The Wedding

The wedding was planned to take place on a warm sunny day in August. The warm sun causing people to take shelter in the cool church for the beautiful ceremony. Friends and family had gathered for the beautiful long awaited wedding. These two had waited long to find each other and were finally getting married. But the wedding had been cut short. An objection rang out in the form of a man standing up as the bride walked down the aisle, one look and the bride ran away with her best friend, leaving the groom alone. It had been two months since she had left and Robert had yet to accept it. His mother had suggested seeing a therapist about his refusal to let her go. After some mild arguing back and forth, he agreed for the sake of his mother and went to therapy.

He was running late this morning and had quickly thrown on old jeans and a smokey flannel. He was worried the receptionist could smell the old smoke on his dirty clothes as he walked up to the desk. He was told to take a seat and that the doctor would be right with him. He crossed his arms over his chest and thought about what a waste of time this was. He caught the receptionist looking at him through her veil of blonde hair. Blonde hair. Blonde hair reminded him or her. Melanie. How she left him, her heels click clacking down the aisle followed by a sea of fabric. As he relived the moment a small tear rolled down his dirty face.

"Robert, you can go in now" the receptionist said pointing at the door.. He discreetly wiped his eye before he stood up and walked through the door.

The session was short, Robert didn't like Dr. Calvin. The office was stuffy and so was her personality. He wasn't going to talk to her about Mel. His beautiful Melanie. He avoided every question, every side glance and just thought about her. Without his participation the session was ended early and he returned to the waiting room to pay for his short visit. Essentially throwing away his money. He stood at the desk waiting for the receptionist to return, he just wanted to get out of there and go home. She finally returned and he paid for his visit, didn't make another appointment and then left the building. The cold night air blew right through his flannel as he walked to his car. He forgot his coat at home, being in such a rush he wouldn't need it. As he reached his car his phone started to buzz inside his front pocket. He fished out his phone and saw and unknown number. A small dose of hope filled his heart, maybe it was her. He quickly flipped open his phone and held it to his face.

"Mel?" He asked.

"Is this Robert Burke?" A man's voice asked.

"Yes this is" he said.

"Robert, this is Dr. Caffrey at Community Hospital there has been an accident involving your mother. We need you to come down as soon as possible" he said.

Robert went cold and it wasn't because of the air. He hung up without saying a word and got in his car. He sped to the hospital remembering his mother and all the fun times he shared with her. He got to the hospital and discovered that it was more than an accident. Mama had a heart attack and fell at home. Mama was gone and so was Mel. He remembered when he first brought Melanie home to meet her and their dinners together but now they both are gone. He had followed the doctor down to the morgue and into the viewing room and he saw her. She laid on the metal table covered by a white sheet. She had never looked more at peace and more beautiful.

After the hospital he wants some beer to help with his mourning. He always drinks whenever he is feeling down or if he just wants to have some fun. He decides to go to the store before heading home. He always goes to the same small grocery store in town that is close to home. He goes in almost every day so the employees know him by name.

Once in the store he walked to the back of the store and walked into the cooler. He grabbed a six pack of Bud Light and headed back to the front of the store. As he neared the front he could hear the cashiers chatting loudly and the ringing of the cash registers. The store was unusually slow for a Friday night and he was hoping that she was working. His favorite employee, her name is Sam. Sam was short for her age, she was only 20. Her short blonde hair also reminded him of Mel along with her mannerism.