Author's note: The beginning may seem a bit confusing but I will explain that later. Please review!
I held the ring in my hand admiring its beauty. I had stored it away in the chest where Christine's various drawings and sculptures of her lay. They all resembled my past obsession.
I rocked the ring back and forth in my palm to cause the various gems to glimmer in the candlelight. I closed my fingers around it and shut my eyes. This simple object held so many emotions and bitter memories. It released a sorrowful aroma that filled the air. I knew that none of those memories mattered. I love Addie now. I want to give her something to hold. I want her to have something that she can grasp that symbolizes our love. I opened my eyes and stood up. I want nothing more then to leave the past behind me and start anew.
"Nothing fits!" I shouted.
I rummaged through my drawers and savagely tossed cloths in the air letting them land on the floor behind me. When I had reached the wooden bottom and every item of clothing I owned was on the floor I turned around to look at the mess I had created. I sank my fingers into the tangle of curls on my head. Not one of my dresses fit.
"Had I really gained that much weight?" I wondered.
I looked into the mirror to reassure myself. I had grown plumper then I suspected. Most of the weight gain was at my stomach but my face had grown slightly round. I hadn't even realized months had gone by. I prayed that no one would suspect my increase in weight and offbeat behavior. I had been paranoid ever since I learned I had conceived and was shot some rather peculiar glances when performing my stair climbing. I would grasp the rails for dear life and take one step at a time cautiously to prevent falling.
I collapsed on my bed and sighed with relief when the weight was released from my feet. I sat on the edge and rubbed my lower back. I had grown familiar to this lower back pain that was essentially never ending. I wanted so badly to lye on my stomach and burry my head in the pillow but the doctor had ordered me to lye on my side.
Tonight I had a performance and tomorrow was Jolie's wedding. I was to be the maid of honor. I closed my eyes and held my breath to prevent myself from crying. I really am happy for her. She had found a man that loved her. She was going to go move and start a family with Joseph. I new that no matter how much I didn't want my friends to change and grow up I couldn't prevent that, I couldn't keep Jolie from her happiness. I had spent hours helping her prepare for the wedding. All the overwhelming stress formed dark red shadows beneath my eyes that I covered with makeup.
"Now what am I to do? I can't lope around in my night dress." I said to myself.
I tiptoed to Jolies room and knocked on the door. She greeted me with such a large grin I couldn't help but smile back. She could brighten anyone's day. I stepped into her room and closed the door behind me to show that I had to speak with her privately.
Her room was the same size as mine. She had a reddish-brown wardrobe and a matching dresser. Her wall and bed sheets were the same shade of white as mine.
She sat on her bed and patted a spot next to her for me to sit. I could see in her eyes she knew. That is the catch with friendships as close as ours. She could nearly stare past my skin and look upon my soul.
I had meant to tell her before but the words had always been caught in my throat. I placed a hand over my stomach and looked into her eyes then gazed down at my stomach. I repeated this action several times before she realized what I was trying to tell her. She opened her mouth wide and I nodded to tell her that her suspicion was correct. Before she had a heart attack I reassured her that Erik and I had wed. She grabbed me and hugged me. My neck became wet from her tears. Her reaction stunned me at first but I returned the hug. Our emotions were both over the edge seeing as her wedding and my pregnancy hormones. We held each other and both cried with happiness for the new things we were about to experience and sadness for the things we are to leave behind.
Jolie pulled herself away and placed her arms firmly on my shoulder then kissed my cheek. Our tears flowed as one. We both sniffed when she pulled away.
"You are more then a friend. You are my sister. You and me share something stronger then blood." She said. Her words truly moved me.
We both smiled and began laughing behind our tears. We made each other swear we would always keep in touch and never go a year without seeing each other.
"Addie why aren't you in your uniform?" Jolie asked realizing I was still in my night dress.
"I doesn't fit," I said laughing as I swallowed tears.
"Bring it over and I'll hem it," she said sniffing and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
She got out a kit from her dresser and released a few stitches on my uniform with a sharp pointy tool then handed it back to me. She allowed me to borrow the kit to hem the rest of my dresses and hugged me on my way out one last time.
Before the wedding, family from both the bride and grooms side were running around like mad to make sure everything was in order. The men in their separate room came to an agreement with the ladies and nearly stalked Joseph to prevent him from seeing the bride. This was a move that was rather unnecessary at times.
The church was an enormous catholic chapel that looked very much like the one I had been married in but with slightly more color. White roses adorned the entire room. There were various stain glassed windows that reflected a rainbow of colors upon the sitting crowd of family and friends. There were white candles set upon tall stands on the stage and the side of the room. They made the scene appear more dreamy and romantic.
The bridal party stepped into their dresses and uniforms that Jolie's aunt had tailored. It took the entire female party to help Jolie put on her dress. I pinched her arm and commented her lingerie which made us both laugh. Her dress was mouth dropping gorgeous. It was tight around the bodice and stomach. A spiral design flowed across the front. The dress opened in the back to reveal an extremely long tail with a familiar spiral design and jewels sparkled along the side of the tail. The main white fabric was covered with a see-through white fabric that matched the veil. She released her blond hair and let it fall on her shoulders. Then she slipped on her gloves that reached her elbows. She looked beautiful. We both grabbed each other and tried not to cry. It felt odd holding her when she was in such formal attire.
Everything seemed to happen all too quickly. Before I knew it I was down the isle. It seemed like seconds before Jolie came behind me. I focused my gaze upon Joseph. I'll never forget the look he got on his face when he first saw her. He started breathing heavily and his chest rose as they beamed at each other. They both had the most ridiculous smile upon their face. When they had come face to face they both looked so eager to touch. I knew that this man must love her. His eyes cherished her as if she was an angel. I knew there was no better man for her. When they recited their vows I couldn't stop the tears that ran down my face.
The night seemed to pass so quickly I tried to dive back and retrieve it but it was too late. Before Jolie left for her honeymoon she brought her Aunt Liana to me.
"Would you both do each other a huge favor?" She asked holding both of our hands. Her shiny silk gloves were astonishingly smooth.
"Liana needs someone to take care of her and Addie and her husband need a place to stay to raise the baby." She said smiling.
I turned to read Liana's reaction. She smiled back at me. I put a hand over my heart in disbelief.
"You would allow me to stay at your house while the child comes?" I whispered.
Liana nodded. Obviously Jolie had spoken with her beforehand. I hugged her so firmly I feared I had suffocated the poor old lady.
"We are family," Liana said widening her smile. I smiled back at her and allowed myself to cry once more.
