by Mason Dakota
I stood at the front doors of the church facing toward the sanctuary, staring at the backs of all the heads who looked toward the stage. Chamberlain sat in his wheel chair beside me and impatiently twiddled his thumbs. We waited for our cue from pastor Sig. Once it came I would push Chamberlain out in front and the ceremony would commence. Only about two dozen sat in the pews, most of them Alison’s friends and family.
Only three people sat on Chamberlain’s side. Michael sat on the front right row prepared with a box of tissues. Gabriel sat two rows behind him. Thomas sat next to Michael and periodically checked toward the back. I wasn’t sure if he was anxious to see the wedding start or cautious of Gabriel. Despite Gabriel saving our lives, Thomas didn’t trust Gabriel. I couldn’t blame him.
Alison’s family dressed in their best filled the bride’s side of the church. Many of them held tissues in hand like Michael. To my knowledge, none of her family knew of Chamberlain’s status as an Illegal. Chamberlain was handsome enough to pass as an average looking Noble or an attractive Outcast. It kept people from asking too many questions or getting suspicious. Looks really could kill in our town. I couldn’t help but to smile at the thought of how the crowd’s faces would look if they found out his status.
“Last chance to bail,” I jokingly whispered to Chamberlain.
He snickered. “Yeah but her mother would hunt me down and kill me.”
“Hunted by Alison’s angry mother or living in eternal sorrow for the rest of your life…is there really that much of a difference?” Chamberlain tried not to laugh. I patted him on the shoulder and said, “I’m proud of you, Chamberlain. Nobody deserves this more than you.”
Chamberlain sighed and nodded. “Thanks. And thanks for handling all this so well. I can’t imagine today is easy for you.”
My mind went to Evelyn, but I pushed the thoughts away. I won’t think about her today, I told myself. I would not torture myself. Not on Chamberlain’s wedding day. “Don’t worry about me. I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
“I only wish I could return the favor. Thomas told me what happened last night. I should be out there fighting with you at a time like this,” he whispered.
I scoffed. “Things were easier when you distracted the bad guys with your pretty face.” He snickered and I leaned in close to whisper, “You are right where you are supposed to be, Chamberlain. Don’t worry about me. Think about Alison.”
Trying to lighten the mood I said, “And probably worry about yourself some; let’s be honest Alison is not the greatest cook.”
“I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you, Griffon.”
“Don’t go getting all emotional on me, Chamberlain. You know that only makes me emotional in return.”
“That’s right. I forgot you’re a robot. Crying would ruin the whole tough guy persona you’ve got going on, wouldn’t it?” Chamberlain joked.
“Well of course,” I said.
Chamberlain smiled. There were tears in his eyes waiting to fall. I could only imagine the joy and nervousness he felt. Chamberlain should never have lived to experience a wedding day. For all we knew he was the first Illegal to ever get married. The day marked a revolution. We were about to do the unreasonable and impossible because of love. I knew Chamberlain sensed the magnitude of the moment and felt unworthy to bring this new era into our world—or better yet to even have Alison’s love and affection. That’s exactly why he deserved it all.
Pastor Sig nodded to us. The time had finally arrived.
“It’s now or never my friend,” I whispered. Chamberlain just nodded. I couldn’t see his face but I imagined a gleeful expression. We headed out into the sanctuary. Everyone sat smiling at us, happy to see us come down but far more eager to see the bride. I fought to keep in my laughter when I spotted the pile of freshly used tissues next to Michael. I wheeled Chamberlain to the front by the pastor and settled into my spot next to my best friend. The skinny preacher stood smiling and appeared just as excited for this day as the groom did.
Does Sig know the significance of today?
Thomas slipped out from his spot next to Michael, grabbed up a guitar and began strumming a beautiful song. I didn’t recognize it, but the tune moved me as much as it did the crowd. A series of brides-maids, flower girls and Alison’s kid brother as the ring-bearer waltzed down the center aisle as the small crowd whispered a chorus of awes. Neither Chamberlain nor I noticed them. Our eyes were both glued to the back of the church as we waited for the real show to begin. Moments later the doors in the back closed shut. The bride was coming.
