Reprisal

Chapter 15 : Till Death Do Us Apart

Buttoning up the coat, Christopher smoothened a hand over his belly, looking into the mirror. He was ready.

‘Other colours suit you as well...’ - his brain mused mockingly at him standing in a rodeo dust five piece suit.

He smiled sadly. The reason he only liked black was that other colours reminded him of the colourful life that he hadn't while black described his life in a nutshell. He remembered he used to wear all colours when a child but after his father's death, he hated each and everything that symbolized happiness. Mocking him of his misery.

Buying that colour wasn't preplanned. When they were shopping, she had stunned him by saying that everyone would follow the theme colours but he could wear whatever he wanted to. She was a fashionista. He had always found her up to date with the trends with perfection. Their wedding decor was personally supervised by her as she wanted every minute detailing as per her choice and not out of place. Yet still, she didn't bound him. He was once again lost as to how a girl so kind and caring was the daughter of Foxen Wilder. So he had decided then and there that he'll wear something in her coordination. At that time, he didn't know why was he going out of his way to surprise her and see her smiling.

Now he did.

The 10:30 AM alarm went off on his phone, yanking him back to present. It was time to leave for church.

“I wish you were here dad...”

He said softly, his eyes welling up but he blinked rapidly, not wanting to shed tears because it was someone else's time to start crying now.

“Foxen Wilder will shed tears of blood, I promise you!” - he gritted. The tears in his eyes shining with venom in the mirror. He wiped them away, took a deep breath and...

smiled.

~

He was not a least bit interested in the wedding procession. Isabel's friends as bridesmaids walking down was not his concern but as the procession ended at 10:55 and the music changed, he felt his heart slamming to his ribcage.

She had arrived.

His brain shortcircuited as his eyes fell on her. She was not human but an actual fairy floating to him in that vanilla white gown. No one could convince him otherwise. He didn't saw who was walking her down the aisle. His eyes were glued on her. Just her as she got closer with every passing moment. He was also not aware when had he moved forward or when he had forwarded his hand. His soul became alive only when his fingers closed around her palm and she came to stand before him.

“Welcome, loved ones. We are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to join together Isabel and Christopher in holy matrimony.” - the officiant began. “True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two persons; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on the love you give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace, when the day is done. May you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding.”

“Amen!” - the congregation said softly in unison before taking seat.

“If you are ready, you will unite your hands and pledge your love and your lives to each other.” - the officiant addressed the bride and groom now.

Christopher felt his heart beating in his throat. He hadn't left Isabel's hand and didn't waste a second in holding the other as well. His grip firm but so soft like applying pressure would hurt her.

“Groom, repeat after me.” - the officiant instructed.

Christopher took a deep breath and repeated. “I, Christopher Jose Watson, take you, Isabel Rosaline Wilder, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us apart.”