Could Have Been, Never Was

→ Vows

He sat there staring at the television screen. What he was watching was long over but he didn't notice. He felt empty. Broken. Shattered. Her words were fresh in his mind when he finally moved, only to hit replay on the remote.

It takes the camera a few seconds to focus but when it did, a beautiful woman was walking down the aisle in a white dress with 'Here Comes the Bride' playing in the background. As beautiful as her dress was, her smile took the attention off the dress.

The camera turns to show him, standing at the end holding back tears.

"Who gives this beautiful lady away?" asks the reverend.

"I do," said her elderly father.

"I love you daddy," she said as the camera zooms in closer to her pecking her father on the cheek.

He extends his hand and she takes his, other hand picking up her dress. They stand, holding hands, looking at each other.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered her to celebrate the union of Ace and Helena."

The reverend speaks but the two don't take their eyes off of each other.

"Do you have any vows before we continue?"

"I do," they said at the same time. Everyone laughed.

"You go first," they both said at the same time. You could hear someone comment 'couples' in the background.

"Okay," said Helena. "I promise to love and to cherish you, even when you leave the toilet seat up. I promise to care for you, and I will try in every way to be worthy of your love. I will always be honest with you, kind, patient, and forgiving. I promise to try to be on time, I mean I wasn't late for my own wedding. But most of all, I promise to be a true and loyal friend to you. Nothing but death do us part. I love you."

When she was done, both of them were in tears and probably a few people in the crowd. He took a deep breath and started his vows.

"I promise to be your lover, companion and friend, your partner in parenthood, your ally in conflict, your greatest fan and your toughest adversary. Your comrade in adventure. Your student and your teacher. Your consolation in disappointment. Your accomplice in mischief. This is my sacred vow to you, my equal in all things. All things. May nothing but death do us part."

"Then by the power vested in me, I know pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

So he did and everyone cheered.

The video ended and once again he was left sitting there on a couch. He was so wallowed in his self-pity that he didn't hear the door open and an angry voice screaming his name.

"Ace! Get your act together," said Ben, his best friend. "It's been two weeks, you need to come back."

Ace didn't look at Ben, instead his brought the beer bottle to his mouth and took a sip.

"Look at yourself man. Come on. This isn't you."

"She wants a divorce Ben."

"I know."

"It hurts."

"I know."

"What do you know! You know nothing! You have a perfect life. Your husband loves you. Your kids have two parents. My wife is leaving me. My wife is leaving me! My wife is leaving me," he shouted before during in to a fetal stage and mumbling to himself.

"Ace," said Ben.

"No! Don't touch me. Leave!" He shouted, throwing an empty beer can at him.

Ben looked at his best friend. He knew anything he said at the moment would be useless. He left the takeout in the kitchen and locked the door on his way out, planning to come back the next day.

When it was quiet again, Ace moved into the now nearly empty bedroom. He took out a picture of them on their wedding day and took another sip of his beer.

"So much for nothing but death do us part huh."