Moving On

“Welcome to all who have gathered here, to witness the union of this man and woman…” The minister began, as the aisles quieted down and focused their attention to the front. It was a wonderful spring afternoon for a wedding. In fact, it was a perfect time to have a wedding in April. Today was one of the few days where the clouds and rainfall parted to let the warm sunny air bring everything alive and green again.

Isabel let her eyelids close as she breathed in the sweet air, savoring every second of it. Clutched in her hands was the invitation, which she nervously picked at, that she had hastily grabbed on her way out the door when she finally decided she would go. It was her best friend’s wedding after all.

The best friend she grew up with.

The best friend she fell head over heels for.

The best friend who broke her heart.

The best friend she still loved.

 

He looked so handsome in his tux. His brown hair trimmed and slightly tousled; he had taken his piercing out for the ceremony. The way his chocolate brown eyes lit up when he let his mouth curl into his rare, but genuine grin…

But that smile was no longer for her. It now belonged to the woman he stood before at the altar, which was smiling just as wide underneath the veil and gardenias: the sun shining against her golden hair.

She knew it was too late.

When the minister’s words rung loudly in her ears, she almost stood up; letting the words she would’ve said aloud keep quietly tucked away in her thoughts, wrenching her to the core. Isabel did what any friend should do in this situation. Stay seated and keep quiet. Jenna was everything that Isabel wasn’t and more. She openly loved and never judged or doubted.

Isabel doubted and second-guessed everything that came into her path. The only thing she was sure about was her faith. Which right now, only seemed to be barely enough.

The next thing she knew, everyone broke out into applause as they sealed their union with a kiss, snapping her out of her concentrated trance.

“Ready to go get our party on?” Jeremy asked, stepping in front of her. Isabel looked up into the grinning face of one of her closest and wackiest friends and tried to give him a genuine smile. “As long as there’s food involved…and alcohol.” She muttered the last part of the sentence underneath her breath as she walked side by side with Jeremy, making their way towards the reception. He flashed her a worried glance, not truly understanding her odd behavior during the ceremony.

 

            After the first hours of the festivities rolled by, Jeremy had given up and trying to solve the puzzle that was Isabel’s behavior. She continued to sit at her table, fiddling with the hem of her blouse, only keeping conversation with a few other guests.

“So this is the day you decide to avoid me?” Isabel heard the voice ask that was all too familiar.

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” she answered truthfully, almost with a spiteful tone in her voice. She simply looked up at him, making sure no emotion graced her features.

 

He rolled his eyes and thrust out his hand for her to take. She glanced at it and back up to him, making no attempt to move. “Come on,” he urged her simply.

 

“Where are we going?”

 

“Dance with me.” He told her, more as a command.

 

“No, I’m fine. Really.” She told him earnestly. His eyes narrowed at her, knowing fully well that she wasn’t okay, and that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

 

“I’m not leaving this tent until I dance with my best friend.” He said sternly, leaning forward to grasp her hand and pulled her out of her chair. She let out a small whine as he led her to the dance floor, intertwining his fingers with hers and placing his other hand to the small of her back as they began to sway to the music.

            “I’m glad you came,” he said softly, veering her attention back to his face. Her heart felt like it was pounding through her ears. She hated how a simple look he gave her caught her so off guard.

“The ceremony was beautiful,” she said simply and truthfully. Anything to try to veer away from that topic. “..It wasn’t easy.” She finally whispered averting her gaze away from him.

“It means a lot.” He whispered sincerely as his eyes locked with hers again. Her air was hitched in the back of her throat as her eyes started to well up, blurring her vision. His eyebrows furrowed as he watched his best friend slowly crumble. “What’s wrong Iz?” he asked, genuinely concerned.

            This was it. The only moment she had left to speak up; let her feelings and thoughts flow freely to him. She caught a glimpse of Jenna in the corner of her eye: smiling and giggling with friends surrounding her as they admired her ring, giving her their blessings. Isabel knew that she wasn’t enough for him. She wanted to be…so badly. Here she was: about to ruin the life that Josh had made with Jenna before it even began…

She was disgusted with herself.

Finally, she took in a long breath of air; catching a whiff of his scent through her nostrils. She closed her eyes and looked up at him: the tears shining in her eyes in the lights on the dance floor. “I’m just happy for you,” she said with a forced smile through her pain. She shrugged her shoulders slightly as he looked at her in confusion as they both stood still.

 She smiled again as the hot tears rolled down her cheeks. “So happy…” she said again before she sniffed, realizing what she needed to do. He touched the tear that had stayed on her cheek, wiping it away as he searched her eyes for a reason to her behavior.

 She put her hands on each side of his face, stretching herself on the tips of her toes to press her lips softly to his cheek, lingering only for a second before looking at him again. She was never good at goodbyes. “I wish you and Jenna every happiness…” She said as she dropped her hands away from his face; her bottom lip quivered as she stepped backward. 

She looked at him and his confused and hurt state for the last time for a long while…it only took him moments to register what she had meant as his lips parted to speak. But she had already slipped to far away into the darkness outside of the tent.

 

For now Isabel had ran to her car as the clouds rumbled and rain began pour. Her hands shook violently as she managed to put the key into the ignition, speeding off onto the muddy roads that led her back to her safe place. But soon her eyes became as blurry as the road in front of her. She finally stopped; letting her body crumble as she sobbed onto her steering wheel.

 

She needed to move on.

Author's Note

let me know what you think!

Reviews

[Elle B. T.]

There's ton's of emotion in this already and we don't even know the character well, yet. I love that, starting off with a conflict is always great. My heart was breaking for her as I read this and I didn't know whether to hate Josh or not, but maybe that was your intention. There are a few grammatical errors that are easy to fix. But I really like where this story is going so far. Great work!

[TheMizFit]

This first chapter is powerful and full of emotions, although we have no idea what the characters look like yet, but maybe in the next chapters. I love the descriptions. I could just feel what the characters felt. Good job, keep it up. I shall read the next chapters once I get the time.

[SimplyDelicious]

I love it!

It's ashame she had to experience that.

[Dragon]

This is emotional and a good writer knows what his or her own characters feel.

[Blue Bird]

I like a lot. Lots of emtions. lol heehee your very good can't wait to read more :)