Ghosts and Wedding Vows

A warm spring sun, beams through stained glass. A subtle breeze outside shakes nearby trees. Creating a disco ball effect on the patrons inside. The pews are full to capacity. Everyone is in their Sunday best on a Saturday afternoon. White roses, pink carnations and, white chrysanthemums line the walkway.

As here comes the bride plays on the Organ. James can’t help but stare at the radiant beauty who walks down the aisle. Like a supernova in slow motion toward him. He is beside himself with joy. Never in a million years did he think he would ever feel such passionate emotion like today. Nor was he ever sure he deserved it.

“Dearly beloved, We gather here on this happy and joyous occasion. To join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.

“Marriage is a solemn institution held in honor by all. It is the cornerstone of the family and of the community. It requires of those who undertake it a complete and unreserved giving of one’s self. It is not to be entered into lightly, as marriage is a sincere and mutual commitment to love one another. This commitment symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives. Yet, enhances the individuality of each of you.

“If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together. Let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

Looking back toward the audience. The only reply is smiles and Susan’s mother frantically fanning her face.

“May we have the rings?”

James looks down at the ring bearer. A stand-in whom Sue’s cousin offered in place of her youngest sister due to a bad flu. Shock floods his face. He looks so familiar, like… No, it’s not. Why am I thinking about him now of all things?

The happy couple each take a ring from the handsome ring Barer. His smile and smooth youthful complexion charm Sue. She can’t help but plant a kiss on his little cheek in appreciation.

“James, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to her as long as you both shall live?”

James looks deep into Susan’s emerald green eyes, “—I do.”

“Susan, do you take this man to be your wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” She says in a proud soft sultry voice.

“James, in placing this ring on Susan’s finger. Repeat after me: Susan, you are now consecrated to me as my wife from this day forward.”

Susan, you are now consecrated to me…” As he repeated the lines James couldn’t help but to glance over at the young boy. Every feature of that boy is so much like his. It’s uncanny. How can he look so much like him? It’s been twenty years and I know for a fact that there is no relation.

“Susan, in placing this ring on James’ finger. Repeat after me: James, you are now consecrate to me as my husband from this day forward.”

James can’t help but feel the weight of her words with every repeated phrase. Staring deep into each other’s souls as she slides the white gold ring upon his finger. His body a swirl of conflicting emotions.

Holding his arms wide with a grand smile. The Priest finishes. “By the power invested in me by the Holy Father and the Great state of North Carolina, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” The new couple embraces each other with a passionate kiss for all to see. Visible only to a man of god, Susan wipes the tear from her Marine’s cheek.

James slides into the Limo next his wife. Away from prying eyes, his emotions boil over into full-blown sob and tears. She is taken back. Her proud strong marine is in shambles after minutes of marriage.

“What’s wrong?” She quickly presses a button on the console and rolls up the privacy window. Blocking the view from the driver who has yet to get into the bridal chariot. She wraps her arms around James, “Something has gotten to you, I noticed it before we finalized the vows. Tell me please.”

“I was reminded of an old friend I lost a very long time ago,” James says while trying to wipe the tears from his eyes.

“Did he pass away?”

“I have no idea Sue, I wish I did. We got pulled apart when we were just kids.”

The driver door slams shut. The intercom buzzes, “Are you folks ready to go?”

“Yes, Thank you,” Susan replies. She leans into James, kissing his salty cheek. “Tell me what happened my love.” She runs her hands through his short hair.

James looks up at the pleading face before him. *sigh* “Antiwayne and I ran away from our parents. We were only six years old. My parents were racist bastards. His were not any better. I don’t understand the hatred, I don’t think I ever will.” He says shaking his head. “Perhaps we were too young and naive, but we should have run a lot farther than the park. The cops found us the next morning, and then—everything changed.”

Children in the night

Stars twinkled in the night as two boys up past their bed time played and dashed through the sand and grass.

“What if they come lookin for us?” Antiwayne asked as he tried to catch his breath.

“I dunno,” James panted. “But I’m not leavin my best friend because my parents say mean stuff about people. It ain’t right.”

“Same here. Your my brotha. Nothing is gonna change that.”

“If they come, we’ll just have to hide somewhere else.” James jaunted up the steps toward the red tube slide. “Bet you can’t catch me.”

Tornado

Dawn broke, birds chirped in the distance waking James from his slumber. He looked down at his Brother falling down the slide from tossing and turning in the night. The night was downright frosty. James realized they needed more than sweaters to keep them going.

“TWO ADAM ONE, whats your Twenty? OVER.” A radio blurbs.

James struggled to keep quiet, he looked down at Antiwayne. His face flush with fear. Antiwayne stirred and stretched, “Damn— I’m hungry.”

James tried to shush him with his finger.

“So here is where you boys been hiding.” The officer says as he poked his head up the ladder.

The boys panicked and tried to scramble. The officer clutched Antiwayne by the leg as he tried to dart down the slide. With a quick kick Antiwayne busted the officers lip continuing his momentum downward. James swung down behind him.

“Where we goin?” Asked Antiwayne.

“Just run. We’ll figure out something when we get across the levy.”

