A Runaway Bride
By: Nicole Pratl
August, 2008
A place for worship, a place of God, and a ceremony bringing two people as one.
She stood there, flowing in white; a color of chastity and innocence, but that sure did not represent her situation at all.
Eyes of blue melted in pools of green. Those were not of what she desired. He must of saw her hesitance because he squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. She felt so vulnerable, so helpless, and so very confused. All eyes were upon them and she felt weighed down.
She felt her pulse quicken and heard the pounding in her head. Her thoughts were so loud in her mind she did not know whether to listen or shut them out. It was only a few seconds but it felt like an eternity as she was frozen, cemented in her place.
Finally, a crack of thunder above them brought her into reality. She let go of his hand and backed away. Both their eyes were still locked, questions and confusion swirling about. As she backed away, she saw his eyes widen in dis-belief. He knew what she was about to do. She closed her eyes, breaking their gaze, and she turned and headed down that long aisle.
It was the most exciting and horrifying moment of her life. As she ran, she heard a roar come behind her. With both hands she pushed open the holy doors and jumped down the slippery, wet steps. She stopped and had to catch her breath. She looked both ways trying to remember which way to go; all the while ignoring the stranger's curious glances as they walked on by. She barely even noticed the heavy rain falling from the darkened sky. She picked up her heavy, silk train and went running down 5th avenue.
She felt like she was running in slow motion as her feet hit the rain puddles and the rain drops showered her body. Everything was hazy and a blur around her and the only sound she could hear were her panting breaths. For a split second a sane thought did go through her mind. "What would people think of this frightened, but determined, girl running through New York City in a storm wearing a wedding dress?" Her thoughts suddenly vanished as her only concern now was getting around that corner and hoping: wishing that he was home. She also knew if he had left already she would literally die.
Thoughts of him already on a plane to Houston made her run even faster, also making it harder to keep ahold of her soaked dress. She did come around that corner though. She ran up to the building just as he walked out about to flag down a cab. Relief hit her hard as she saw him. She yelled his name. He froze and turned her direction. Blue eyes melted into his brown. These were the ones she longed for and desired. She stopped a few feet away; soaking wet, breathing heavy and a runaway bride.
She didn't know if it was shock, but he dropped his suitcase to the wet ground. He knew what she had just done because, in his relief, he took those few steps towards her and put both hands on the sides of her face and passionately crushed his lips to hers. It was a sweet, wonderful torture. Lost in his embrace, she couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. They stood there, in a loving trance, in the rain. She was sure it was just all a dream, like those in movies and novels, but no this wasn't a dream-it was real. It was her dream...come true.