Wedding Morning Part 5(Epilogue)

18 Months Later

"Thank you" Peter said as he grabbed his coffee off the counter. He proceeded to sit down in one of the plush olive green chairs. Boy was it good to be back! This coffee shop had been one of his favorite places, so of course when he got in town this was first on his list. He opened up his laptop and logged into his Gmail. Junk mail, every bit of it. Oh well! It was a blessing to have even junk mail. Ever since his illness he had learned to treat everything as a blessing. He was told there was no hope, or so they said. He went to this support group for people dealing with terminal illnesses. The leader of it recommended him to Dr.Blankenship. At first he was leary of him, figured he was just gonna give him false hope. But he told him about this experimental treatment they were trying over in Europe, and they were only chosing a select few. He didn't have anything to lose. He was dying, he left the love of his life at the altar, what worse could happen? So he packed his bags and boarded a plane. And now 18 months after he was diagnosed he was back home, tumor free. He had been in remission for almost a year now. He had been in town for about a day. He was staying with a buddy for the time being, just until he found a place, and a job. He hadn't seen Mary yet, he doubt she wanted to see him. He never told her why he called off the wedding. He wanted more than anything to explain himself to her, to tell her he still loved her. Maybe it wasn't too late for them. Maybe someone had told her why he left.Maybe she understood. And maybe, just maybe she still loved him. He sure hoped she still did. He took one last look at his e-mails and started to gather his things. He looked up for one split second out the window and saw the back of a woman's head. Could it be? No, he was only seeing things! Oh go after her you fool! He ran out of the coffee shop and out onto the sidewalk. He searched for her face and saw her still walking forward. "Mary!" he called out. She stopped in her tracks and swiftly turned around. He felt his heart sink into his stomach. Then she realized who had called her name and looked at him as though he was dead to her. And before he knew it she was gone. He stood there almost in a trance for what seemed like forever. Now he knew there was no going back. No trying to make her understand. No spending his life with her. She was still as beautiful as ever, if not more beautiful. But the ring on her lovely hand which rested on the reason we could never be made me realize there was no going bakc. I wonder what it will will be. I hope it has her eyes.

Wedding Morning Part 4(Groom's view)

"Come on Peter! What are you waiting for?" Startled by his best man he jumped to his feet and tried to collect himself.I really should stop doing that or people will know something is wrong. "You're not thinking about backing out of this, are you?" "No!...no! Of course not!" Peter replied. "Well then move it! We're already behind schedule, and if we don't hurry Valerie will chew us both out" So they both hurried over to the sanctuary. The Reverend lead him up to the altar and soon the wedding processional was beginning. Wow it was finally happening! He had been waiting for this day with anticipation for so long, but now it just didn't seem to matter anymore. He was dying. He was about to marry the one girl he wanted to spend forever with and all he had was eight months. A brain tumor, of all the heinous things to take him away from her. How could he tell her? How could he let her sit there and watch him die? It wasn't like he was gonna get any better. Dr.Foreman said surgery was too risky and chemo would only leave him bald and weak with little chances of recovery. And there she was. He was completely transfixed by her. She was absolutely amazing. She was easy going, compassionate, and an all around good person. A person who didn't deserve to watch her husband die. It was time for the Reverend to speak. "Dearly Beloved: We are gathered here, in the presence of God and of this company, that Peter and Mary may be united in holy matrimony.Who presents this woman in marriage?" "Her Mother and I do" Her Father squeezed her hand and gently let go."If anyone has reason why these two shall not be married speak now or forever hold your peace" The church was so quiet you could hear a pen drop. "Well then let us proceed" "No!" Peter wasn't sure if that had come out of his own mouth. It had. "Peter what are you doing?!" "I can't! I'm sorry, one day you'll understand" "Understand what?! Peter you're not making sense" "I'm so sorry. Just remember I still love you Mary" And with that he ran down the aisle and straight out the double doors. Once he was out he frantically searched his pockets for his car keys. He unlocked it, hopped in, and started the car. As he started to pull out of the church parking lot he looked back at Mary on the front steps in her wedding gown, panic on her face. That was the hardest thing he had ever done. But he knew it was for the best. He'd rather have her hate him than become a widow at twenty-four.