Then a miracle happened.
Chamberlain leaned back in his wheelchair and whispered to me, “Push this somewhere out of the way for me.” Before I could speak, Chamberlain moved. He clicked on the brakes to the wheelchair, slid his left foot out and then his right. With shaky arms, he pushed off the chair and stood.
For the first time in six months I witnessed something doctors said would never happen again. Chamberlain stood. They said it couldn’t be done. But they didn’t know Chamberlain.
My first thought went to his height. I forgot just how tall Chamberlain was. He towered over me like a standing bear of pure muscle. People all across the room gasped and my jaw dropped. Everyone believed Chamberlain would spend the rest of his life in that chair. His survival in the first place was a miracle and confinement to that chair was the price for it. But when impossible odds were stacked against Chamberlain, I always bet on Chamberlain.
“Oh…my…” I said. I glanced over at Sig who glared at me. “Peterborough,” I said and Sig smiled. “You’re standing.”
Chamberlain turned and hissed at me, “Yes, very observant. Now get the chair out of the way, quickly.” Immediately the music picked up signaling the time had come. I quickly shuffled to push the wheel chair out of the way. I looked up just in time to see everyone stand as the doors open.
Out stepped Alison in a beautiful white dress. It draped down behind her in diagonal ruffles dotted with tiny glistening pearls. Thin straps reached up around her neck, exposing her shoulders and arms and highlighting her breasts in a modest yet sensual manner. A veil hung behind her like a ponytail and her hair settled behind her in beautiful curls except for bangs that draped sideways across her forehead and part of her left eye. Pearl white gloves, shining with tiny crystal gems around the wrists and cuffs, stretched all the way up to her elbows. She walked in on high heels of silver and crystal and moved with a dancer’s grace.
Chamberlain gasped at the sight of his bride.
She walked with her arm looped around her father’s but he might as well have been invisible standing next to his daughter that day.
Especially when Alison saw Chamberlain standing.
Her hand shot up to cover her gaping mouth. Tears welled in her eyes, which mirrored the tears in Chamberlain’s eyes. Her gasp and sobs of joy could be heard across the room and over the music. Alison’s hands trembled and her face blushed with excitement. Her husband to be was standing!
Then she took off running down the aisle—in heels—pulling her surprised father along with her. People laughed. Her dash down the petaled aisle looked comical to some but not to me and certainly not to the happy couple. It turned the moment from romantic to something so much more. Alison could not wait another second to stand with her groom. The moment was emotional and breathtaking.
“Well, isn’t this a special day?” said Pastor Sig, “Chamberlain you may want to watch out for that one.” The audience laughed and settled back down in their seats. The pastor looked over the room and then settled his eyes on the happy couple before him.
“We gather together to celebrate the union of matrimony between Chamberlain Blair and Alison Harkins. Who is here to give the bride away?” asked the pastor.
“I am,” spoke Alison’s father. He let go of Alison, kissed her on the cheek, and took his seat on the front row next to his wife. Both of Alison’s parents had tears in their eyes. I glanced over the crowd as
Sig began his speech. Everyone looked so happy. I felt that same happiness. Michael balled his eyes out, dabbing at them repeatedly with tissues. Gabriel looked teary-eyed and seemed to be periodically biting at the inside of his lips to stop his own tears. Thomas's eyes glazed over and every time he seemed about to cry he would dip his head and focus a bit more on his strumming. The rest of the crowd was a mixture of joyful tears and huge smiles.
And then I saw Evelyn sitting alone in the back pew.
Her beautiful knee-length dress was a bright lime color on top with a black silk skirt. Her hair hung down in scrunched-up curls, just the way I liked. She looked extraordinary. Our eyes locked and stayed locked. We didn’t try to communicate; we only stared into each other’s souls. I knew what she thought just as she read my mind.
