Simpler Things

Part 14: Down the Aisle

                 "Dinner" was at 6:15, almost everyone who would be at the ceremony was there or coming. I was getting ready in my room when someone knocked at the door. I pulled it open, my mother stood there is a knee length black dress.
"Why are you so dressed up?" I asked, suddenly aware of the grey track pants and simple tshirt I wore.
"The bride requested we all dress up a little." She smiled, gesturing to her dress.
"Two days in a row, damn." I mumbled. My mother cleared her throat and said,
"Kyle bought this for you. I helped with the size." She handed over a white bagged coat rack. "Try it on." She smiled.
              I changed into it. And it was... beautiful. I have never been a dress person, but... wow. I looked into the mirror. The dark blue dress stuck to my curves but flared at the waist. It went down to my knees. It's neckline, a sweetheart. Charlie came into the room and saw me standing.
"Wow." He said, his eyes wide.
"What?" I said, "Is it ugly?" He leaned on the door frame and smiled,
"Absolutely hideous."

          I didn't realize how bad I was at eating food. There was too much cutlery. I don't need 3 spoons. I studied them, as everyone filed into the dining room. It had an amazing view of the lake. The rehearsal dinner was starting as the last people came in. Besides the food, the rehearsal dinner was kind of boring. Cara came in and headed to the head table, we were brought bright dishes with amazing food on them, and we eventually made our way to speeches. A couple of men cried, including Cara's father. His white wispy hair, combed over his bald scalp, he was weather, wrinkles consuming most of his face. Reminded me of my grandfather. After his speech, I leaned against the table, playing with my many spoons, not expecting Kyle to stand up.
"Hello, everyone. I'm the brother of the beautiful bride," he said, smiling. "I've always been close to Cara, growing up with each other was a dream come true." He babbled on about how he was so happy she was settling down, I saw him wink at my mother, and how he hopes he can soon be an uncle. Would hitting my head on the table draw too much attention?

               After dinner, everyone slowly headed out of the dining room and into their own. Eventually, it was our table and the brides. I chose then to leave, Charlie hot on my trail. We went to our room, I waiter outside, looking at all the photo frames on the walls.
           I layer in my warm bed, grateful for the heat. I turned to my right, and then onto my left. And then into my right. I looked at the small digital clock. 2:34AM. The red numbers glared at me. I got out of bed, careful not to wake Charlie, and walked out onto the balcony. The inn faced out onto the lake, the mountains on the other side. A giant mirror reflected the night sky. It was beautiful. The large deck next to our room shone with a white highlight from the scenery. It was amazing. The silence was broken as a hard crunching sounded from the road. A dark figure scurried up the stairs, heaving for air. I rushed across my room and out to the hall, I gripped the corner as the dark figure pushed open the glass door. There stood the bride to be. Her chest rose and dropped quickly. Her eyes lit up when she saw me,
"I... need... your... help." She managed to get out. She told me she forgot her necklace in the dining area, near the breakfast bar.
"Get a glass of water and wait here, I can get it for you-"
"Thankyou!" She said, smiling. I left as she sat down in one of the lobby's. The dining room was unlocked, but dark. Pitch black. I ran my hands against the walls, trying to locate the light switch. Eventually my fingers glossed over the ivory switch. I flicked it on, the lights around the corner turned on. I walked around the fireplace and to the breakfast bar, Cara's necklace lay on the counter. It was a long thin chain, with a gold heart pendant. I could sense the symbolism, and why it was given to Cara. I grabbed it and stuffed it in my pocket, the cold chain wrapping around my fingers. You could see the moon from here. The bright moon, against the dark dark sky. The contrast made me calm. A loud bang broke me of my thoughts.
What was that?
A pan.
Why did it fall?
Maybe it was just on a ledge.
My brain went haywire analysing each variable. I pushed my thoughts aside, curiosity consumed me. The light flickered as I pushed open the door. There was a pot on the tile. I looked at the florescent light flickering. I'll have to tell management. I'm not suppose to be here. Just as I was about to turn back, go back to my room, I caught an odor. It was... raw. Disgust filled my insides, I had eaten the food out of this kitchen. But I looked around, everything was spotless. I trailed a couple steps away from the door, and that was when I saw it.

The body laying in the kitchen sink.