A Just Cause?

He always was different from everyone else. She told herself that was why she cared so deeply about him. She stands, fidgeting, outside the groom's chamber, waiting for him before the ceremony like he'd asked.

"You look truly stunning in that gown," he says as he approaches her.

"You really think so?" she asks as she turns around, so he can see the whole thing.

"Absolutely," He says as he hugs her lightly so as to not wrinkle her dress.

She looks down and grins at the beauty of the gown he’d created especially for her. The princess cut of the dress fits her perfectly, and the silver threading throughout the lace arms means she needs no more jewelry than the small gold locket he’d given her years ago. He spent more money getting the dress just right for her than any other single part of the wedding. She fell in love with the dress the moment she first saw it, and it made her heart ache.

"Thank you," she says, as she turns to take her place at the altar.

"Dearly beloved,” the priest begins, “We are gathered together here in the sign of God – and in the face of this company – to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony... If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together – let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

She bites her lip and closes her eyes, for she has to choke back the tears, and swallow her pride and let this happen. For if she doesn't, he will never forgive her and she will be condemned to living a life apart from his; and she could never bear to do that. She truly wishes that she could wish that he be happy no matter what, but she can't; all she wants is to be the reason for his happiness, even though she knows she never will be.

"Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

He says, "I do."

And those two words seal her fate. And as the ceremony ends and he kisses his new wife, she can no longer hold back the tears. She stands on the steps looking at the stark contrast of her dress with everyone else’s, hers a deep violet, while the rest of the wedding party is in shades of yellow and gold. She knows exactly why he chose the color, too. It was their color: the color they’d painted her bedroom, the color of the candle he had lit at her sweet sixteen, and the color of the flowers he bought her whenever she was upset. It’s almost unreal for this to be happening.

The world seems to slow down as she stands at the bottom of the church steps watching him descend, rice and white confetti being thrown every which way, his new wife holding his hand. As his wife is getting in the limousine, he stops at the base of the steps and turns to her, his closest friend, the girl he chose to have stand beside him in his wedding opting out of the tradition of a Best Man by having a Best Girl instead.

He hugs her tightly and whispers, “Thank you,” in her ear before kissing her cheek.

He turns toward the car and she cries openly as he walks out of her life... forever.