This could have been us.
How different our lives could have been. I watched her expressive eyes as I pictured the life we would have had together. Maybe we would have had kids by now or would be trying to buy our first house. We would be working boring jobs that paid the bills, ensured our safety and comfort, and guaranteed that we would be together every night. Ultimately I knew we would have been happy. In that moment I saw our entire lives in her eyes, but I also saw regret and envy. This wedding was as wonderful and painful to her heart as it was on my own.
I’m not sure how long our gazes locked, but it broke when Chamberlain murmured my name. My head snapped to the side confused by why Chamberlain would say my name at his own wedding. He glared at me and he spoke as if he had been repeating himself a couple of times. Maybe he had been.
“Griffon—the ring,” he whispered. It took me a minute to figure out what he meant. Then like a slap in the face I remembered why I was there in the first place.
“Oh— right! Here you go,” I said as I pulled out the ring and gave it to Chamberlain. He took it, snickered, and shook his head. He turned back to Alison and slipped it onto her hand as he said his vows. I stole a quick glance back at Evelyn and saw her stifle a giggle behind her hand. I felt my cheeks burn red and focused my attention quickly back to Chamberlain and Alison, trying to pretend like I hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Alison…it has felt like I have waited on you and this day since the dawn of time. Beloved, in you I find the one my soul longs for. I wish to lavish you with everything you need and want, but I know that even if I gave you the world it wouldn’t be enough. I give you also myself. Everything I am and everything I have is yours from this day forward, in the spirit of joy and love I have for you. I promise this day forward, in our joyful season and in our troubled times, in our times of wealth and in our times of poverty, in our times of doubt and our times of assurance, you will know that I will always be there, guarding you, providing for you, and most importantly pouring my love out for you. I love you Alison.”
Alison wiped away tears and blushed. Nothing in the world could take the smile away from her face. She took her ring from her maid of honor and slipped it onto Chamberlain’s hand. As she did she said her own vows.
“Chamberlain Blair, you have shown me what it means to love unconditionally. You love me regardless of all my many flaws and weaknesses. You’ve always been there for me, whether it was to comfort me with ice cream on my bad days, or to defend me, even from myself at times. I know you would die to save me. You sacrifice so much for me, and never tire of it. I do not deserve it yet you continue. Nothing makes me happier than thinking of you and imagining spending the rest of our lives growing old together. I love you Chamberlain. I will always love you.”
A deep, roaring silence filled the room. Love rocked me to the core of my being and I struggled to breath as their love screamed out in the silence and put life in perspective. The world outside this place, hurting and dying, forgotten in that perfect moment. Without sound and without words, the look the two shared opened their souls to each other and reminded everyone there what was important. The world and its problems ceased to exist as a small piece of Eden cracked through the veil around us.
“Chamberlain,” asked Pastor Sig, his voice an addition to this moment of heaven, “will you take Alison to be your wife, to love and cherish her for all your days, in sickness and in health, and for richer or poorer, for better or worse, until death due you part?”
“Since the dawn of my days and forevermore,” whispered Chamberlain as he continued to stare deeply into Alison’s eyes, still expressing that unspoken language of the matrimony between two souls.
“Alison,” said Sig now turning his attention to the bride, “do you take this man to be your husband, to love and cherish for the rest of your life, in sickness and in health, and for richer or poorer, for better or worse, until death due you part?”
“Today and every day. I do,” she said.
“Then it is by the power vested in me that I name you husband and wife. Chamberlain, you may now kiss your bride,” Sig said.
“It’s about time,” I heard Chamberlain say just before he pulled Alison in close and kissed her deeply and passionately. The air exploded around them in a radiant charged wave as vows and love sealed their souls into a beautiful oneness. In such a time of death and darkness in society, light burned my eyes as a wildfire of hope, a beacon to my crippled soul. Neither Chamberlain nor Alison lived in a world of joy and happiness. Day by day they risked life and limb to be together. And every day, more and more of their rights and opportunities and possessions were taken from them by a world that hated them, yet they found what they needed and more in each other. They proved that even in darkness a silver lining can be found.
