My daughter did not wear the ivory gown that we had spent months preparing as she went down the aisle at her high school graduation.
Rather than that, she wore a dress that was as dark as darkness, and the main surprise was not the color itself; rather, it was the reason that she wore it.
I can still vividly recall the day when Jane contacted me, her voice singing with the joy of the occasion.
“Mom! ” It was a proposal! She came dangerously close to yelling over the phone.
The fact that Jack had been a part of her life for five years was something I had anticipated. They had a joyful time. To put it another way, that is what I believed at the time.
From that point forward, the planning of the wedding took up all of our time. The dress was the first item that we settled on as a decision.
Something that was one of a kind had always been Jane’s goal. It is not a standard product. It was necessary to have it manufactured specifically for her. Fortunately, Helen, my closest friend, was a seamstress who was considered to be among the most talented in the city.
During the process of designing the initial designs, Helen expressed her delight by saying, “Oh, we’re going to make her look like a queen.”
For several months, she labored without stopping. She put her whole being into each and every thread, each and every bead, and each and every small fold of fabric. However, despite the fact that it was time-consuming and costly, it was flawless.
In the days leading up to the wedding, I noticed that it was almost finished. Since she was a young girl, Jane had always imagined herself wearing a dress that was made of ivory satin, beautiful lace, and a long train that flowed gracefully.
All of the pieces were beginning to fit together.
Or so I had believed.
Something caught my attention last night, the night before the wedding. The behavior of Jack was not typical of him. Being a decent man, he had always been polite, although he might have been a touch silent at times. The night before, however, he was not the same. His responses were brief and out of the ordinary, and he hardly glanced at Jane at all.
“Are you feeling okay?” I inquired of him after Jane had stopped for a brief period of time.
Jack feigned a smile during the conversation. I agree. I’m just a little anxious, you could say that.
I gave a slight nod. It made perfect sense. Weddings were significant and emotionally charged occasions.
On the other hand, something seemed odd.
The next morning, there was a buzz of excitement around the house. In the living room was where the makeup artist was located. Bridesmaids bustled in and out of the room. With a radiant appearance, Jane sat in front of the mirror.
After then, Helen showed up. Bringing a large white box with her, she entered the room.
“Here she is,” she remarked excitedly as she placed it on the table and smiled proudly at the same time.
I wore a grin. I can’t wait to watch it once more once more. Last time I went there, it was such a stunning sight.
A lid was lifted by me.
The pit of my stomach sank. It was a black dress that was inside. But not ivory. It is not white. utterly, completely, and profoundly dark. Suddenly, my hands began to shake. My mouth became parched.
I hushed, “Helen,” as I spoke. “What the hell is I looking at?”
It was a peaceful demeanor. Way too peaceful. Once that was done, she put her hand on top of mine. “Honey, you shouldn’t doubt me.”
As I turned to face Jane, I anticipated surprise, fear, uncertainty, or something else. Nevertheless, she did nothing but sit there, fixating on her own reflection in the mirror.
It’s Jane, right? My voice was trembling. What exactly is going on?
At long last, she turned her gaze toward me.
“Mom, I have to get done with this.”
My chest became more taut. “What to do? Take a stroll down the aisle in a—Jane, this is not a joke! Your wedding is about to take place!
I felt her stretch out and give my hand a gentle squeeze. “I am aware.”
Helen gently caressed my shoulder with her hand. “It is imperative that you take a seat.”
I was having a hard time breathing. The beat of my heart was rapid. Something wasn’t quite right here. It wasn’t typical at all. However, the music began to play outside, and before I knew it, Jane was already standing as she walked into the aisle while wearing the black dress.
It was a gorgeous location. Ivory roses were arranged in rows along the aisle. There was a gentle flickering of candlelight against the magnificent chandeliers. An exquisite song was played by a string quartet, which helped to infuse the atmosphere with an aura of sophistication.
A spark of anticipation could be seen on the faces of the guests as they whispered enthusiastically.
“They are the epitome of success as a couple.”
“During the rehearsal, I overheard Jack crying,” the speaker said.
As I sat in my chair, I clinched my hands tightly in my lap. I could feel my heart beating against my ribs. They were unaware of it. Not a single one of them was aware.
The music thereafter underwent a modification. In the back of the room, the doors opened with a groaning sound. The audience fell silent as a result.
