Something Strange, Something New
"So is no one gonna bring up the undead elephant in the room?" Ashley asks. Jenna and I shush him. He stays quiet for an impressive five seconds before continuing, "Seriously, I can't be the only one in the room wondering what they're going to do on the honeym-"
"That's really not church conversation," I point out reproachfully.
Jenna takes a different tactic, raising an eyebrow and twisting her lips to one side. "Is this really the kind of thing you think about when you're bored?"
"Well, I'm not exactly into the whole 'talking to God' thing, so...yep, either finals or this," Ashley shoots back at her, not missing a beat. He leans forward and taps his foot on the ground like the White Rabbit. Jenna rolls her eyes and slips her frizzy blonde hair behind an ear.
"You're so obnoxious."
"So you've told me!"
The excited murmur of the other guests keep their jibes from attracting attention. I smile quietly and look straight ahead at the altar, which is bedecked in white tulips and a yellow flower I don't know the name of. God, help Jenna not to murder Ashley. At least not until the ceremony's done.
The prayer works for at least the next five minutes, when an organ starts playing the traditional song, echoing and metallic. I turn my head to the right a bit so that I can better see the groom and his best man. They both wear the traditional black tuxedos with boutineers made up of that same yellow flower. The groom, Jesse, would appear calm if you didn't know him that well, but Ashley, Jenna and I can tell he's nervous. Something about the way he stands gives it away; I think it has to do with his feet.
Jesse is looking past us and the other guests. We join him in eyeing the back of the church when we hear the long creak that means the double doors are opening.
Two girls, tall and short, neither chubby nor skinny, enter, throwing rose petals and lady's lace across the aisle. Behind them comes the father of the bride- he wears glasses, tuxedo, and a quiet smile- and the bride herself.
Monique is all gold. Jesse told me once in private that it's because she died at sunrise. I met her after that, so I can't say how much she's changed. Now, though...now she has yellow amber skin and shining eyes. Her hair and fingertips get sort of blurry near the ends, while translucent, golden mist emanates from her entire body, all except from the arm she's wound through her father's. I can't see anything through her arm. Jesse didn't tell me about that. I glance back at him to see two tears dragging themselves down his face. Gravity is no match for the smile that spreads across his usually stoic face.
Monique's father lets her go when they arrive in front of the pews. Monique smiles and leans in to kiss his cheek. His eyes squint, and tears fall down them, too. I can see her lips pass in some space through his skin, like she's an illusion, a projection. Maybe becoming solid is something that she can only do with a lot of effort. It must be difficult, being a ghost.
I think I'm right- Monique is breathing heavily. She doesn't care. Monique and Jesse stretch their hands towards the other, and they take up the same space in the air. Jesse has stopped crying, and Monique is smiling just as happily as he is. Her dress is gorgeous. It is golden and misty, too, crafted from her own spirit and passion. I guess that means there's no budget restrictions, though; tiny gems sparkle all around the hips and lower bodice. The dress is strapless, with long gloves going from her fingertips to her upper arms. It looks like something from a masquerade ball. Jesse did say Monique was something of a nerd, a fan of fantasy video games with magic, goblins and heroes. I smile at that; they should get along just fine.
The pastor gets on with the ceremony. Jesse and Monique respond in the proper places. I glance to my left during a hymn: Jenna is letting Ashley lean against her shoulder tolerantly. His face is all red and screwed up, and I hope I don't laugh.
I wonder if Monique's father knows how happy she and Jesse are. I wonder if he's thinking back to two years ago. I hope he's thinking about now, instead.
The pastor, a thin, elderly woman, beams serenely at the couple. I hope that Ashley wasn't right about the problem of the couple's...physicality.
"You may kiss the bride," she announces. Monique leans forward to meet Jesse, and their lips touch- I don't know if both pairs were solid in the sense that most people are familiar with. Jesse and Monique stop after more than ten seconds of applause and cheers, one of the loudest from Ashley (he's now crying openly. I have to chuckle.) The two make their way, side by side, hands sharing air and space, and soon they break into a run.
I've never seen a ghost run before. The main difference between how a human and ghost do so is that the latter makes the air shimmer, like someone passing behind a silk curtain.
I don't have time to think about that, though. I'm too busy clapping with everyone else.
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