Angels Redemption

Chapter ten: Broken

(Rafael's pov)
"She's planning a wedding"
Thomas's words sink into my head.
Wedding. Wedding. Wedding.
This can't be happening. I mumble a goodbye and hang up.
Wedding.
My heart starts to rip apart slowly. Piece by jagged piece the invisible hand of fate or karma pull me apart. I sink to the ground and let a shattered howl escape my lips and as I close my eyes to fight the escaping tears I see the word flash through my head like a teasing, taunting, reminder of my failure.
Wedding
Wedding
Wedding
"She's getting married? How could she be getting married. She'll be seventeen soon. How could her mom be planning a wedding?!! How could Iris have moved on so fast. 10 months that's how long we've been apart. But to move on and marry in that amount of time??" I say all of this out loud thinking that voicing my thoughts would be better. But I was wrong. They only make me ache more. The pain and the hollowness that creeps into my soul makes me curl up and want to die. The agony howls it's sad song through my bones, and shatters my sanity.
Wedding.
Wedding....
The word dies in my head and it buries itself in me. Why?! Why?! Why?! I scream inside. A small nose nudges my hand and I look into the eyes of Rocco. His eyes seem to swallow me whole, but in them I feel nothing but peace. He tilts his head to the side and lays his head down in my lap with a short soft whine. I smile softly and mutter "I know buddy I know." As I pet him absent minded I try to piece together our conversation. Trying to see if there's a loop hole. Think Rafael think!! Nothing. Absolute nothing. I sigh and get up slowly, Rocco jumping to his feet, and I walk down the hallway. Every shadow in the place seems to scream and laugh at me, but I could honestly care less. I walk until I make it to my room. I sit on the bed and everything I do feels like a daze. Before I know what I'm doing I'm picking up a picture that was sitting facedown on my dresser. I read the name and date on the back.

Iris and I at the beach.
02/07/17

I flip the picture over and everything inside of me crumbles. I look at Iris and her face is the only thing I see. It's a sunny day, the sky is clear and blue, the waves on the distant shore are lapped with white caps. The sand is a glittering colour of beige and tan, there's shells littering one side and then there standing among the sand, weeds, and shells is my Iris. Her dark brown hair flying carelessly in the wind, is slightly curled. Her hands rest on her hips. Her lips are spread in a smile of pure happiness, bliss, and love. Her emerald eyes sparkle in the sunlight. Her cheeks are rosy pink. Her entire soul is lit up like a candle that never goes out. I've never seen her more happy. She didn't know I snapped the picture so the slight surprise in her eyes makes me laugh. I can still hear the seagulls calling out even now....

(Seagulls making their noises)
"C'mon Raf! Come in the water with me!"
"I will in a minute my love"
She laughs and then turns to look out at the never ending sea. I walk behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. Her bare skin tickles my arms. She leans into my touch and asks "isn't the view beautiful?" I laugh "yes it is" she turns and rolls her eyes "oh hush. Stop that" I laugh and say huskily "I'm agreeing with you" she purrs "ah perhaps but your meaning of 'the view' isn't the sea. It's me" I kiss her nose and laugh when she crinkles it. Nuzzling her neck I rest my head there and she turns back to look out at the sea. "Will you join my now?" I let go of her and she turns around and the smile on her face is so perfect and so happy that I have to snap a picture. "Yes just one moment" I run to get the camera and when I turn to snap the picture her surprise rushes over me like the incoming wave and just as the
SNAP
of the camera clicks she growls out, "Rafael Liam Knight! You are in major trouble" I am laughing so hard I don't see her charging me. It's only after I've landed in the sand that I realize she pushed me. I lend her my hand asking for help up. She grabs my hand and I pull her into me. Flipping her so that she's on the sand. Again her surprise makes me howl with laughter. She beats my chest and says "not cool. Not funny" but her smile erupts on her face. "Oh baby it is so funny" she  gasps for breath and sighs. "Can we just swim now?"  "I have one condition" "oh and what is said condition?" I smirk lean in and whisper "you have to let me kiss you" she sighs and looks shy. "Ok I gue-" I've captured her lips before she can even finish her sentence. Her hands slide into my hair and the moment couldn't be more perfect....

I blink and I'm back in my room.  The memory still haunts me but it's one I don't want to let go of. But you have to. She's getting married. I let a tear slip down my face and my heart wraps itself around her name and hugs it close. This saying comes to my head if you let go of someone you love and they come back to you then they're yours, but if they don't then they never were. As I look at this picture of Iris one last time I walk to the roaring fire that's in my room and kiss her face once again. "I love you Iris. Forever. I'll find you again in the next life. If this is how we end up parting our ways then so be it.  But I will get you back. You are mine forever." Then I let the picture slip from my fingers and watch as it floats into the roaring flames. Her face is the last thing I see before the picture turns to ash.
I'm sorry Iris but I'm letting you go. Hopefully you'll come back to me. Hopefully this isn't the end.