Butterfly's Year

3. Angelic games

Victor's parents were the most charming couple I had ever met in my life. So ordinary and in love. His mother greeted me with a warm hug, while Mr. Guellard listened to every word I said with a smile. They both looked at me as if I were some sort of revelation.

– We are so happy with Marek that Victor has met such a smart, nice girl – Mrs. Guellard said once she released me from her embrace.

They seemed genuinely overjoyed that Victor and I were a couple and kept speaking about me in superlatives, which made me feel a bit awkward. I smiled and nodded politely, trying to appear as modest and kind as they described, even though I didn't quite know how to fit into that role.

– What did you tell them about me? – I asked Victor when his parents had to leave us to attend to more pressing duties they had on their special day.

– That you're a smart future doctor with a big heart and that you have a fantastic influence on my life – he replied, wrapping his arm around my waist and giving a polite smile to one of the guests who had just greeted him with a nod. – Mom almost cried with joy when I said I would bring to their wedding a future doctor who is my girlfriend. Dad said that mom was worried I'd end up marrying some go-go dancer.

– Very funny – I muttered, giving him a look of disapproval, but I couldn't help a small smile.

Slowly, everyone began to head toward the church, so we followed suit. The service progressed slowly, and I couldn't take my eyes off Victor's parents, whose eyes were increasingly misty.

– Is something wrong? – Victor asked me quietly with concern in his voice. – You don't look well.

– Why did your parents decide to do this? – I asked, struggling to tear my eyes away from their joyful faces.

– Do what? – he asked, politely puzzled.

– Renew their vows – I clarified.

Victor seemed a bit taken aback by the question.

– It's their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary – he said after a brief moment of thought. – They had a modest wedding back then, and now they want to have the dream ceremony they couldn't afford at the time. They want to celebrate their love this way. Why do you ask?

– They are so happy and in love – I whispered, looking back at his parents, who were gazing at each other as if they saw nothing else in the world. It was as if they had just started dating and hadn't already spent twenty-five years together. It was so different from the image I saw daily with my own parents, so... new.

I felt my eyes becoming wet above the safe level, so I quickly blinked.

– Do you want to step out for a moment? – Victor looked at me with concern.

– No, it's okay – I quickly denied, still blinking and hiding my face in my hair so he wouldn't see my teary eyes.

I wiped the excess moisture with the edge of my sleeve and turned to Victor with a somewhat forced smile.

– Are you sure? – he whispered directly into my ear, gently stroking my arm, which caused a pleasant tickle somewhere in the pit of my stomach and pushed my momentary emotion into some dark abyss in my consciousness. – Are you sure? – he repeated the question, nudging my knee from behind.

The little creature inside me stretched lazily and went into a state of full alert.

– We are in a church – I noted sensibly.

– Indeed – he agreed with a pleasant hum that sent vibrations between my legs.

– Your parents are standing there – I whispered, discreetly pointing to his mom and dad standing at the altar.