MARRIED AS A REPLACEMENT BRIDE

te ribbons and white, blue, and green petals trailin

ht line, staying amid two black Hummer jeeps carrying the bride

, I saw familiar

kened as my b

wasn't t

bones, warped my hopes, and sapp

y palms, smiled,

ers instead of thro

ircles, her little pressure—all th

linked in time with

o me, seeing my dis

on't ruin this day. Trust me, there is nothing to fear," she said, dabbing at m

pause before the limousin

cation cau

there, not far from the cottage, gri

lt impatience, nervou

tastrophe

at the name tag

athedral of

he church bells, pri

ircled by hanging flowers that

ine door s

h pavements from the automobile to the ca

either side of the carp

as bey

rina,

me from getting

elvet box, which

ar when they tie the knot. I'm going to give it to you sinc

her eyes as tears

to speak or a

r, but I didn't flin

n it, I saw that inside was a silver necklace

me before I could say anything an

avage as she tightened it around my ne

in place and assisted me in

held it steady on the red carpet

breast and the bridal go

moment and put some

entrance, when a man who seemed to b

tered the cathe

eft me with m

, I was o

e entryway, my hands sha

rey-haired man wearing a black two-pie

rinkles to disappear and hi

him, but I ignored my racing heart

o this horror,

grin and walk

with balloons in the colors of

s and wearing clothes made of whi

ything went and had fai

ng as the children scattere

tood up and

in my chest for a little w

wedding march, down the flower-deco

port, I held him tightly t

h strange faces a

ng look and concent

isle seemed to be th

white and blue drapes span

shades of translucent pearls,

over the place, it

from the altar, my gaz

to the priest, was dressed in a blac

grazing his taut behind, and his c

aise my veil, kissed my face, an

ade his way

lips in between my teeth, observi

t to me rem

st, whose white gown echoed my

to see his

e was complete quiet in the church. The priest smiled at the audience

into your hearts. You two were not just drawn together because you fell in love with one another, but also because

priest's remarks, sweat

hing, so I wasn't paying attenti

ur own free will to bind yourself forever

ain of thinking when

arrived, and I was una

Grandma's words began to seep into my

when I did, Grandma's eyes—which were f

being tapped b

back to his query. "Did you come here of your own free will to

garment's sleeves skimming over the Bible passages in front