author's note: a short love story told in four parts
Wedding Rings: from yes to no
She would be ok, he was sure of it.
Sam wasn't like other girls. He knew that from the beginning.
She was loud and strong. She liked to get dirty and wear dark, loose clothes that hid her figure. And Danny liked that about her. He liked how real Sam was, how he always knew what she was thinking and that when she said something, it was always the truth. No question.
He'd put his life in Sam's hands and he knew she would put hers in his. They always seemed to be on the same page, their thoughts always one step ahead of the other.
But today, years later with similar golden rings in open palms and with Sam bouncing on her heels, and him swallowing the lump in his throat every other word or so, Danny can't help but think maybe this wasn't such a good idea and maybe Sam lied when she accepted the engagement ring, three months months prior. His eyes move to her belly. She isn't showing much, for her the dress is rather conservative, but he can see the soft outline of her slightly round stomach.
Sam purses her lips as the minster drones. He speaks of death and of love and of trouble and sorrows, and finally of forever. Danny knows he could spend his life with Sam by his side. But Sam's looking anywhere but at him and her eyes are wide and nervous like a startled deer in the path of a drunk driver. Small beats of sweat rest on her forehead and her cheeks flush. He catches her eye and mouths the single word that will set her free.
'Go.'
The minister continues on as if nothing had happened between the two and that they were nothing more the crazy, wasted kids with the marriage permit and the church fees that had begged him to marry them a month before. So he keeps rambling, his eyes closed and his voice dry and hoarse and he doesn't notice Sam slip from the altar or sees her shake the heeled shoes from her feet. She lifts the hem of the long white dress she fought with her mother over and Danny catches the barest hints of tears in her eyes. He watches with a sad smile as she darts down the isle and out the long wooden doors and doesn't look back.