First, the birds sang. Then the windows and doors started to open, one by one. Far off on the horizon, the sun slowly rose. And the first light of day began to wipe away the darkness of the long night.
From my perch at the middle of the town square, I watched it all unfold. It was another night gone, and another day begun..
But I hadn't lost hope. Not yet...
Someday...
The old cathedral was barely filled. The empty pews were as significant, if not more, than the very few that were occupied.
All of my family occupied four of the front rows. All meaning those who still considered me a worthy Crawford after my perceived "ill-advised" choice of a husband.
But I didn't really care. No one could have supported me, and it still wouldn't have bothered me one bit. For I had Robert, my Robert..
The voice of the priest interrupted my thoughts...
"Do you, Lucinda Crawford, take Robert Harrison Frost, to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have, and to hold, in sickness and in hea..."
I stared at the face of my Robert. The very thought that he was mine, would be mine in only a few more minutes excited me. It excited me in ways I couldn't possibly express.
Till death do us part? Till forever? I wondered how long forever would be. Not nearly enough I thought to myself.
Those eyes, that smile, those dimples, the feel of those lips when we kissed..
"Lucinda..." The voice of the priest broke my reverie again, and I smiled with knowing..
For there was.. there could only ever be one answer..
"I do."
Robert looked down with me as I pushed my grandmother's old ring up his finger. I thought his hands trembled a bit, but then I wasn't sure. I probably was trembling with delight myself. Perhaps I was thinking too much.
I smiled, looking back up at him as the priest began again...
"Do you, Robert Harrison Frost, take Lucinda Crawford, to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have..."
Wife.. wife.. wife...
It sounded strange in my ears, in my head, but it sent waves of sweet electricity coarsing through my body. I Lucy, would be Robert's wife. It felt too good, too perfect, but it was about to be true...
I closed my eyes, and waited for the sequence of words that would bind us forever...
"I do."
My heart probably skipped more than a few beats. Nirvana beckoned...
Then the priest...
"With the power vested upon me by the state..." he paused, and I held my breath..
Any moment now...
Now...
Or now...
...
Then I felt, rather than heard the pandemonium. I felt Robert's hand reluctantly slip off mine. I opened my eyes.. and my heart sank.
The tears came, but my voice was lost. The pain I felt was almost physical. I sank to my knees..
"Lucy..."
I heard his call, but I still couldn't speak. All I did was watch. Watch as he was taken away, taken away from me. On our wedding day...
My Robert...
We weren't even declared husband and wife yet...
..............
First, the birds went quiet. Then the windows and doors started to slam shut, one by one. High above, the moon slowly unveiled. And the last signs of day quickly faded away to the darkness of the long night.
From my perch at the middle of the town square, I watched it all unfold. It was another day gone, and another long night begun..
But I hadn't lost hope. Not yet...
I know he'd come back to me...
Someday...
THE END
Written for no one in particular, but with someone in mind. I hope someone found it as pleasantly melancholic as I did...