shelleatorres

Hey guys! Feel free to read my short story piece and comment! Thanks!

 Invitation Only

By: Shellea Torres

Sara’s hands trembled as she held the piece of paper. She stared in disbelief at the words in front of her. The script hand writing in pink letters announced the wedding. The picture of the two: smiling, happy and completely in love reminded her of their carefree high school days. The phone rang, breaking her out of her daydream, and she nervously shoved the invitation under her keyboard.

 On the day of the wedding, Sara stood in front of the house contemplating whether her choice of going home was the right one. She hated the way everything still looked the same after so many years. The perfect square houses with yards full of brightly colored flowers and children dancing on the lawn, their faces sticky with ice cream, their chubby hands tightly wrapped around sticks of cotton candy. She walked to the front door letting her feet fall heavy on the sidewalk. Ringing the doorbell, she thought about running back to her car. She looked down at her daughter and raised her eyebrows. Here goes… she thought to herself. Fiona opened the door, a smile spread across her face. Her arms were instantly open and around Sara. She then knelt down and kissed Melanie. “You are beautiful—just like your mom,” she said. She led them through the house and out into the backyard. It was decorated with pink lights wrapped in white tulle. Sara could not believe her eyes, it was gorgeous, and the wedding cake was centered in the middle; five tiers with silver sparkles and pink roses.  “Everything is amazing,” she whispered.

Fiona smiled. “Thanks,” she said putting her arm around her shoulder.

     “I am so glad my best friend could come,” Fiona added.

     “Yeah…best friends,” she said looking away. It had been eight years since she stepped foot in this town. She never wanted to go back. Then the invitation came, and her heart sank. Her heart stopped instantly for a moment, and her eyes were fixed on what was in front of her: He had gotten taller it seemed, well over six feet with piercing green eyes and wavy blonde hair. He was dressed in a lavender shirt and black dress pants. The way he walked across the yard seemed like they were back in 1987, their backpacks slung over their shoulders, walking home from school pausing every few feet to passionately kiss each other. Now before her was the man of her dreams, the man she wanted to once marry, and he was kissing his soon to be bride, Fiona.

            Sara gripped her daughter’s hand tightly, their fingers intertwined. Melanie looked up at her mom frowning.

 “Can I go play,” Melanie asked watching the other children hanging from the monkey bars.

“Sure.”

“Hello,” Sara’s mom said hugging her.

“Mom, you’re here already?” Sara questioned.

“Of course; Fiona needed extra help with the flowers,” she said.

“When I found out your mom just bought that florist shop—I knew we had to have her for the wedding. Do you want to come upstairs?” Fiona asked reaching for their hands. Fiona’s mom and sister were already up there. Looking frantic, Fiona’s mom, Katie, hugged the both of them. “It’s been too long,” Katie said grabbing bobby pins from the vanity. Fiona’s sister, Regan, sat next to Sara. “You look great,” she said. Sara returned her compliment with a weak smile. “Thanks.”

Regan was always the little sister that would never leave them alone. She wanted to play barbies with them, have pillow fights and tag along with them when they went out with friends. Sara felt bad ignoring her all those years, hiding from her and telling her they were going to the ice cream shop, but never show up. Regan looked grown up, and she grew into her big years and crooked  teeth.  She looked pretty. Sara and her mom decided to leave the bride and look at the lake. The sun was beginning to set and it cast an orange glow over the water.  Sara dug her toes into the sand letting it squish in between her toes. Sara’s mom sat on a tree stomp her chin resting on her hand. Sara could see Melanie off in the distance playing in Fiona’s backyard. “Nice house huh?” Sara’s mom said.

“Yeah.”

“Are you ok?”

“I guess. I am just thinking about Max and me.”

Sara’s mind wondered to her high school graduation day. She had a party. She could remember the empty soda cans littering the counters, and the music playing on the highest volume allowed, hurting her ears. Max wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her. His smile was the one thing she never forgot. The way his lip curled up showing the bottom of his front teeth. She smiled thinking about it. He took her hand, leading her onto the patio. Her friends were having fun dancing under the stars and swimming in the pool. She rested her head on his shoulder soaking in the smell of his cologne. She tried to bury her nose deeper when he pulled away.  “What’s wrong?” she asked him. He pushed his hand into his pocket, mumbling something. When he pulled his hand out, he held a small box. The moment when he opened it, her eyes glazed over, and she felt the ground moving underneath her feet. “What’s that?”

“Will you marry me?” he asked kneeling on one knee. She could see everyone watching her, waiting for an answer. Their eager eyes hoped she would say yes. She squinted, her eyes staring at the ring. There was a large diamond in the middle with small diamonds circling it. She traced her finger over the stones. “Sara,” he said his voice barely above a whisper.

“I don’t think I can.”

“What?”

“We just graduated. We have our whole lives ahead of us. I don’t think I’m ready for such a big step,” she said putting the ring in his palm. His fingers quickly covered it.

“If not now—then when?”

“I don’t know. I just know I can’t.”

