The party that was going on to celebrate the new couple and their happiness was swirling around all around the people that were there in the reception hall. Everything had happened so fast in the relationship that the people were still almost stunned that that this was happening. Everyone had thought it was too much for the short amount of time that the couple had known each other but they were going to try and hide it for the person they were there for. The music and the lights were going on around them as there seemed to be no expense spared when it came to this wedding celebration.
Off to the side there was a small woman who was watching and though she was happy for the man who was the center of attention, she had to wonder what if? They had been friends for years now. She had met him and his friends years before and as the couple swore nothing was going on between them when they hung out for the evening they both knew they were lying to themselves. She had been the one to say it out loud for the first time. "I don't believe that we could ever work."
"Why is that?" He asked as he looked at her one quiet night as they sat outside with a small fire in the fire pit in her backyard. It had been a quiet time to relax and though the two of them were there together, they had only been there as friends. It was nothing like the party that was raging around her now.
"It isn't that I don't think we could be something, but it more I don't want to lose this friendship that we have." She looked over at him and hoped she was making herself clear. She knew that things like this could ruin friendships and his friendship to her was more important than seeing if they were more compatible as other things. She didn't want to lose him. She knew it was a risk and simply not one she would ever be willing to take.
"But wouldn't it be better to at least know that we were friends first? What if something could become of this? Do you not think it would be one of the best things in the world?" he countered. He was the best at that. His smile was there as he knew the hypothetical things in life were the ones that bothered the young woman before him. He would never dismiss her concerns, but the fact was he did want more with her. He took what was given to him, but he was greedy. He wanted much more from her and he knew that she was the only person who could give him everything. In his mind, this was a fact he would never be able to get over.
"I won't take that risk, though. Even if you promised that we would always remain friends." She sighed and then turned her attention to the sky. He knew the conversation was done. At least at this moment in time. He would continue to push until she broke, or they could really find something to move on to. He was sure they would be perfect together. He had things planned out for the future with her.
She had given in a year after that moment. She would look back on those few weeks with such happiness but at the same time confusion. Everything went wrong. Everything went so wrong. It happened all so fast. She knew this was his way of saying goodbye to her. They way to cut her off completely and totally out of his life forever. It hurt. Though she was happy for him. She could at least have that.
She wanted to leave. She was getting ready to get up and head to the door. The happy couple was walking around the room talking to everyone. When she did get up, the woman pulled him in her wake as she started right for the woman, who was getting ready to leave. "You aren't going anywhere, are you?" The bride, Tara, asked as she looked over at the smaller woman. "You have to stay a bit longer. Don't you agree?" She had turned to her now husband and smiled. Mark looked at her and nodded. He always seemed to be in a daze when he was around the woman he had married. It was not the same as he had been. The woman could say jump and his response would be how high without question.
"Come on Jana. You have to stay. It isn't every day I get married." Mark looked her over. The words hurt worse than any knife he could have used to stab her with. Jana knew she had flinched as well even though she was trying her hardest not to react. "It is the weekend too, so you can't use work as an excuse either."
"I should really be going." Jana replied softly. She didn't want to see him right now. She had hoped to be noticed for a little bit and then she could leave. This was never supposed to be a long event for her. Then she would fade away from his life like she had never been there in the first place. That is what he had seemed to want. A quick fling that had taken years to happen.
"Jana." He sighed. "I hope you know this really doesn't change all that much."
"On the contrary." His new wife said as she looked at her husband. "It changes everything. If you think that I will stand by and watch, you two have fun without me, then you are sadly mistaken."
"It isn't like that Tara." He said as he looked at her.
"It doesn't matter. Your wife is right. Everything changed." Jana said as she looked at him and smiled halfheartedly. "I should really be going now."
"One drink?" Tara offered and then she snapped her fingers and there were three glasses of something on a platter. Tara took one and then handed it to her husband. Then she took the other and handed it to Jana. Then took one for herself. "A toast to the way things should always be."
Jana took one sip and began to feel a little dizzy. Though she knew it was more to expect. She hadn't eaten anything. She had made it through the ceremony without getting sick. She had made it through most of the reception without getting sick. That was more important. She had not wanted to show how upset she was. To her this all seemed so wrong. However, it was simply meant to be, as the bride stated a few seconds prior. She would be nothing but a memory. She put the glass down and then she looked at the two. "Thank you for having me here. I do truly wish the best for both of you."
She picked up her purse and then she walked off towards the door. This night, everything changed. She could feel it. She also felt sicker. She was dizzy. She was seemingly losing the ability to see as well. The blackness was creeping in on the sides of her vision. It was almost tunnel vison at this point. She had to make it to the door, though. That was her only goal. She could fall apart in her car.
The door seemed like it was running away from her as her line of sight was becoming more and more blurred. She was stumbling. She was trying hard not to fall over. That was when she felt two hands on her sides and a voice in her ear though she could not make out the words they were saying. It almost sounded Latin.
She went to turn and look at the person who was touching her. She saw him. He looked like an angel. His flawless skin was glowing. His smile seemed to take away the pain she had in her heart. The music was still going in the hall, and she could feel the air around her change. She wasn't outside yet. She then turned, and that was when the world around her went black and she went slump in the man's arms. This was how it was always supposed to be was the last thing she could remember herself thinking.