The Void Between Hearts ~~ongoing~~

46. Ivan

I walk into the venue with Mike. I'm late, because I was forced to attend counselling, courtesy of being a troubled teen like myself.

Standing here, in the bustling hall, some guests prefer to stare at me. I don't mind.

Boma had sent me a picture of her dress, so I bought a suit with a silver lapel. It looks a lot more interesting under the lights.

"Scan around and tell me when you see her." I instruct Mike.

"There, sir." He points to the front of the hall, where some girls are gathered around the bride, scrambling to catch the bouquet.

I don't think walking over there is what I should do.

Instead, I allow myself to bask in the camera lights all flickering around me. They seem to absolutely love my suit—or just me—everybody does, instant love affair.

"Oh. My. God." The Master of Ceremony announces.

I look up and like echo-location, she turns around, with the bouquet in her hands. Her eyes widen into a radiant smile and some people follow her eyes to me. I prostrate.

If they're going to stare, I might as well make it worth their precious eyes. The cameras flick some more.

Her mother waves at me. I blow her a kiss.

Boma hands the bouquet over to a beautiful dark-skinned girl standing next to her, then gallops towards me, smiling like she could lose sight.

I start laughing, knowing I surprised her well.

"You came!" she flings her arm around my neck, bubbling like a glass of champagne.

I fling mine around her waist.

Always so beautiful.

She whispers in my ears, "Poolside."

"Okay." I nod. "Before that, pose." I turn her towards the camera. She laughs through all their clicks.

"Hi." she waves at Mike who smiles at her.

"We're at the Poolside, you can enjoy the rest of the wedding." I tell him.

He nods.

I love these new rules of 'listen to Ivan', my life finally feels like my life.

She grabs my hand, pulling me out of the hall, around the hotel, through a small fence, and to the poolside.

We get seated on the green swing. Letting it swing us for a moment while we watch the little ripples flow through the empty blue water.

"Have you been discharged?" She asks.

"Yes. Dr. Anthony made me swear that I'd attend all my future counselling sessions. I even had to take one today before he let me leave."

She laughs like I deserve it, or like she expected it.

"Well you missed the best parts," she says.

"Tell me about it."

"Well, there was the cathedral, and her dress, like when she walked down the aisle, and then there were the vows, they made theirs."

"Wow."

"Yeah, wow is right. I cried a little, you would have laughed your eyes out if you saw me," she says.

I start laughing. She joins me.

"And then there was the dance we had marching into the hall. I actually didn't mess up the routine."