"A Wedding I Witnessed"
Running
my fingers through the books on the shelf, my mind wandered in so many
directions at a time. It has been awhile since I’ve been in the study.
Everything was layered with dust. Bored, I slowly lowered myself into the chair
behind the desk and an ivory photo frame caught my eye. Inside held a photo of
a picturesque lady in white, smiling jovially but the glint of sadness in those
hazel eyes can never escape me. Before I could reminisce about her, I was
startled by a slight tug on my robe. “Well, hello there my dear little Eva,
what brings you here?” I scooped up my petite little granddaughter, landed a
big kiss on her cheeks and rested her on my lap.
“Nana,
I’m bored! Can you tell me a story? Please?”
“Hmm,
so what story should I tell you today?”
Suddenly
excited, Eva jolted up and pointed at the photo frame in my hands, “Nana, Nana!
Who’s that? She’s so beautiful!” Eva fixated her gaze on the photo for a brief
moment then turned towards me with her big brown eyes shining with a blend of
admiration and zealous curiosity. She need not say more. I smiled sweetly and
let her cuddle in my embrace.
“This
beautiful lady is Anneliese, Nana’s best friend. This photo was taken on her
wedding day…”
It was 37 years ago. The
scorching sun hung proudly in the sky as I manoeuvred my silver convertible
under the dappled trees and stomped on the brakes. My car screeched to a halt
and I hurried out of my car. A gush of dry wind slapped my cheeks, as though
jeering me for almost being late for my best friend’s wedding. Though in quite
a rush, the scene was simply breath taking. “Anneliese, oh Anneliese, always
the nature lover”, my heart whispered. The wedding was held at her
grandparents’ lakeside summer house. The tall trees along the pavement of
pebbles were draped with white silky cloths alternated with glittery golden
ones and the grass were showered with pink petals. As I hastened my footsteps
towards the crowd of white, I saw a familiar slender figure from the corner of
my eye. I froze in awe when I saw Anneliese. Her ravishing brunette hair was
styled in long big waves of curls accompanied by a simple braid across the top
of her head and she was dressed in a long, white single strapped satin dress
detailed with embroidery of sapphires.
“You look amazing!” I exclaimed,
while hugging her tightly. It had been ages since I last saw her. “I’m so sorry
for arriving later than planned. My flight from Australia was delayed.” Just
then, the symphonic sounds of the piano filled the atmosphere with sweet
serenity, however Anneliese tensed up slightly as that was her cue to get ready
for the aisle. Seeing her nervous, I squeezed her hand and reassured that she
will be alright, that everything will be perfect.
“We’ll
catch up more after the wedding okay?”
She
nodded without a word and flashed me her signature charming smile, revealing
her faint dimples. Looking at her lean body from behind, I couldn’t help but
notice her weight lost. Everything about this wedding must have worn her out.
Cyril, the bridegroom was indeed
a very lucky man. I remember the first time I saw him in high school. He wasn’t
much to look at. He had very black bushy hair, small coffee coloured eyes that
hid behind a pair of thick glasses, a button nose and a buff tanned body. Despite
that, he had audacity, perseverance and most of all, a benevolent heart.
Initially, Anneliese wouldn’t even talk to him when he approached her. He made
quite an appearance on one Valentines’ Day in our classroom, bringing a bouquet
of white roses and confessing to Anneliese in public. You should have seen how
blushed up with embarrassment she was! Not to mention, how furious too! She
took his flowers, gave him a “heartwarming” hi-5 on the cheek and threw the
bouquet into the garbage bin while treading heavily out of the classroom. Oh,
how I laughed and saluted her way of handling Cyril. Nonetheless, that did not
stop Cyril from pursuing her.
Perhaps it was fate, perhaps it really was just meant to be. As the
years went by, Cyril remained persistent and slowly, Anneliese softened up. She
started enlightening me with stories of him. It started off with complains of
what an annoyance Cyril was, and gradually it became a saga of what he did at
the animal shelters, what nature campaigns they partook together and what great
jokes he makes. Nevertheless, the most significant event in their journey of
love was the time when Anneliese dashed across the road without looking and a
speeding truck zoomed towards her. Everything was on fast-forward. The tires
screeched followed by a loud thud. The next thing you know, Anneliese was on
the roadside, her limbs bruised and cloaked with scratches and a bloody
physique laid motionless in the middle of the road. Cyril managed to shove her
off the road and took the hit in her place. After that incident, Anneliese
finally accepted Cyril. Since then, their love for each other continued to grow
and strengthen. Anneliese was also a very blessed lady. Cyril was a gentleman
and knows full well how to treat his girl right. He always had her back in
whatever and whenever. As long as she has a wish, he will do everything within
his capabilities to help her fulfill it. Like how I always heard him say to
her, “For you, a thousand times over.”
I found myself a reserved seat at the second row at the site. The place
was packed with their families, relatives and friends, all dressed in white. Most
were talking in low voices, exchanging greetings and gossips. Scheming through
the crowd, I spotted Anneliese’s mother. She could have looked happier. Before
I could pay my regards, the pianist abruptly held her fingers for a moment and
the ambiance shifted to solemnity as the bridal song played. Heads turned and Anneliese
appeared glowing with bliss. Even behind the veil, her resolve and confidence
strode with her elegant steps as her father led her down the aisle, their arms
linked together. His hand clenched her arm as they approached the altar.
Anneliese planted a peck on her father’s cheek and reassuringly, she smiled
radiantly and stood by a coffin in which laid her beloved fiancé, dressed in a
white tuxedo. The mood of the wedding was overcast, sniffing and weeping can be
heard. I tried to hold it in, this overwhelming pain and sympathy but the
rivulets of tears subdued my will. Leukemia, or blood cancer, took Cyril from
Anneliese. It took away the happiness that both of them deserved. They were
busy preparing through the wedding when he was diagnosed with the last stage of
cancer. Regrettably, Cyril wasn’t able to hold on till this happy day. Though
so, Anneliese was determined to legally become his wife even if it makes her a
widow on her wedding day.
The priest then proceeded with the ceremony.
“I,
Anneliese, take you, Cyril, to be my husband, to have and to hold, from this
day forward, for better and for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and
in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as I shall live, and not even death
shall do us part…”
Everyone
applauded and their cheeks were soaked. Anneliese took the rings and put it on
her own finger then leaned towards the coffin, took Cyril’s hand in hers and
without hesitation, put his ring on him. Though I couldn’t hear her, I swear I
saw her choked while saying, “For you, a thousand times over.” and she kissed
him. Witnessing this, I had to bite my lips to refrain myself from crying out
loud. My chest was jerking. Anneliese was blessed to be able to marry her one
true love. Notwithstanding the tragedy, this is a blissful event for her and
she glimmered with happiness. Seeing her, my heart squeezed because behind those
smiles, I know just how much she was hurting and how much she was missing him.
At a certain level, I sincerely admire her so much. I, for one, may not have
ever been able to marry a dead man, even if he was my true love.
My adorable Eva stretched her tiny arms
and gave me a comforting hug. Her actions brought me back to the present and I
chuckled at the sight of her red nose from tearing up from hearing the story.
“It’s okay Nana. I’m sure she never
regretted it.”
I
beamed at her and nodded.
“I’m
sure you’re right.”
It
was indeed a wedding ceremony that tugged at my heartstrings even until this
very day.
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