The Wedding Issue

Chapter Thirty Two - They Have Challenged Death, and Dared Him Face to Face

Summering in the Hamptons used to be one of my favorite family traditions. There's nothing like it's cool, sandy beaches to defy the summer's heat. My sister Kelly and I would always swim race. Whoever could go the farthest was the winner and she, being tall, slender and a professional swimmer, would always win. It never stopped me from trying to beat her, no matter how many times I was destined to lose, until one day I took it a step too far.

She had been mocking me all morning and I couldn't wait to hit the beach and teach her a lesson of a lifetime. It was the one time I decided to push past my motor abilities and went deep into the sea. Out of the blue, my thigh started cramping and it was unwilling to cooperate. I did the one thing I now know I was never supposed to do; I panicked. I looked around me and realized I was all alone. Kelly was already swimming back to shore and was far beyond my cries of help.

There was nothing but me, the vast sea and my will to survive.

I never thought of myself as a man of faith, but at that moment my silent prayers could scream volumes. If ever there was a time that I wanted to be alive, this was it. There were so many things that I've yet to do. There were so many words I've yet to say. There were so many dreams I've yet to fulfill. It was what made me push past the pain to break the surface of the water for just one more breath. All I needed was another gulp of air before the waters pulled me back into its miseries again.

No matter how many times I've tried to kick myself up, the fear of drowning managed to consume my limbs, using up whatever oxygen was left in my body. I could feel the pulse quickening in my ears despite the paralytic state I was under. I had lost all contact with the surface of the water and my sight was dimming; slowly fading away. The last thing I remember was the burning sensation that coursed through my lungs as it all went black.

Never have I imagined that eleven years later I would be experiencing a situation a million times worse than that. Benji had to tug on my arm to snap me from the impending fear that constricted my muscles. I took a much needed long and deep breath as I bolted for the door.

Benji had already alerted the security guards and they hurried us through the elevator. It was the longest ride. Claire's words echoed through my mind. "Did you know that blood red is so her color?" It was like the scene of the accident all over again. Why was Death grabbing such a hold on Genevieve? Why was he trying to take her away from me when I just found her? The world seemed like such a small and lonely place. I knew then that no matter Genevieve was destined to go, I would follow her blindly, even if it meant that I had to die in the process.

The elevator doors opened and Benji along with the security guards scrammed to the scene. It took me a moment too long to exit the elevator. I didn't know what to expect coming out, and no matter what had unraveled in the penthouse tonight, I wasn't prepared to face the outcome.

'She still has a pulse. Call the ambulance', one of the security guards bellowed.

That was the push I needed to finally make it out the doors.

Claire was lying on the ground, practically lifeless, in a pool of her own blood. She was dressed in a white gown that made her look like a fallen angel. There was a silver gun two feet away from her, covered in blood. It was a poetic scene. I had anticipated many meets with her that could've been awkward beyond belief. This was definitely not one of them. One of the security guards was putting pressure on her wounds while the other was dialing 911.

Genevieve was nowhere in sight.

Benji ran down the stairs with panic written all over his face.

'Genevieve isn't upstairs', he shuddered.

'I'm right here', she screamed from the balcony.

Benji was ready to run to her rescue before I motioned for him to stop. It took one look between us for him to understand that it was I who had to handle this situation. He nodded his approval and let me make my way to her.

She was crouching on the floor, resting her back on the glass panel and was drenched in blood from the shoulder down. The moment I saw her, I went diving to the floor next to her. She had been crying; her eyes were searing red and her face was marked with one heck of a serious bruise. When our eyes met she started crying all over again. I took her into my arms and shushed her to stop crying. This is the second time I've seen her cry and at that particular moment I've vowed to myself to never let her shed another tear. The diamonds falling down her cheeks were too precious for anyone to witness, least of all me.

'She's not going to get away with it', I promised her.

She shook her head in disapproval.

'She suffered enough. We all did', she said between sobs.

'Let me get you out of here', I told her as I helped her up.

I kissed her bruised cheek and she winced in pain. I wished I could kiss all the pain away. I wished I never left to the gallery without taking her with me. Every time I let her go, I wound up hurting again. Never again will I make her go through anything like this again.

'So how about that dinner plan I promised you?', I tried to lighten the mood.

She smiled as I wiped away her tears.