Wedding bells

Scene: The gates of a function hall. A stony path leads up from the gate to a set of ornately carved wooden double doors. Above the gate is a temporary white arch with floral boundaries that has written on it “Selena weds Kyle”. The sky is a clear cloudless blue. There is a sight wind in the air that makes the sunlight feel comfortable.

Time: It is early noontime, around 11:00am.

A black sedan stops beside the gate. A man gets out of the driver’s seat and a woman exits from the passenger seat. The man walks deliberately towards the gate. The woman stops him and they talk in whispers for a while. The man finally lets out a deep sigh; hold’s the woman’s hand and looks into her eyes. She slowly nods her head and he quietly let’s go of her hand and goes inside the gate, walks down the path and enters through the doors after a slight hesitation.

Simon exits the car and walks towards the woman as she watches the other man go.

SIMON: Please Cathy, tell me that he disobeyed you and went in.

CATHY: Simon, I will not hear another word about this from you. Get back in the car and stop making a fuss.

SIMON: But he’s cheating on you! I will not tolerate such blatant and crass behavior from the man who hopes to marry my sister!

CATHY: (turn around and faces her brother and gently strokes his cheek) Matthew is not cheating on me. I am the one who told him to go.

SIMON: (shocked) You told him to go?!

CATHY: (calmly) Yes Simon. It was my idea.

SIMON: (confused) But why? Why risk your happiness on such a gamble? You know he loves that woman and yet you let him go?

CATHY: I love that man, and the only way I can be sure that he loves me too is to let him find that out for himself.

SIMON: But what if he doesn’t? What if he still loves her?

CATHY: Then I will be much the wiser for it.

<Long pause. Simon is rattled and paces in front of the car. Cathy is calm but the worry lines on her forehead are visible. After about 30 minutes, Simon’s restlessness gets the better of him. He walks up to his sister with a defiant look on his face>

SIMON: I’m going in to find Matthew and there’s nothing you can say to stop me.

CATHY:<tired> I can’t argue with you anymore. Do as you like but on one condition…

SIMON: <softening> Anything for you sis.

CATHY: <deep breath> Once you find Matthew, just stand beside him and wait for him to start talking. Promise me that you will not talk before he does.

SIMON: If that is what you wish…

CATHY: It is..

SIMON: Alright. I am willing.

Simon walks past his sister and through the gates, down the path and enters through the doors.

The wooden doors lead into a long hall with neatly aligned rows of chairs. Decorations are being put up for the wedding. Men and women with flowers, cutlery, perfume and countless other things are running about trying to keep to the schedule. A man at the centre of the hall is shouting out directions to everyone. At the far end of the hall is a raised platform where the bride-to-be is standing and admiring the scene; a soft smile on her lips and tears in her eyes.

Matthew stands behind the first pillar from the wooden doors and watches her smile. He feels that familiar pain in his heart when he sees her glance drift towards the pillar. Luckily, she has not noticed him. 

Simon enters and stands behind Matthew. He is ready to drag Matthew out but then he looks at Matthew and sees the pain on his face. Simon softens his glance and stands beside Matthew and observes the decorations being put up while waiting for his future brother-in-law to speak.

MATTHEW: <not turning> Tell me truthfully, what do you think of her?

SIMON: Honestly, she looks a bit like great aunt Matilda when she was young.

MATTHEW: <sad smile> Hmm….Now that you mention it, I see the resemblance <turns to face Simon> So Simon, did you come here to drag me back?

SIMON: I did…but now I won’t. My sister was right in talking you into seeing her.

MATTHEW: <raising eyebrow> You were the last person that I ever imagined to hear those words from.

SIMON:<shrugs> I saw the way you looked at her. Your heart belongs to her…

MATTHEW: <interrupting> No Simon. It belonged to her.

SIMON: <hesitating> What do you mean?

MATTHEW: It’s true that I loved her, and I believe that so long as this body breathes, it will never forget that. But, I am not one to be disillusioned. She and I were never meant to be together.

SIMON: You aren’t making much sense, I’m afraid.

MATTHEW: That girl and I, knew from the very first day that we talked, that our futures were not with each other.

SIMON: And yet you foolishly went on to love her? <angry> If you still love her you should go. Stop antagonising my sister if you don’t love her!

MATTHEW: <calmly> Your sister is not Selena, and that is exactly why I feel in love with her. Selena is my past but Cathy is my future. When I see your sister, I see a future, not just for myself, but also for her and you too. I see a future for my parents and yours. I see children playing in the garden. I see birthdays, and anniversaries, and national holidays, and weekends…

SIMON: You’re avoiding the question. If you see all that, then why are you here now while my sister waits outside?

MATTHEW: <puts his arms on Simon’s shoulders> Simon, have you ever made a mistake?

SIMON: <angry> ARE YOU CALLING MY SISTER A MISTAKE!!!

MATTHEW: Please Simon….tell me. Have you ever made a mistake?

SIMON: <nostrils flaring> Yes. But none as terrible as your mistakes!

MATTHEW: I admit. I have made far worse mistakes than you will ever make in your life. But for your sister’s sake, please listen to what I have to say. <Simon relaxes a bit but is still breathing sharply> Simon, I let myself be talked into coming here because I believed that I still love Selena. Cathy was determined that I have to face this ordeal myself and that I wouldn’t be allowed to see her again until I got closure. So I came here and every step I took towards this place reminded me of the times I spent with Selena and how happy I was. But now, when I see her, all I see are happy memories. I see a past that has gone by. The mistake I was referring to was me not trusting myself. Your sister was right. In the end, I do love her but I was too scared to admit it to myself because it meant that I would have to let go of my past. Now, I only fear losing your sister. She has been my savior and has pulled me back from the abyss of my mind. She is the one person that I would like to dedicate my whole life into showing how wonderful she really is and what value she holds in my life. Cathy has given me a new lease on life and I intend to make the best of it. I will make her happy and stay by her side. She is and will forever be the lady of my dreams.

<long pause>
MATTHEW: I think it’s time we leave…

SIMON:<snapping out of his trance> Yes…I believe so. Cathy would worry…

MATTHEW:<smiling> I agree. Also, I wouldn’t want to make her angry <winking>

SIMON: <wrapping his arm around Matthew> No you wouldn’t, brother. Let’s go home.