The marriage
1231 Words
Leona could not believe what was happening. First of all, she had run away from her home for the weekend because she was scared about the flowers and chocolates and the letters she had received. Now here was Ralph, who had returned and was immediately making plans for marriage in a month?
He had said those words, given her a kiss, and left without saying anything more.
Ralph had indeed changed; here was the boy who would hardly look into eyes when he said something. Now here, he was giving her more like an option she felt she couldn’t run away from, but why?
There was a knock on the door, and Paige came into the room, as she had not seen her since Ralph came and left the way he did.
“Why are you crying, girl? Did that douchebag say something to hurt you?” She asked as she was already in a fighting mood.
Leona explained all that was discussed, and Paige was now left with her lips open.
“Don’t you think you should give it a try?” Paige finally gathered the courage to say it, it, and Leona could only wish she could kill her because this was not the way she had planned to get married, even if she wanted to.
“Now Paige, are you crazy?” she asked.
"Well, hear it from me: the way you spoke about him and how he understood you and your body back in school, I think he is the perfect match for you," she explained, and hearing all of this, she knew that she could indeed be comfortable with him.
“But isn’t this too fast?” She asked again, trying to see reason with her thoughts.
“It is, and that is how life is; he just might be the right one and might definitely be the one who was sent to whip you off your feet like this, Leo," she explained.
“So, you are okay with me saying yes to his proposal?” she asked her friend again.
“Trust me, Leo, I want what is best for you, and this is best for you. Don't fight it; don't let your fears get you to make a wrong decision. Think about it and come to an agreement with yourself," she said, holding her even tighter in a hug.
She said this and gave her a kiss as she left the room and left left Leona to her thoughts.
********
She felt someone shaking her.
“Go away, I want to have the depth of sleep I deserve," she said, pulling the blanket over her head.
She heard a chuckle. “Come on, Leona, you have to wake up. Remember, you have some shopping to do," Paige said. Immediately she heard those words, and her eyes snapped open as she looked at Paige.
“Ah! Paige, I don’t want to do this; I just can't," she grumbled as she shut her eyes yet again.
In her thoughts now, this felt real; it was no longer a dream or some plaything that happened yesterday, it was a reality, huh!
Finally, she sat up as she used her hands to cover her face, trying to understand how she finally accepted this.
“Can’t we push this for when I am really ready?” she said as she looked at Paige.
“I could say yes, but he already sent some men here, and they also come with a stylist, so you have to make sure you are up and ready to go.
The truth was she knew that whenever he made up his mind for something, it meant he was going to stick to it; for example, when she wanted to take a second job in college and he refused and put her on an allowance of $500 every week, which she saved some of, and it helped her pay for her apartment before he disappeared and she got the library job to keep her going.
Paige left to change into something comfortable so they could go with the stylist and have them choose a wedding dress for her.
She wore her glasses and took in a deep breath; it was too fast, and she knew it all felt wrong and right, but somehow, she felt her body and soul belonged to him and him alone, and even if she tried to deny the feeling, it was going to be there forever.
******
Standing before the mirror, she saw herself in one of the most expensive wedding gowns; she could only see it in a magazine and wished she could afford it, but here she was in the dress, and she looked extremely beautiful in it.
A month had passed, and here she was. She had no clue how all of this had happened, and here she was, ready to be married to her fuckable roommate, who had been bi, but now, the way he behaved towards her, she didn't know if he was actually bi and wanted to be by her side or if, indeed, he was a bi man.
She stood there, and she didn’t know if she felt so happy or sad about what was about to happen to her now.
She looked at the tulip flowers she had in hand, and it all looked like the flowers she had been receiving at the library every day and the chocolates too that stood on her gift table, sent by Ralph.
Paige had to pause herself from the door as she looked at her best friend in the most beautiful wedding gown she had ever seen.
“You look so beautiful, Leona," she said, and tears were coming down her cheeks like a proud mother seeing her daughter walk down the aisle after so much.
“You think I look beautiful?” she asked as she looked at her gown yet again.
“Baby Leona, I really wish you knew I love you so much, and if you don’t want to do this, then don't. I hate seeing you like this," she said as she wiped the tears off her eyes.
Leona looked at her; she had cried all night, and there just were no more tears to send out now.
She was not ready for all of these; she knew she had a lot of things she wanted to to do for herself before this. There were millions of emotions she had in her heart.
“I will do it," she felt her lips say.
“Let’s go?” Paige asked her, and she shook her head, accepting.
She walked down the aisle, and there he was, looking like a proud man who had just won a trophy.
“Do you, Leona Evans, take Ralph Monroe to be your lawfully wedded husband in sickness, in health, through the worse and the better till death do you part?”
“I-I-I-I do," she replied, her eyes everywhere but not on Ralph.
“Do you, Ralph Monroe, take Leona Evans to be your lawfully wedded wife in sickness and in health, through the worse and the better, till death do you part?”
“I do," he replied, his smile planted on his face as he looked at her, extremely happy.
“I hereby pronounce you man and wife; you may now kiss the bride."
- Writer
