The Wedding

Emma stood at the water's edge.  Her toes feeling the sand as it crunched under her weight.  The morning sun rays bounced off the water; giving the impression of a pathway leading out to the Meditteranean.  Emma sighed.  She contemplated just walking in but something stopped her. Less than an hour ago she walked up the aisle; pulse racing and excited to see her future husband.  He turned and grinned at her; that goofy smile that she loved.  It had been the first time in a few weeks since they had physically been in the same room together.  Dan had been out in the States working on a new project while she had been kept busy with her new promotion.  He looked so handsome in his blue suit. Even after all these years,  he still set her heart alight.  He was the love of her life. They spoke every day and he had never given her any indication that something was wrong. Never had she imagined that he would have walked out on her, during their wedding; humiliating her in front of everyone. He didn't turn round,  he didn't say sorry. 

Emma stood watching for a moment; numb and in disbelief, as to what was happening.  People ran after him, while she stood there, unsure what to do.  Calmly,  she turned away from their group of friends and walked towards the side door. She indicated to her family and friends not to follow her. "Well that's that then,"  she said to herself matter-of-factly before exiting the room.  She leant against the door and gulped deeply,  trying hard not to cry.  Emma would not let anyone see her fall apart.  Somehow, she mustered the strength to leave the hotel grounds.  She couldn't just wait to see what happened next.  She needed to take control of the only thing she had any control over.  Emma found herself making her way to the beach.  Thinking of her family and friends looking at her with sympathetic eyes would just kill her right now. 

The water was reaching her toes,  bringing her back to the present.  The dress was getting wet but she didn't care.  What was the point? How could he do this to her? Emma felt herself getting angrier by the minute.  Her insides ached badly and she wanted to scream but she would only scare the shit out of the morning sunbathers.  Instead,  she inhaled and exhaled deeply,  trying to make sense of everything that had just happened. He had been a complete coward; an idiot for walking away in such a cruel and hurtful way.   Emma threw her shoes and bouquet down on the sand with a thud.  She didn't care,  she was going in.

The water was cold and yet it kept calling her; inviting her to come in and play.  With each step, Emma felt her emotions release.  Her dress was heavy and waited so she stopped when the water reached her waist.  She didn't have a death wish;  she just wanted to wash the day away.  The tears came flowing as she danced with the waves.  Emma had never felt so broken.  She must have looked a sight floating in the water with her dress.

Dan had been walking along the beach,  trying to find her.  He was so angry with himself for bottling it earlier; for letting his nerves get the better of him.   Why hadn't he just told her?  He wanted nothing more than to marry her but the thought of everyone's eyes watching him as he declared his love to her,  caused him to panic.  The feeling was so overwhelming,  he had to leave the room to catch his breath.  By the time he'd pulled himself together, she'd left.  His heart sunk in that moment because he knew she would have been devastated.  Not knowing why or what was happening would have broken her.  He left her standing there and she thought he'd abandoned her.  He'd never abandon her. He kicked the sand about,  angry with himself for being such a fool.  He had ruined everything.  Dan sighed deeply,  wondering how he was going to fix this.  

Dan's attention was caught by a group of people pointing out to the sea,  shouting at someone.  His heart leapt as he realised what has caused the commotion.  "Shit, Emma,"  he said realising she was out in the sea.   He ran towards the water,  pulling off his shoes frantically.   He threw them on the sand next to hers and ran into the sea after her.  He was by her side in minutes,  pulling her back from the waves that seemed to be pulling her out. 

"Stop it!" Emma screamed at him. "Don't touch me!"

"I'm not letting you go," Dan told her,  pulling her into him.   He wrapped his arms around her,  terrified that she would try and go further.

"Why are you so bothered now?" Emma snapped at him.  "Just let me go will you?"

"No," Dan kept his grip on her, despite her attempts to squirm free from him.  "You need to listen to what i've to say."  He struggled to hold her but he was determined she would listen to him. "I fucked up okay, I completely lost my nerve and I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Emma said trying to break free from his grip.  

"I'm sorry I left you standing there.  I'm sorry that I panicked about telling you how I feel about you, in front of all those people.  I'm sorry I choked."

"You choked?" Emma stopped fighting him. "You choked?" She raised her voice a bit higher.  "I thought you had changed your mind,  you bloody idiot."  Emma laughed in disbelief.

Dan let her go: "I know,  I know."

"Well,"  Emma said pushing him. "This is just bloody perfect isn't it?"  She stormed out of the water and picked up her shoes and flowers.   Her dress was ruined;  soaking wet and covered in sand.  

Dan ran after her,  equally dripping wet from the sea.  "What are you doing?"

Emma turned round and looked at him, smiling coyly at him.  "Giving you a second chance."  She was about to walk on before he grabbed her back and kissed her.  There he was,  her Dan.  "Just don't choke this time," Emma told him.  She slipped her hands in his and they walked back to the hotel.