Heaven

one

one

Taking a sip of the whiskey as the guest mixed and mingled amongst each other at my childhood friend's wedding, I scanned over the crowd of people observing how the were acting. Some people seemed genuinely happy for the couple and others not so much.

Rebecca was always one of the guys, we honestly thought she was a lesbian but she then met the love of her life — Wesley — in college, basically changing her entire persona. She wore heels, makeup, clothes that showed her figure. It was honestly good to see because in this society we are apart of, it's important to look prim and proper.

The couple looked amazing together and now so did their bank accounts. They both come from money, just like everyone in our friend group. The wedding cost well over twelve million dollars and is supposed to be in Vogue. Two ridiculously wealthy families are now even more ridiculously wealthy. The wedding was gorgeous — making me think of the wedding I should be planning for but unfortunately I'm not.

Back in January, my girlfriend Elise and I traveled to Fiji to celebrate my twenty-sixth birthday. It was perfect — perfect weather, perfect view, perfect girl. I had the proposal planned out for months and I knew I just wanted it to be the two of us. I set it up with the big "Marry Me?" Letters with the lights, illuminating across the Fijian beach. Over a thousand roses were laid in the beach leading up to the question. A harpist playing our song, butterflies waiting to be released as the ocean crashed and landed at setting the perfect scenery.

She said yes of course.

When we got back to home to Atlanta, it's as though something changed with Elise. She didn't seem as excited as she did in Fiji. Everything turned into prepping for Fashion week which she should have already been prepped for. Work ran into our time together at home then it was time for her to leave for Europe. She was supposed to come back after the Paris and Milan shows but, she never did.

We still talked almost everyday but it's going om five months since my finance came home and no one knew outside of our parents.

Sitting here at this wedding has made me so angry. My future wife was supposed to be sitting with me, filled with glee that she would be in the same position in two months. My heart ached for what what could've been what should've been and I was to afraid to tell my friends in fear of looking stupid. Imagine you break the news of getting engaged to your girlfriend of ten years just for her to up and leave two weeks later, never returning home.

Again, I'd look stupid.

As the reception went on, I noticed my friends Gabe, Chase, Marco and Luca singing a Whitney Houston song. They somehow took the mic from the hired singer — hijacking the playlist of the wedding. No one seemed to mind as they were all drunk themselves due to the endless open bat. The four were drunk off their asses causing people to gather around to film and laugh at them. A smirk made its way to my face as I watched them, still sipping on my fourth glass of whiskey. I would've joined them but I liked that I was unbothered at the wedding.

Rebecca's family bombarded me with questions about Elise and I before the wedding even started. In the nicest way possible — I let them know that the wedding should be focused on the current bride and groom. Elise and Rebecca were aquatinted with each other but never gotten close especially since Rebecca was always such a tomboy until recent years . It still would've been nice for her to at least show up for this.

I pulled out my phone, scrolling through social media for a bit before I heard several grunts as people sat down at the table. I looked up to see the guys taking large gulps of water, heavily sighing and sweating , "I see yall had some fun."