Jane entered the building while dressed in all black. There was a wave of bewilderment that spread throughout the guests. Gasps and moans were heard by me.
“What…?”
Is this a joke, or what?
Are you sure that’s her actual dress?
I was unable to move. I was unable to take a breath.
The black train that Jane was riding swept across the white petals that were spread along the aisle as she passed slowly by. Even though her veil was completely opaque and dark, I was still able to make out the serene smile on her face.
After that, I came across Jack. His smile disappeared, and his face turned a pale color.
Suddenly, his hands, which had been clasped together in front of him with a sense of self-assurance, fell to his sides. Although he opened his mouth slightly, he did not utter a single syllable.
He appeared to be.. scared. Suddenly, I had a realization.
I was sitting on the couch with Jane, watching an old movie, and a memory came to me. It was many years ago. It had come to the attention of a woman that her fiance had been unfaithful. Instead of calling off the wedding, she chose to wear black as she made her way down the aisle. Rather than as a bride, she was a woman who was grieving the loss of the love she believed she had.
My initial assumption was that it was merely a dramatic scene. Jane had recalled the event. And so it was that she was living it.
My gut was in a knot. This was not a joke or an error of judgment. This was an act of vengeance.
As soon as Jane arrived at the altar, Jack took a deep breath. His eyes darted around while he looked for an explanation or a way out of the situation. She kept her hands steady as she stood in front of him, her expression remaining unreadable.
There was a moment of hesitation before the officiant cleared his throat. We have gathered here today to witness the union of—” was the first word.
A tense chuckle was squeezed out of Jack. “What is this, my sweetheart?” His voice was trembling. “Why are you wearing that dress?”
Jane chose not to respond.
Uncertain, the officiant cast a gaze between the two of them. Should we… proceed with this?
Jane gave a slight nod. It is true. Let’s proceed onward.”
There was no one present to listen to the ritual as it continued. All of the eyes in the room were focused on Jane, all of them waiting. After then, the vows were exchanged.
Jack inhaled deeply and then extended his hand to get hold of Jane’s hands. He was not stopped by her. A uneasy smile appeared on his face, and he licked his lips nervously.
Since the first time I laid eyes on you, Jane, I have known that you are the one. You are my closest companion, my partner, and everything that I cherish. You have my word that I will love you, that I will honor you, and that I will be by your side no matter what. I can’t wait to be here with you for the rest of my life.
The more he spoke, the more confident he became, as if he believed that this was still something that could be fixed.
Next, it was Jane’s chance to speak. He released his grip on her hands. It seemed as if a sudden inhalation had filled the entire room. Jane raised her chin and stared Jack in the eye; she was looking directly at him.
“With this dress,” she added, maintaining a steady tone in her voice, “I bury all of my hopes and expectations for this wedding and for us—because genuine love does not betray you just days before the wedding.”
Everyone in the room let out a united gasp. A flurry of whispers broke forth like a wildfire.
What was it that she said?
Betrayed? ” What is she trying to say?
“What the hell, Jack cheated on me?”
A lack of color appeared on Jack’s face. “Jane—what’s up?”
She went on to say.
“I had faith in you. You were my love. All I wanted was to spend the rest of my life with you. Although she took a deep breath, her voice did not shake at any point. “After that, I was able to discover the truth.”
Suddenly, Jack’s anxiety was plain to see. He was shaking his hands. “Babe, I swear—it’s not what you think—” the author says.
There was no blinking on Jane’s part. “It is indeed precisely what I believe.”
Jack knelt down and received a hug.
There was a crack in his voice as he pleaded, “Please.” “Jane, I beg you, I would love you. Without a doubt, I adore you!
Neither of them moved. Jack grabbed her hands, but she resisted his advances and stepped back. His fingers shut around nothing in particular.
In his eyes, tears began to well up. Please, just give me a moment to explain!
He was the subject of Jane’s gaze. Unmoved by anything. In one piece. Subsequently, she lifted her bouquet and allowed it to fall from her fingers without uttering a single word.
The object fell to the ground, and it landed directly at Jack’s feet. Final farewell to you.
As she started down the aisle, Jane turned around and walked away from him. In the midst of my heart hammering, I jumped to my feet.
As soon as we got outdoors, Jane extended her hand and grabbed hold of my hand. I gave it a severe squeeze. She wiggled her way back.
She did not turn around to look back.