Patient Bride
The sun was out, and light filled the white hall. Bouquets of flowers were spaced out at each corner, and a blue carpet led the way for the woman. She wore a white gown that fell just above the knee, with a slit down the back. She walked, escorted by her mother, Luan, down the hall to meet the man in a white suit carrying silver rings.
“I’m not ready,” the woman said. “I want to go back.”
“Don’t be scared, Melanie,” Luan said. “He’ll take care of you.”
As Melanie looked at the hunched-over figure beside the man in white, water formed in her eyes. Her tears trickled down, bringing attention to her purple eyeshadow. Melanie slowed her pace and gently moved her fingers over her deep purple wristlet, trying to refocus her eyes on the man in white.
“Are you alright?” Luan asked. “Don’t worry, my love; this will all be over soon.”
“He’s right there,” Melanie uttered. “It’s Mario.”
“No,” Luan said firmly. “He’s not the one for you. Look at all that happened. I won’t let you go back to him.”
“You don’t understand,” Melanie replied. “I need him, and he needs me. What happened was not his fault. I’m the one who changed, and he helped me find my way again.”
“What he did is not—” Luan paused. “The man in front of you, waiting for you, he’s the one who will help you live. He’s the only one I will give you to. Not Mario.”
Tears overwhelmed Melanie as she approached the two men. Luan gave her child’s hands to the man in white and instructed him to take good care of her and give her the life she deserves. The man in white put the silver rings on her and took her to his side. After watching them enter iridescent curtains, Luan confronted Mario, who was standing nearby, with such intensity that Mario stepped back. Luan grabbed his wrists and cuffed them, proceeding to read his Miranda rights as they went down the hospital corridor.
“You hurt my daughter. What you put her through—” Luan trailed off as tears started forming.
“It was love,” Mario whispered, his eyes faintly red and barely open. “What we had was love!”
“No. This was not love,” Luan said, while holding back her tears. She sighed. “This was never love.”