my breath. Is that really my dad?
"I'm sorry. Darian, I'm fucking sorry!"
My breathing picks up.
The argument stops dead.
"He's here." Dad states.
Dad grits his teeth.
A strong wind.
My vision's blurry.
I walk over to my parents, "Mum, Dad, I think I'm going to go to bed now, okay?" Mum smiles, "Okay, homey. I'll just see Dad off to work then I'm going to sleep too."
My head turns to Dad, "Goodnight son." He sighs, "I'll see you soon."
My head slowly nods.
I stumble toward my bedroom.
"Everything's so calm. I'm floating!"
In the distance, "D, you didn't have to do that."
"He's stronger than you think Ellie. We need to figure out how we're going to…"
Bed… finally.
I wake up… in my bed again? "Someone put me here." I drag myself out of bed. "What… was that?" I ask myself, recalling what I had heard. "I've never been that tired in my life."
My head still spins.
"That was weird."
I glance outside the window, "Sun rise; it's the morning after the wedding."
"Mum and Dad need to explain that. They sounded like a bunch of crazy people." I comment with a… nervous chuckle? "Mum? Dad?" I call out as I search the house. "He's not here, Aven." A voice tells me, from across the hallway. I hesitate before speaking, "Who…Mum?" I ask as I stare at the slumped over mess before me.
"He's gone, Aven.
He left last night."
I stare blankly, "Mum, you need to sleep. You're tired."
My hand stings.
She slapped me.
"Mum, why?"
She gags.
Gags again.
Throws up.
"Mum?" I ask.
No response.
"What happened to you?" I ask, "Just yesterday you were… normal."
No reply.
"Was last night," I pause, "real?"
She flinches at my question.
"You… remember that?" Her reddened eyes meet mine.
I nod.
"He was right." She mumbles.
She shudders, "Yes. " She sighs, tears streaming. "It happened. All of it."
My heartbeat picks up.
I clench my fists.
"No it didn't."
Her body trembles, "It did. Aven he…"
She pauses, smearing the tears against her cheek, "He hates me." Her voice breaks.
"Why does he hate me?"
She shakes her head. Repeatedly.
"Aven, I ruined us." She slams her fist into the floor.
What's happening?
"Dad should be home from work soon."
I smile… forced.
My shaking hand reaches for the doorknob. "I'm just going to go look for him. He'll know what to do."
I step outside into the cold.
Behind me, the door stays open.
Mum never never calls my name.