Chapter 33

I walk down the hallway, and this is the day. I promised this morning to make her the happiest woman on the face of the earth from here on out. I picked a single calla up, snipped it short, and paired up with a twig of lavender bound by a raffia string. Armed with this I head to her dressing room. The entire place is in frenzy with the last minute checks and greeting of the guests. But here I was, serene as ever going to check if she's ready.

I see the door ajar as I approach it, who was in there? Perhaps her father, she's always been such a daddy's girl. I take slow steps towards the door, and peek in to see who it is.

But all I see is what was not meant for my eyes; at least not today. What happened to let's try it out, let's work at it…Bullshit. I want to go in, I want to tear his arms apart. I want to remove his head from her nape, her arms from clinging on to his back; I want to break into the world where they have escaped.

But I feel a hand on my shoulder holding me back.

"Leave them be Soujiro. It's their way of saying goodbye. Leave them alone."

I pull myself away from the door and lean on the wall, and the voice whose hand was on my shoulder gave me a drink.

"Thank you Tsukasa."

"When the snow is falling down, children laughing all around. I should turn it up like a fairy tale come true. Sitting by the fire breathing, you're the answer when I pray… I would find someone, and baby I found you. And all I want is to hold you forever. All I need is you more everyday… you saved my heart from broken apart you gave your love away and I'm thankful everyday, for the gift. Watching as you softly sleep… what I'd give if I could keep just this moment if only time stood still but the colours fade away and the years would make us grey but baby in my eyes you'd still be beautiful." - Colin Raye, The gift.

He sang this in my ear as we swayed our last dance. I didn't want to let him go, I prayed for the song, our song to never end. But it did, as he trailed off, I clung on for dear life…

"Thank you for everything…Tsukushi." He said softly in my ear.

"Rui…" he pulls apart, just to place a tender kiss on my forehead.

"I'm letting you go now. Okay?" he smiles sadly at me, and I start to cry.

"Rui… what happens now?"

"You stop crying, then I leave this room and start." He says cynically.

"You touch up your make up, then go get engaged, and I will be there at the first row for as long as I can."

"You have to be there otherwise I don't think I could do it."

"If I'm there I don't think I would let you do it. I have to go…you have to go…" he said.

The applause is deafening as the bride enters the room. The ceremonies are carried out, and it is over. Everyone is clapping; champagne has been popped…The two might as well have been married. But no one noticed the freezing over of two hearts with each formality.