The end of the tube approached in slow motion. Another officer wrapped his arms around Antiwayne like a bear clutching a thin tree as he came out of the slide. James in pure panic and rage screamed, “Let him go! Let my Brother go! Antiwayne!” The officer with the busted lip grabbed James by the arm. Hoisting him into the air attempting to wrap his arms around him. James reared his head back into the officers face. Free for the moment he rushed toward the other officer holding Antiwayne. “Let him Go!” He slid across the sand like a professional baseball player. Back handing the officer in the groin. Antiwayne used the sudden momentum of the officer doubling over. He kicked and launched himself from the officers leg. They darted out of the sand in a mad attempt for freedom. James thought they were home free. He collapsed.

“James!— Get up! Get up James!”

“Get over here you little monkey!” said the officer with the aching balls as he grabbed and yanked Antiwayne down into a bar hold.

“Whats going on, an earthquake?” the bloodied officer asked, puzzled as he released the Tazer trigger.

“Let HIM GOOOOOOO!” James Screamed. The swing set frame twisted and buckled. Blind Rage from the boy is all that was heard. The slide that gave the boys a temporary home became twisted flying shrapnel. A tornado of pain and anger sucking away the sand and moving toward the Officer with the Taser. The other dropped Antiwayne and grabbed for his partner. Left only grasping for air as the man was sucked into the vortex. In shambles as his own brother in blue was shredded to pieces before his eyes. He looked back at James and drew his Baton.

The Clink

James awoke by the crash of steel doors rolling and slamming shut. He felt chilled to the bone laying on hard green vinyl.

“Close 27!” echoed from some distant hall outside his cell door. He looked around his concrete cage. Its only opening, blocked by rusted white steel bars. His only view, the hallway overlooking more cages and a slat of glass to the outside world. Graffiti marked the edge of the window. “Rejoice to the spectacular view; More barren concrete as far as the eye can see.”

I’m just a kid, why did they lock me up in here? I just ran away with my best friend. Is that so wrong? Am I such a horrible kid for wanting to be with my best friend, not caring what our parents say?

As he sat up, he spotted a set of clothes and sheets at the end of his vinyl mattress. Bright orange in color. White shirt, Underwear, and socks. He grabbed the orange and unfurled it across his legs. A Jumpsuit. With numbers on the chest ‘0038942.’

So this is jail. James began to sob. The tears streamed across his face. His cheeks stung with every droplet that trickled down. Ouch, why does my face hurt?

He hopped down from his grimy green cushion. Stepped over toward a polished stainless steel mirror. A rust haze filled the would-be glass in the shape of a small boy. A sudden realization enveloped him. His face and body hurt because he’s covered in his own blood. Battered, beaten, not quite broken. Rage filled his heart and the pain disappeared. The room began to shake. The steel door rattled and warped as he yelled.

“It’s cell 48! Get the tranqs!” Within seconds prison guards were at the door. “Calm down or we’re gonna put you down!”

A green mattress crumpled in a steel frame slamming against the cage door was the only reply. As the boy raged and screamed.

“Put him down!”

Solitary Salvation

James woke with a splitting headache, clutching his head as he sat up. His body ached from beatings and lying on the cold concrete floor. A blurred figure awaited behind a solid orange door with impact resistant glass. James blinked several times, trying to regain his bearings.

“Ah, you’re awake.” Said the man waiting outside in a raspy southern drawl, the door muffled the sound of his voice.

“Where is Antiwayne? James asked. But the man did not answer. “Where is Antiwayne?” James demanded again. The room stirred as Antiwayne’s name left his lips.

“Calm down son, I know your angry and confused. Right now, we need to focus on your situation, and what we’re gonna do with you.”

“Do with me. Simple, LET ME GO!” The room shook once more. The steel door frame crackled against the concrete.

“Considering the situation, you and I both know that is not possible.”

A slow rumble grew from the room. The Orange steel door rattled.

“If you calm down, and work with me. I might be able to take you out of here.”

The rumble ceased. “Work with you how?”

“For starters. Stay calm. Stop using your powers to—”

“What powers?”

“Come now son, every time you get angry you been shaking this building to bits. The most violent criminals in known history are clutching their pillows for dear life.”

“Is that what happened at the park?”

“You don’t remember?”

“I just wanted my friend back. I wanted Antiwayne. Where is he?”

“I’m not sure son, you’re a long way from what you knew as home. As far as I’ve been told, and I want you to try and stay as calm as possible when I say this. The rest of the world thinks you’re dead and gone.”

Stillness lingered in the air, down to the atomic level everything was still.

“Will you help me find my Brother?”

“I can only promise you that I will look into it, James.”

The room lay quiet again. Seconds rolled into minutes and the minutes were adding up. James could see that the guards had come and gone several times over. The strange man that awaited beyond the confinement cell door. The only one who seemed to have any regard for not only his well-being. But for Antiwayne’s as well, remained composed as a statue.

“OK—I’ll work with you.”

What’s your take on the story so far? Who do you think the strange man is outside the cell? What became of Antiwayne? I would love to hear your comments below.

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