Could You Forget We Ever Met?

Wedding Vows

Chapter 3: Wedding vows

***

“I’m not sure I can do it…” I mumbled quietly to myself but of course Kris had to overhear it. We were right outside the wedding hall but I stood there like an i***t, unwilling to walk inside.

“Then lean on me a bit.” Kris extended his arm towards me. I took hold of him without thinking, while he held onto Charlie with his other arm. How was this person giving me more support than anyone else in my life did?

We walked inside and just as expected it was bustling with people all happily chatting amongst each other. And among the crowd I saw him… Dimitri was standing a bit off to the side unwilling to talk too much, he held up a strong front and smiled faintly, maybe only I knew what true pain he was experiencing at that moment.

When the reception began everyone quieted down, Emily walked down the asle with a beautiful white gown, held in hand by her father. Everyone looked at her with admiration, adoration… of course because Emily was a wonderful person, she was kind and sweet and reliable…

I remember the first day meeting her as if it was yesterday and we were really good friends… until… until Dimitri… then I slowly distanced myself away from her because I couldn’t tell her the truth, I couldn’t tell her she took away the only man I loved…

“Thank you for coming…” Emily mouthed those words to me while walking down the asle. She was gorgeous… as if she was sparkling, I felt my heart being crushed. My friend that I had lost contact with for the past year still looked at me with so much affection as back then, she still wanted me to be at her wedding…

Although I was a person that envied her…

“Huk…” I was holding back my tears, I didn’t want to cry again, not here, not now…

“You’re such a baby…” Charlie held onto my hand, I felt his tiny hand barely able to grasp mine. Why was this child acting so much more mature than I was at the moment? And where did his speech impediment go again?

“...hey… are you… in love with her?” Suddenly Kris asked me with a serious expression on his face.

“NO!” I shouted loudly as I turned to him.

Everyone in the room paused and turned towards me, even the pope wondered what was happening, “If you have objections you’ll have to wait to speak them.”

“Ah… no, wait I’m sorry…” I lowered my head and everything resumed, so I turned to whisper to Kris. “I don’t like her.”

“It just seemed a bit off you’d go through so much trouble just to-” I didn’t even let him finish his sentence before I began explaining.

“It’s someone else I’m in love with…” Somehow I felt like I could spill my guts to this man and he’d be unfazed.

“I see… so it’s the groom…” Kris remarked as he looked forward, he wasn’t even facing me. “Truth be told he’s a rather ugly looking fellow.” He continued. “I don’t mean to judge your taste…”

“HUh? No… it’s not him either… what… why are you so interested in this?” I whispered quietly as I felt a squeeze of my hand, this time it wasn’t Charlie, but Kris that held on and squeezed my palm tightly.

“If he’s the reason you’re making such an expression right now then, he doesn’t deserve you.” Kris’s words were simple and yet reassuring. I wasn’t sure what they meant at first and I didn’t question it too much. I sat back and watched Emily exchange her wedding vows…

I should be happy for her exactly how I would have been happy back then, the way a truly good friend would have been happy for her.

“Iris! I’m so excited to see you again! I can’t believe you’ve changed so much! You’re as beautiful as ever!” Emily approached me it was almost as if I was teleported back into reality. I saw her face and the excitement. We’d moved to the reception area where everyone was drinking and eating and having a good time.

“I’m glad to be here. You’re gorgeous, really...” I smiled while looking at her.

“Ah, thank youuu, it’s all in the make up really…” Emily flushed a light shade of pink. “Truly it might be embarrassing but I’m somehow happier to see you today than my own parents! I really thought you wouldn’t have come.”

“Why… I mean…” I stumbled over my words.

“The wedding invite wasn’t lost, right?” Emily questioned. At that I felt like my blood had ran cold. Why did she have to be so observant?

“Yes, I’m sorry about that. The truth it my little one here messed with the mail. It was an accident really.” Kris spoke up all of a sudden and Charlie nodded along with his father’s lie. What’s with this father and son duo anyways?

“Oh! Yes, you have a kid! That’s incredible and a husband, I’m a bit upset I wasn’t invited to your wedding though…” Emily remarked with a bit of a saddened tone.

“That’s–!” Before I could explain to her anything they dragged her away for pictures. Again I was cooped up in a lie I couldn’t dig myself out of. “I need to explain it to her… but..” As I mumbled to myself I saw from the corner of my eye how Dimitri was heading out the door. Unconsciously I followed after him…

“Hey! What’s going on Dimitri?” I asked while grabbing onto his arm, it had already gone dark outside, the moon hung high in the sky but was covered by the clouds. I was only able to see because of the faintly lit street lamps and the garden with tiny little decorative heart shaped lamps that illuminated the path ahead…

“You’re going to leave me too, huh…” Dimitri spoke through gritted teeth as he stopped walking.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked confused.

“You’re dating someone already, after we slept together? What kind of a w***e are you? While you know what I’m going through!?” Dimitri’s words hurt me deeply, to be insulted by him, it was as if it ruined the perfectly crafted image I had of the man inside my head.

“You know I’d never do anything to hurt you! I promise!” I needed him to understand.

“Oh… that’s what they all say… you’re a f*****g nobody… you don’t care about me, no one does…” Dimitri held his hand up as if he’d strike me, I instinctively pulled back but then when I opened my eyes nothing happened.

“What kind of man lays hands on women?” Kris was standing there holding onto Dimitri’s hand in mid air. It seemed like he’d gripped his wrist pretty tightly as Dimitri tried to release his hand but it didn’t seem to budge.

“What’s it to you?! You stupid asshole!” Dimitri stumbled back when Kris finally let go of his arm and fell onto his back.

“Kris! He’s drunk be careful!” I yelled out to him and went to help Dimitri up.

“I’m not one to pull my punches especially not when he was about to hit you.” Kris spoke calmly, as if he didn’t understand what was happening.

“He’s drunk out of his mind… He didn’t mean to do that…” I said as I held him up, I wanted to head back inside with Dimitri but suddenly Kris held him up instead of me.

“It’s not your responsibility to bring this i***t inside, I’ll do it.” Kris’s voice was unusually deep at that moment. He walked with a quickened pace to drop off Dimitri and I was left standing outside contemplating what had just happened…