The Rebirth

EPISODE 8: The Wedding

It was finally the big anticipated day after some months of reconnections, date outings, short vacations and shopping together. The Catholic Church was crowded with so many well-dressed guests, anxiously waiting for the wedding ceremony. Amongst those guests were Mr. and Mrs. Lawson who both wore matching outfits, Juliet who was dressed in a beautiful satin gown, Buley who wore the same suit as his brother, and Anita his wife, who looked overdressed for just a wedding ceremony.

Tonelo’s friends were also present and they each wore blue suits.Abel could not stop smiling sheepishly at poor Tonelo who stood at the altar, sweating profusely like a scapegoat about to be slaughtered for Christmas, he had so much tension in his eyes.

All the guests stood up in honor of the bride when the processional wedding song began, Agnes in her own bridal gracefulness slowly walked down the aisle at her mother’s arm. Even though the people reacted differently at her presence, at least they all had an awe expression, an they all showed her with adulation, once she entered the room.

Any groom would have been really excited to see his bride in a beautiful white gown with its grown full skirt, intricate detailing, flowery edges and stunning sleeves, but Tonelo was an exception as he seemed rather overwhelmed.

Though his eyes went wide in admiration when he beheld the woman he was about to marry, he gazed at her in astonishment as that was the first time he saw how beautiful Agnes looked.

Nevertheless, that was just what he felt, nothing more, nothing less. His heart wasn’t beating fast nor his world moved in slow motion for the woman that was now inches closer to him. For some reason, he was just taunted with a feeling of uncertainty.

Do you remember Tonelo’s class mate back then in the seminary? The guy that was nicknamed the living saint, well he was the witness for the occasion.

Father Anthony was an example of "do not judge a book by its cover”, because he looked more like a club bouncer than a holy jumbo. After the processional song, just as it was being done in a traditional Catholic marriage, Biblical passages were read by Juliet, there was a short ceremony about marriage given by father Anthony and, of course the church choir sang about two to three songs regarding true love and marriages.

The entire guests stood up as the couple took their vows, declaring their love for each other. Unlike Agnes, who professed her vows with uttermost sincerity, Tonelo read his from a piece of paper and, even as that happened, he still stammered as he read them. When the priest sensed how Tonelo’s reluctance affected the congregation, he immediately decided to save his friend by making a joke about his act.

"Tonelo you do not have to stammer, all these will just take few minutes and then you will finally have your beloved one all to yourself."

The entire guests burst into laughter and that made them instantly forget the incident.

The priest blessed the couple as he joined their hands together after which he asked Agnes.

"Do you take Tonelo Lawson to be your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sicknesses and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?" She swiftly responded, as if to stop the priest from taking back the question

"I do"

He asked Tonelo the same question, but he hesitated to answer.

The feeling of uncertainty clouded his judgement and for the first time in his life, he wished he had become a priest, at least he wouldn't be standing on the alter in front of people, about to marry a woman he did not love. He threw glances at his parents and his friends as if to seek solitude for his helplessness, but they all looked judgmentally at him which only made things worse for him.

It was a bad time. for Mrs Lawson as Tonelo ranted indecisively, she appeared very nervous and frightened. She instantly clinged to her husband who wasted no time in placating her.

Tonelo turned his head to Buley, his best man as he could still vaguely recall his brother's words to him earlier today.

"Boomboy, I know you do not love her and I wouldn't want you to make the same mistake I made but it is not too late to back down from a lifetime filled with regrets."

He considered to retreat, but his heart melted when he looked at the innocent woman behind the veil in front of him, looking so worried yet smiling at him with reckless abandon,he remembered his promise to her, never to make her cry again.

As he did not want to break his promise, he reconsidered.

He knew that his life would never remain the same, in fact it could become worse than Buley's, but he still went ahead and replied to the priest.

"I do!"

On hearing her son's reply, Mrs Lawson heaved a sigh of relief.

The best man gave the brides ring to the priest who, blessed it and handed it to the groom to place on the brides finger.

Then the maid of honor gave the priest the groom's ring,who blessed it and handed it to the bride to place on the groom's finger.

Each of them recited "I take this ring as a sign of my love and faithfuness in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit amen".