1Victoria was sure it was after midnight when she woke up. Victor was sitting cross legged on top of the quilt bending over one of his drawing tablets, a candle glowing softly on the bedside table.. "Darling, are you okay?" she asked.
"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" Victor sounded distracted.
"No," she lied.
"Are you okay?" he asked her this time turning around to face her.
"I asked you first," Victoria said mockingly.
"Very funny," Victor planted a soft kiss on her delicate cheek "yes, I'm fine, I just... couldn't sleep."
"What are you drawing?" Victoria was now on top of the quilt sitting on her knees "Oh," she said looking down at the picture of the woman she had met it seemed so long ago "What's her name?" she asked, "I don't believe you ever told me."
Victor sounded startled "Oh, I'm sorry hun, her name is Emily"
"Emily," Victoria repeated quietly, as if trying to burn the name into her mind. She looked down again, the large eyes of the copse bride staring back at her. Then she looked down at her hand, at the ring that had once belonged to the corpse, Emily.
"It will be very difficult to forget her, you know." Victor said, turning slightly red in the face, and giving a sideways glance to his wife.
"I know, darling, I know." Victoria sighed patting Victor on the hand.
Victor loved his wife with all of his heart, and he knew that she felt the same about him, but, he had a different sort of love for Emily. A very deepened respect. He was about to give his life for Emily, but, she saved him, she knew that he loved his living bride, and she did not want to be as selfish, or as heartless as the man who had left her to die, and who was now wedded to Victors real love, Victoria.
"I will never forget her either," Victoria confessed, "no one has ever done anything like that for me." Victoria looked at her husband, she didn't want him to say anything, he didn't need to say anything. Words were lost for both of them. They knew how much they loved each other, and they knew how much that one day, the first day they met, had changed both of their lives forever.