Deaths Touch

The Ceremony

I found myself inches from my future. Crowds swarmed in the building through the intricate golden doors. Suddenly the crowds stoped I was left with only my heart beat and the soft sound of my mother's voice.
"When the time comes for you to meet your pair and I'm far from gone. I don't want you to walk among the crowds I want you to walk among the stars." I started to turn but before I could fully change direction the crowds pulled me through the doors. Just one last gap of light on last gap of freedom one last gap between the door and then nothing. I found myself in a celebration beautiful gowns shimmered as they danced up and down the large room. Every few minutes the music stopped and they switched the man they danced with. I watched overwhelmed until one of the glimmering gowns mad their way toward me like a shooting star through the night sky.
"May I interest you in a dance kind sir," she outstretched he delicate hand as she spoke.
"Uh," before I had the chance to answer she grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the ballroom floor. The glimmering dances swarmed around us as we danced. For the first time I noticed her youthful appearance. She couldn't of been over the age of 15. "How old are you?" I asked as we danced. He face dropped.
"Old enough," as she spoke the music stopped she broke from my hands and made her way toward another man standing awkwardly at the door. Another gown a scarlet red now held my hands and placed her head gently on my chest.
"Bathroom," I heard a man whisper into my ear as he passed.
"What?" I questioned looking around to find the source of the voice. A young man stood across from me now. His twisted expression showed that he was the owner of the voice. I raised my eyebrow as to question "bathroom what?" The music stopped and he ran across the floor to what I assumed was the bathroom. Lost in the sea of women I followed him. He disappeared through a large blue door. I walked inside and found the man now leaning against the sink admiring himself in the mirror.
"Oh great you made it," he spoke with a dopey smile. "I wasn't sure if you heard me over the loud music and the multiple attractive women dancing around you. Any who I saw you kind of looked lost and thought. Wait maybe he is one of those first in the family guys. Then I was think nah those guys are total losers and this kid looks cool. Ain't I right....." for a moment he stopped talking to the mirror and looked at me with a confused look. "Uh.." he looked down at the floor and then back into my eyes. "Sorry how rude of me. I never asked your name." I just stood overwhelmed by the exchange. "And your name is..." he gestured this time for me to answer, yet continued to interrupt. "You do speak right?"
"Yes."
"Oh he does speak. Your name?"
"Gabriel," he smiled and continued to place his arm around me, guiding me as he walking up and down the narrow bathroom.
"Okay so Gabby. Can I call you Gabby," a brief pause "I'm going to call you Gabby. You see out there. There are hundreds of attractive women there to feed you and make you feel fulfilled in your last few ours of unwed glory. You shouldn't give that up just because you are a little bit shy a lot a bit awkward. Gabby, I know you."
"We just met."
" DON'T INTERRUPT." He pauses to control himself then continues, " now Gabby I know you better then you know yourself. Your a man you have needs. There are hundreds of women that, okay no offensive but will definitely be more attractive then whoever they pair you with, that want you. Yeah your not the best looking but you know what, they don't care. They get paid anyway." He looks me in the eyes as though I am to thank him for his wonderful wisdom.
"I think I'm fine with waiting until after the ceremony."
"Your loss," he speaks as he frees my shoulders and walks out the door, "more for me then!" I stare at the door for a minute until I was sure he wouldn't come back. I looked into my reflection. I stared into my bright blue eyes that seamed out of place in my dark complexion. I stood frozen wishing I could walk back through those doors and leave this all behind. The booming loud voice that summoned us to the main hall shattered what was left of the wish.
"All mates to the main hall! All mates to the main hall!" I pushed the door and made my way following the crowds to the main hall. They started calling numbers as soon as the crowds began to settle.
"A1" he paused and waited for the two companions to face each other then he continued. "Sir are you pleased,"
"Damn straight," the man exclaimed as the women lifted her vale.
"Then I pronounce you husband and wife." Number by number name by name I waited my heart beating through my chest.
"B26," thump.
"F13," thump thump.
"J6," THUMP.
"Q2," THUMP thump.
"V16," THUMP THUMP.
"W11," THUMP THUMP I'm next.
"W12," my knees seamed to buckle as I walked toward the bride that stood atop the stairs. This was the moment my first look into the eyes of my true love. I visualized fireworks, an endless flutter of butterflies in my stomach and flowers. Birds singing as she smiles. Though she lift her vale there were no fireworks, no butterflies, flowers, or birds. There was nothing. She was beautiful her blonde hair braided out of her face. He doe like wide brown eyes made her look gentle and kind. With time I can learn to love her, with time she will become..
"Sir, are you satisfied," what a strange use of words. I nod. " I pronounce you husband and wife." I took her hand and as we walked out the doors toward our home she spoke in a soft voice.
" Am I not pretty enough for you?" I turned shocked.
"No you are lovely," she smiles her bright teeth glisten. "You are just a stranger."
"Then don't make me a stranger," she spoke putting her arms around my neck and gazing into my eyes. "I'm Juliet."
"I'm Romeo," I spoke jokingly, but she only stared confused.
"See Romeo we are no longer strangers." It was apparent now that she didn't understand.
"No, I was joking. My name is Gabriel. Gabriel Wilson." I spoke trying to mimic he intimate body language the best I could.
     "That was a mean joke Gabriel Wilson," she lowered her arms as she spoke and continued to walk toward the house we now shared.
     I walked ahead to open the door to the small cottage. Each window was decorated with beautiful red roses. A weeping willow shaded the two chairs placed in the front of the house. Together we walked inside. I followed as she led to the bedroom. Rose petals decorated the sheets and the floor.
     "I don't suppose you wanted to," she spoke as she gestured to the bed.
     "No, if you don't mind I'm going to sleep." She sighed as she lifted the comforter throwing the rose petals onto the wooden floor. She smiled and walked to the bathroom to change out of her beautiful wedding dress. Through all of the stress I never truly admired how detailed her dress was. Lace flowers decorated the bottom of the dress billowing down to bottom of the long train. The top of the dress seamlessly transitioned into the bottom, covering her arms with the same lace. She was a beautiful bride, yet she wasn't mine.
     As I lay down to sleep. I slept next to a stranger, yet I was expected to love and cherish her. To the rest of the world I slept next to my wife, as I will for all of the days of my life.