Black Tuxedo

She clasped his hand tightly, hovering close enough to inhale his sweet cologne.  He wore his black tuxedo with the gray tie she bought him for Father’s Day.  She recalled his expression when he first set eyes on her.  She remembered exactly what he wore, his scent and his very first words to her.  He knew just how to sweep a woman off her feet.  He had good looks, a fancy car, an exceptional job, a house and an intriguing personality.  To her, he was perfect.  1

To him, she was everything, even from the first second that he laid eyes on her.  She was true beauty on the inside as well as the out.  She had a tough life which allowed her to mature into a wonderful person with a good heart.  She didn’t let anything hold her back or set her aside.  She had her goals, and she strived to reach them.  She was about five foot six with jet black hair and blue eyes.  When she walked into a room, she caught most men’s attention.  She caught his attention with her dimples that would stand out when she flashed her sweet smile.  He fell in love immediately at the instant he saw her.  He waltzed over calm and collect. 2

“May I buy you a drink?” he asked.3

“Sure if you must” she replied with a slight smirk on her face.  She sipped her drink gently.  He watched her lips touch the straw and lightly sip the alcoholic beverage.  He had no intentions of taking her home with him that night, but he had every intention of spending the rest of his life with her.  4

A year went by, and she ironed his black tuxedo.  She hung it on the back of the bedroom door.  She had to swing by the tailors and pick up her dress, to try it on one last time to make sure it was a perfect fit.  Later on that evening they gathered together for the rehearsal and dinner.  The next day they were to walk down the aisle hand in hand and become man and wife.  Their love was so strong that it seemed to lift the black clouds of rain away from the church where they exchanged their vows.  They shared a wonderful two years together before the tragedy occurred.  5

It was the day before their two year anniversary and he was stuck working late.  After he left the office and locked up he took the elevator down to the lobby.  He walked out into the city air and made his way down to the twenty- four hour quickie mart.  He wanted to surprise her with flowers and breakfast in bed, so he looked for a mixed arrangement and plucked out a large bouquet of flowers.  He brought them up to the counter.  As he reached for his wallet to pay he heard a man from behind scream “give me all your money!” he turned, face to face with his destiny.  He stared into the gun barrel. “Here take the wallet.”  The man took his wallet and turned to leave.  As he turned to leave he paused by the door, then turned back around and shot one bullet right into the back of his head, then he ran out into the night.  He just laid there in a pool of his own blood.  His eyes were still open and the last thing that he saw was her face.  His love, his past, his present but no longer his future.  6

It was three AM when the doorbell rang.  She threw on a robe and ran down the stairs.  She looked around hoping that maybe he got home, but there was no trace of him.  She looked through the peephole and saw two police officers standing outside the front door.  She swung open the door.  They looked at each other and saw her face fill with concern.  The older police officer broke the dreaded news to her.  She fell down on her knees in her living room, screaming his name and asking god why.  7

So once again, she ironed his black tuxedo.  And today she walks down the aisle again, but not with his hand in hers.  She stood alone, in the dress that he once said made her look like an angel, his saving grace.  She bent down and kissed his lips for the last time.  She clasped his hand in hers and whispered “goodbye my love, I will be with you again, one day.”  She watched them close the casket and lift his body to the hearse.  She felt his hand grab hers and heard his whisper “I will be with you forever, my love.”  She smiled and hugged herself tight, pretending that it was his arms around her, keeping her out of harms way.  8