They broke the kiss to the sound of roaring applause. Chamberlain took Alison’s hand and together they turned to face the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to be the first to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain Blair,” Sig said. The audience increased in the volume of their applause. Thomas stuck his fingers in his mouth and let out a sharp whistle. Gabriel clapped gently and nodded with an approving smile. Evelyn hollered. Michael became a wet seal in how he clapped and cried. I laughed with joy.
It was one of the happiest moments of my life.
Thirty-Seven
Teal cloth layered with burlap and decorated with marble-filled jars that held bright blue flowers covered the eloquent reception tables. White cloth disguised the metal chairs. Small photo booth size pictures of Chamberlain and Alison scattered across each table. The silverware was metallic plastic. Pretty, but inexpensive and disposable.
At each setting, dinner plates held roasted chicken smothered in some kind of sweet sauce, rolling hills of mashed potatoes and gravy, yeast rolls to scoop it all up, and forests of fresh green salads. Every bit of it smelled so sweet and luxurious it made my mouth water.
A large brass chandelier with lit candles hung from the center of the room with a dance floor beneath it. An acoustic band and a singer worked their magic in the back of the room. They were young and wore vests and ties, and I think one of them happened to be related to Alison somehow. As we entered they played a soft melody to keep the feeling of love flowing in the air.
The happy couple sat at a private table in the back, or maybe it was considered the front, of the room and faced the guests. The dozen or so tables encircled Chamberlain and Alison. As expected, Alison’s family took most of the tables. Everyone from Chamberlain’s side fit at a single table. Thomas, Michael, Gabriel, and I were the only ones there. No surprise really, since Chamberlain had no living relatives and Chamberlain kept his circle of friends very close. The life of an Illegal.
“Can you believe this day is finally here? It feels like just yesterday Chamberlain introduced all of us to Alison,” said Michael, still dabbing at his eyes with another tissue as he munched on a roll.
I leaned back in my chair and glanced toward the happy couple’s table. They leaned in close to each other as they laughed over some private joke. “Yeah…it’s something we’ve needed,” I whisper.
“If there were ever any hope to be found in
such a cruel and dark world,” started Thomas, “our tired eyes rested upon it this very day. This day marks the birth of a new world, a world of freedom without limitations to govern us, a world in which we are only limited by the choices we make. This is not just another wedding or another happy day in the midst of a corrupt and cruel world. It’s a promise. A promise that our struggles and suffering will in due time bring about a better life for the generation who follow us.”
For someone as quiet and to himself as Thomas, I was taken aback by his words. I reacted to him with another emotion, a deeper one. I think it was pride.
I’m not the same man I was a year ago.
Michael was speechless and teary-eyed—typical during emotional moments—and even Gabriel sat speechless, though we all saw the unmistakable approving smile stretching across his face. Thomas seemed to be oblivious to us as he stared off toward Chamberlain and Alison. Something stirred in the young man, as if in this moment something changed within his own heart and soul. Maybe the same thing was happening within each of us. I lifted my glass into the air to toast his statement and said softly, “You’re right, Thomas. This is more than just a wedding. It’s hope.”
Eventually the conversation shifted to something that I just didn’t care enough to pay attention to. Knowing Thomas and Michael, it was likely something related to comic books or new hardware or tech device released to the public outside the city. The two were rather close friends who shared mutual interests that the rest of us didn’t. I, instead, anxiously looked about the room until my gaze rested on Evelyn. She sat at a table with some of Alison’s friends, but in reality, she sat alone. She did not engage in any of the ladies’ conversations. Instead, she listlessly pushed her fork around her plate.
She looked up and spotted me watching her. We locked eyes again and she gave a soft and awkward smirk before breaking the gaze. I waited a couple of more seconds before turning my focus to the bottom of my glass wishing that it would reveal the answers to all my questions. It didn’t. It was as empty as I was.
