...She did not expect this in the wildest of her dreams. Why would he, the love of her life, her other half, her soul, leave her like this at their wedding altar? To never return, to never be seen. How could he? What did she do to deserve this? Weren't they the two halves of a single heart that used to beat together? He has said that millions of times. These were his words, not hers!
Sara stood there in disbelief when, after hours and hours of waiting, he never came to their venue. She, in her fairytale dress, looked like a lost princess, oozing beauty from every pore of her body. But life isn't a fairytale or is it?
So it was true after all—the groom should not have seen her in her wedding gown, or there would be ill fate waiting for her. She had laughed it off as a superstition when her ever loving meemaw warned her of this. She even did a full dress rehearsal for Wacian and jokingly said to him that he was like his name; watchful, alert, looking at her with all the scrutiny. She had made him do his vows, so they were perfected before the big day.
She had planned everything down to the smallest details, as was her nature... and he? He had been by her side in every single decision of hers — Always agreeing with her with that big beautiful smile of his. He had no objection to anything her childhood sweetheart would decide for their wedding day. Her endless laughter would melt his heart in a thousands ways. She was one of those who wore their hearts on her sleeve; never shy of displaying her emotions for him and he loved her for that...
Everything went hazy. She couldn't hear what everyone else was saying in the room. She could only hear the sound of her labored breathing. It looked like she was gazing into some invisible space, and then she saw a web hanging around in the distant corner of the room. It was a little too far away from her. Yet, she could see all the threads—a big black spider commanding its authority and a very helpless butterfly trapped inside the tangles of this heinous web. She could feel her helplessness. Suddenly it felt like someone was choking her, or was it the butterfly being choked. She could not breathe anymore. She looked around, wanting to ask for help, but words didn't come out of her mouth. She was shouting, but why was no one listening? Where was her meemaw? Was she still upset with her for not listening? No, she would never do that. She loved her with all her heart. How could she also abandon her?
Captured by @bambuka
She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, but she could not utter a single word. Tears started rolling down her cheeks. She was crying like a little baby, and it seemed to her like the end of the world. Everything came crashing down.
"Sara, Sara, my dear. Was it another nightmare?" Mrs. Eleanor came running to her. "Mom, Mom, please help me," said Sara, mustering up all her strength. "I can't breathe, Mom."
Mrs. Eleanor had the same helpless look as her daughter, only with heaps of concern for her. She couldn't bear to see her like that.
"Sara dear, I'm here right next to you, open your eyes now."
"Mom, why did Wacian leave me? He promised to never be away from my sight. What did I do to make him so angry? He has never been angry with me ever. He never raised his voice, even in moments of frustration or disagreement."
Mrs. Eleanor could not listen to this anymore but she kept on wailing, "Why did he leave me like this on this day out of all the days?"
"Sara, stop please. Please stop! I can't see you suffering like this. A mother does not have to bear this."
And Mrs. Eleanor could not repress her tears either. She hugged her so tightly, as if trying to absorb all her pain. But isn't it the law of nature? Only the one chosen has to endure the heartache on their part. Else, every mother on the planet would take away all the sufferings from their children.
"Sara, dear, he is no more. How many times do we have to go over this? You know that Wacian is no more. He was a soldier who gave his life for his country."
"What country, Mom? And why?"
"His life was not his to give. I had a say in it. What good did his death bring to this country? Why, Mom, why?" She continued sobbing and shuddering uncontrollably.
Mrs. Eleanor had no answers to her questions. She did what a mom could do in a situation like this—kept hugging her, kissing her, wiping away her tears—all the while trying to suppress her own pain, her own hurt.
"Mom, look, here's his favourite cup. I made him coffee only last Friday. See, I didn't have any time to wash it. We were so busy planning everything. I can still smell his breath on the rim of this cup. How could you say, he is no more?? Please mom, say, this isn't true. Please say so."
artistic photo by @Bambuka
I wish with every cell in my body that I could say that," sighed Mrs. Eleanore. "I wish I could do anything to bring him back for you, but I'm just as helpless as the butterfly that you keep dreaming about in your nightmares..."
May no mother or lover ever have to endure the pain of longing and hurt to the point where there is no healing, and no amount of words can console the broken hearts and bruised souls.
This is my heartfelt wish for all of humanity, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or nationality. May there be no war, and may peace prevail. How many more hearts and homes will be destroyed by warmongering madmen?
This short story/ narrative is indeed a reflection from the real incidents occurring globally. We've witnessed the loss of numerous lives, including civilians, officers, and commandos. Here, in my country, there are numerous losses every day in "war against terror".
So what if someone threatens the sovereignty of the beloved homeland? Then this war becomes inevitable, more of a duty of every living adult. You got to protect what's yours!
However, under what circumstances it becomes inevitable, is a big question mark! In such scenarios mostly one is an oppressor, and the other is repressed. Now, who is who? And what are the politics involved... That's a topic for another day. Right now, I'm not very well-versed in this area. So I will keep my comments to myself.
But I do wish that it all ends soon and forever!
I wish everyone a happy connecting with a very sad heart.
Regards,
A human!