15.06 (#2)

Chapter 6

The day of Donny's wedding and I was up early. Just the thought of Rori had my stomach doing weird things. No matter how many times I tried to convince myself that I hated her I couldn't believe it. My life was amazing because of what she had given up and yet it was her fault I was in the state I was in right now.

When she left I was broken. I didn't know how to function and I realised I had become dependent on her when she had decided she wanted to brace the world alone. Rori was an enigma and just when I thought I had figured her out she throws something at me that makes me question my ideas. Safe to say my life now wasn't as exciting as it was when she was a part of it. I had a routine, I had normality, so why did I feel like I wanted more?

I threw on a woollen coat over my blazer and wrapped a red scarf around my neck. As I looked in the mirror I ran my fingers through my hair before I was content with my appearance. As I drove to the church I blared rap music to block out the thoughts of turning back and avoiding a confrontation with Rori.

When I arrived at the church who I assumed was the groomsman was handing out a white rose to attach to the lapel of my blazer. The church was small, but beautifully decorated. White and lavender carnations were arranged around the stalls. The alter was also simply decorated with the carnations, perfect for a winter wedding. I took a seat near the back so I could leave as soon as the wedding was over without too much fuss. The church soon filled up and the ceremony was about to start as the music slowly quietness down to play the wedding march signalling the entrance of the bride.

I noticed Olivia enter first, throwing petals across the aisle as she walked to the alter. She look adorable in the light lavender dress of hers and the flower crown in her blonde hair. Walking beside her was a boy her age, carrying what I assumed were the rings in a brown basket. She was followed by two bridesmaids on the arms of the groomsman. Finally the bride entered beaming with joy as she noticed her husband-to-be waiting for her at the end. There were many a time when I had dreamt this scene except I was at the alter and Rori was walking towards me looking like an angel.

Rori herself was wearing a satin lavender dress, with her shiny brown hair pinned into a messy bun and loose tendrils framing her face. Like her daughter she too had a flowers in her hair that completed her beautiful look. Her appearance took my breath away and anything I ever wanted to shout at her for vanished as I watched her glide down the aisle behind Lillian. My eyes followed the woman all the way to the alter and never left her face during the ceremony.

As Donny and Lillian exchanged their vows, I saw Rori had a few tears in her eyes and she smiled fondly at her adoptive father and his new wife. She had so much love in her eyes I wondered if she ever had any for me. The bride and groom kissed and when Rori looked away her eyes caught mine.

What felt like hours, was only a matter of a few seconds but in that time I saw why I had fallen in love with her. Her soft doe like eyes projected immense amounts of love, determination and strength. My heart had stopped as she smiled at me. The church erupted into cries of happiness and applause as the man and wife walked down to the exit of the church. Donny looked like nothing could take this night away from him and he had every right to feel that way.

The small wedding party stood outside on the church steps waiting for the photographer to do his job. Some how I ended up standing beside Rori, because I felt the heat of her skin radiating towards me. It was cold outside but she just gritted her teeth and bared the weather for as long as it took to take photos. Finally we were allowed to continue to the wedding hall, but as I made a move towards my car I felt a hand clasp around my wrist.