So this one wasn't exactly hard but I changed the plot three times while I was writing. I'm thinking about going back and writing all three stories but this is the way I went:
The Wedding Cake in the Middle of the Road
December 2013Jerrica Black
Smashed, streaked across the highway. Streaks of
white and yellow, faded pink. Petals blow about on the growing wind. The first
drops of rain begin to fall. The stain becomes smudged, it fades, it trickles
away but the memory persists, the memory is permanent.
The memory of the
dress. Long and luxurious. Strapless . Beaded corset. The memory of the ring.
Golden band. Pear cut diamond. Small, demure, beautiful. The memory of the man…
We laughed as we sat in our favourite coffee
shop sipping on the usual: black coffee for him, green tea for me. I’m not sure
what we were laughing at; maybe we were just laughing out of joy brought to us
by being together, maybe it was one of his corny jokes, maybe it was me saying
something stupid. We stopped. He took my hand in his across the table. I
thought nothing of it. He looked deep into my eyes, “I have something I want to
ask you.”
My heart jumped into my throat
and my stomach filled with butterflies. We already lived together; there was only
one logical question. I was so nervous, I almost couldn’t contain myself.
“Stacey,”
he paused. My name sounded so good on his lips. “Stacey, I love you and I don’t
know what I would do without you. I want you for the rest of your life. Will
you marry me?” With this he got down on one knee and held a red velvet box
opened in front of him.
My
hands went to my mouth. I was speechless, staring no tat the golden diamond
ring in front of me but at the man behind the ring, deep into his beautiful
green eyes. “Yes, of course!” tears sprang to my eyes. After slipping the ring
over my finger he stood and I jumped into his arms. He spun me around and
kissed me.
But it’s only a
memory now. Slowly fading as my consciousness dims, my vision fades. I can see
him lying not far from me. He’s not moving. The red stain on the pavement grows
and bleeds into the smashed cake. His eyes were never open, he never said a word.
His chest wasn’t moving. I tried with all my might to move closer to him. I
moved maybe an inch. I could just touch his hand. It was cold.
The rain surged
toward the ground the ground now. I was cold, and wet, but the pain was gone.
In the distance I could hear the sirens but I was asleep before they reached
us.
I awoke in the hospital moments ago. I recall the
night of the accident how long ago was that? “Nurse!” I yell. Where is David? “Nurse!”
I yell again. He has to be okay. “Someone! Nurse!” I am frantic now. Finally a
nurse walks in.
“Hello, Stacey,” she grinned insincerely. “You’ve given
us quite the scare.”
I was confused. “Where’s David?” I asked.
“David?” she questioned.
“Yes, my husband, we just got married.”
Her eyebrows drew together as if pained by some
recollection. “I’m so sorry, dear.” I break into tears, I don’t hear what she says net.
I finally calm down and she repeats the story for
me.
“About two weeks ago you and David were hit by a car
leaving your reception. When they got there you were unconscious. They rushed
you to the hospital, you were critical. We worked on you for 8 hours before you
began to stabilize. You’ve been in and out of consciousness ever since but you’ve
been delirious.”
“But what about David? Where is he? Can I see him?”
She had pulled up a chair during the recount of the
story. She grabs my hand. "I’m so sorry dear. When the ambulance showed up he
was already gone."
I am speechless. Tears fill my
eyes, they pour out, they fall down my cheeks but I make no sound and no
expression. I was in shock.
Years from now you will find me
alone, a woman of few words, a woman of few friends. If you find me you will
find a broken woman, an empty husk, a lost soul.
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