The Wedding

Once again thank you very much to the extraordinary bitterlafayette for the cover. Please check them out here and on Instagram.

Absolem watched as she walked slowly down the aisle. She was beautiful. Tarrant had outdone himself. The dress was pure white. Absolem had never seen such a white. He almost felt blinded. Maybe that was why his eyes were watering. He blinked hard and resumed gazing at her.

Alice had curled the girl's hair slightly but the waves still flooded down her back past her waist like a chocolate waterfall. Absolem closed his eyes tight. He could have had her. He could have been the one standing at the end of that aisle instead of that stupid turtle, Pat.

Pat was in green silk. He had a green top hat cocked jauntily on his red hair. He grinned and you could see every white pearly tooth. Pat watched her walk toward him eagerly. He was overjoyed she had agreed to marry him.

Clinching his fist, Absolem tried to shake the memory out of his mind. Pat had just entered T house with a dozen daffodils and practically shouted the question at her. She had still been in her oversized pink pajamas. She had beamed and jumped up hugging and kissing Pat. Absolem remembered feeling... relieved, at the time. She was going to be happy. Katie would be happy, without him.

The caterpillar felt funny. There was a tight pain inside his chest. He was having a hard time breathing. He felt like he was dying. How could she be killing him? She was up there getting married and this sweet love filled act was killing him. He had walked the worlds for over a million years and this simple ceremony was killing him.

Absolem stood suddenly. He saw Chesh glare. Nobody was allowed to ruin the girl's special day. He felt more eyes slide to him. Absolem clutched at his chest and ran up the aisle. He ignored the break of murmurs as he ran. Just as he reached the back row his wings burst from his back and he was airborne. He could not stay and watch her love someone else.

Suddenly he felt someone grab him by the ankle. Instinct made him want to kick, but he looked down first. There she was, holding on tightly tears streaking her makeup, her white gown simply glowing in the sunlight. Slowly Absolem lowered himself to the ground. Katie carefully wrapped her arms around his neck holding him tight. She was so warm to him. Absolem wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

"I love you," she mumbled. "Please don't leave me. This was all a stupid mistake. I thought I could move on. I thought I could love someone else. I can't. I just can't."

"Marry me then. Love me," Absolem muttered back into her neck. "Marry me and we can be happy together."

Katie nodded fervently. "I love you so much. Please marry me, Absolem."

Absolem chuckled a little and his wings fluttered. "Yes..." Pat had come down the aisle. He tapped Absolem on the shoulder and pressed the wedding band into his hand. "Treat her special, lad." Pat then took Absolem's seat by Chessur as if nothing had happened, grinning like the happiest man in the world.

Absolem was somewhat shocked. He pulled away from Katie and gazed down at her. She beamed up at him still crying, happy tears, he assumed. He put one arm around Katie's waist and took one of her hands with the other and walked her back down the aisle. Tarrant stood there grinning at them like the mad hatter he was. Alice hopped up and quickly fixed Katie's makeup. Suddenly Tarrant had started the ceremony and they were married. Absolem felt so shocked. He was now bonded to this girl for her life. His wings fluttered. He had forgotten to put them away. He had married her with his wings out. Absolem blushed a little and prepared to put them away.

"Don't," Katie whispered. "Let them see how beautiful you are, my butterfly."