Today is your wedding day.

I’ve looked at the invitation over and over. It’s propped up against the snail desk ornament you got for me. “He’s cute, cause he’s got a little pen and journal with him like you always do,” you said with a huge smile on your face. So happy to give him to me. Your happiness made getting him all the better. “What are you gonna name ’em?”

“I dunno…You’re good with the boy names, not me love.”

“True. You do suck at it.”

“Yet another way you balance me out.”

“Carl!”

“With a K or a C?”

“C of course. Don’t be weird.”

“According to you, I’m always weird.”

“Don’t be weirder.”

It’s not that I ever debated going, it’s…

I’ve always wanted nothing but the best and happiest things life has to offer for you. One should always want that for the person they love, don’t you think? I just wondered if me showing up might take away from any kind of happiness you could have today.

Then again you’d probably say, “I sent you an invitation didn’t I?”

Yes, you did.

*

*Burp* “…what was I saying?”

“Something about the table layout?”

“Yeah!.. I mean, yellow?! Why is everything yellow?! Bad on my eyes, on everyone’s…*BURP*…at least the foods good. For vegan stuff…how do you know the couple?”

“I’m a friend of the bride.”

“How’d you meet ‘er?”

“We…use to be close.”

“Ah, friend zoned ya huh?..”

“…”

“It’s okay man, happens to a lot of us. Sometimes there’s just no way to get out.”

“There’s no such thing as the friend zone. You either care about and respect the person to want to part of their life or you don’t. She’s a good person, she’s got a good heart, and she’s amazingly talented and intelligent. Her husband is a lucky man.”

“…keep telling yourself that…*BUUURRRP*…I need to go top off…”

“Hey! What’s going on Mr. ‘I’d blow you away with my dancing’?”

“Firstly, that’s a terribly long name. How would you even fit that on one of your name plates?”

“I dunno, same way you fit your big head through your shirts. Just, squish it in there.”

“Of course, so obvious.”

“Seriously, why aren’t you out there dancing?”

“I don’t wanna blow you all away.”

“Yeah right.”

“I’m actually gonna head out soon. I have a deadline tomorrow.”

“Ooo, Mr. fancy writer.”

“Apparently I’m a man of many names. Maybe I should be a spy.”

“Haha, good luck. You hate lying.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted you to think. Provides for the perfect long standing cover for you to be my alibi.”

“I hate that you’re so quick on your feet.”

“No you don’t.”

“…”

“What’s up?”

“My parents missed you. My whole family actually.”

“Aww, that’s sweet. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy. You have a life so much your own now and I guess…I’m just trying to make sure this whole writing thing isn’t just a dream that’ll go away when I wake up someday.”

“…”

“…What’s going on?”

“It…means a lot to me that you came.”

“I’m honored to be here. I told you I’d always be here to support you, no matter what.”

“You did. And you have.”

“Oh, I think they want you back on the dance floor Miss.”

“Umm, it’s Mrs. now!”

“Oh, damn! My mistake. Mrs.”

“Don’t you forget it.”

“I won’t. I promise. I’m gonna go say bye to your folks and the family. Get back out there, have fun. This is only the beginning of your next great adventure after all.”

“Thanks weirdo.”