THE STAND-IN BRIDE

y dragon, ready to unleash w

y heart was beating so fast. In the midst of the heavy downpour,

. The room was thrown into total darkness

ur, the whistling breeze and the thick darkness gave me

t give in to my feelings, but the tr

my head, holding both sides firmly to

t about Jackie. This could have b

om

the music volume loud

source of comfort a

eatening tears. Her memory still comes with so much pain. I

out of my hands. My mouth flew wide open in fear as I star

and a blue Jean. He had the hat to complete the outfit. Even at

e an outdoor man j

my mind. I gripped my blanket hard, pulling it up

r. Suddenly, his features

herself on a wet morning like this".

bed. I relaxed my grip on the blan

continued. I knocked, but when there was no r

out on my lips. "I was blocking off the creepy sounds f

torm," he sai

id of the storms,

ed out a seat from under the table, which he place

ly came fierce and strong; you could hear the sound of the

d tears down every tree on its pa

. Sometimes, you will feel

to her bed and cover my head with the duvet he whispered, but I

loud. I felt like I h

Lillian. I got carried aw

d I am Mac's grandfather," he

ed my tiny fingers. The

, not knowing exac

e name I didn't wan

d for moments as if

of blue eyes I have ever seen,

rtable and rela

s were spoken; the silence

blank. I wish I knew what was goi

ept for his shiny grey hairs and ageing l

more like a Mexican pitch; either of his

d, trying to bre

f wondering where I was going to get th

ant," I responded to his unspo

tion was q

ht black". H

to go with it"? I added. "

offee, only taking sm

ot in a hurry to le

cial visit; he had so

of bed and searched my flip-

ught it out from under the bed an

ed my heart. I wondered

s place under the heavy downpour," I asked M

der, there are some things that can't wai

cial visit, then?" I aske

tty lady is worth it. At my age, the

e", I muttered, grin

ound the mug, inhaling the rich aroma from the hot

reasoned within myself. I wil