“I can’t wait around for someone who doesn’t want to be with me,” he said. He lowered his eyes and shook his head. She watched him turn around and leave and the six seconds it took for him to disappear from her view seemed to be the longest. “Oh Sara” a calming voice said, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Sara turned around to see her best friend, Fiona waiting for her with open arms.

“Sara,” her mom’s voice brought her back.

“Yeah.”

“You have to tell him.”

“I can’t. Another time—more time,” Sara said walking back to the house.

“It’s been eight years. I think that’s plenty of time,” her mom said following her. When they got back to the house Fiona found Melanie, and they changed for the wedding. They took their seats in the back. Melanie played with her hands in her lap. Fiona put her hand over Melanie’s and kissed the top of her head. “It’s about to start,” she whispered.  

The piano music began to play, and everyone watched the bride. She really did look gorgeous. Her blonde hair pinned up, with curls cascading down; her long white dress so silky and shiny, glowed underneath the afternoon sun. The aisles were lined with orchids and pale rose petals were scattered across the ground. There was an ice sculpture of a heart next to the gift table, and a waterfall in the corner of the yard. The most beautiful part was the lake behind them.   A perfect scenery for a perfect wedding. Their exchange of vows was short, and they soon were husband and wife.

            Sara grabbed a glass of wine and stood in the corner. She disgustingly watched everyone dancing and despised the fact that everyone else was having a good time. She faked a smile as people walked by. “This town has not changed one bit,” her mom said walking up to her. Sara looked around and nodded in agreement.

 “No, it has not,” she replied.

            Fiona and Max were dancing their arms around each other, their heads tilted back as they laughed. Sara set her empty glass on the bar and ordered another drink. “Keep them coming,” she told the bartender. He smiled and winked, as if he knew her situation.

“Easy now,” her mom told her. She glared at her mother again and scanned the room for Melanie. She was dancing with a group of other children; at least she was having fun, Sara thought bitterly.  She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she quickly turned around. It was Max.                                                                           “Hey,” he said.

 “Congratulations.”

“Thanks. Are you ok? You’ve been so quiet…since you’ve been here…” his voice trailed off.

“I’m fine. Wow…you’re a married man. That’s so great,” she forced herself to say.

“I really love her,” he said staring at Fiona.

“Excuse me,” Sara said running off. She managed to close the bathroom door, before she burst into tears. She thought this trip back home would offer her closure, but it didn’t. She thought seeing them together would not be a big deal. It had been eight years…that was plenty of time to get over it—wasn’t it? She let herself fall to the floor as she sobbed. Her cheeks were wet, and she reached for a tissue. There was a soft knock at the door, and she stood up. “Just a minute,” she called. “I have to go now,” an unknown voice replied from the other side of the door.

 “Go away,” she screamed slamming her fist against the door.

She turned around and picked up the soap dishing, throwing it against the wall, it shattered into a hundred pieces. She flung open the door and marched outside. She saw Fiona and walked up to her.

“We have to talk,” she demanded. “You’ve been crying…what’s wrong?” Fiona asked.

“Everything.”

“What’s going on?”

“You stole him from me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said nervously laughing as she looked at the people that had started to gather around them.

“You stole Max. We were together…we were going to get married—not you two,” Sara jabbed her finger toward Max. He walked up behind Fiona and put his arm around her waist.

“Let’s go inside,” he said to Sara. She shook her head no.

“You are clearly drunk,” her mother said reaching for her.

“Why didn’t you love me? Why did you not love me enough?”

“I did love you. You said no remember?—It wouldn’t have worked besides that was eight years ago. Why are you bringing all of this up— especially now?”

“Because you married my best friend,” Sara said glaring at Fiona. Sara’s hand reached for the edge of the table as she held herself up. She could feel a tightness in her chest.

“I hate that you made me feel like I was no longer loved. That I was incapable of being loved,” Sara started to cry again.  “You were my best friend…I trusted you. Friends do not marry each other’s boyfriends.”

“Ex-boyfriend,” Fiona said growing angry.

“You were never a good friend to me—never.” Her words seem to jumble inside her brain and she couldn’t quite make out the faces that had crowded around her.

“Can we talk about this inside?” Max suggested.

 “Not now—Max,” Fiona said putting her hand in front of him. “Why now? After all of the chances we could’ve talked about this—you could’ve just called—or wrote. We could’ve talked about this rationally and calmly—another time.”

“Because.”

“Because why?” Max demanded.

Sara stopped crying for a moment and wiped her tears away. She waved her arm toward Melanie. She felt foolish and horrible as she saw the look on her little daughter’s face. Melanie was scared and her face was scrunched making her features look small and stressed.  “Because that little girl is yours!” she screamed. 

            The room fell silent and for what seemed like forever no one said a word. Sara’s eyes darted across the room trying to read the expressions on everyone’s faces. She could see the confusion in Max’s eyes and Fiona biting her upper lip. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Max finally said. Sara looked away, fighting tears that were quickly surfacing.  

“You didn’t love me. You’d broken up with me by the time I found out. I didn’t want to run back to you, groveling—begging you to take me back.”

 “But I had a right to know. You had no right to keep that from me.”

 “Let me tell you something Max—we have done just fine the past eight years without you,” she shot back.  

The four of them turned to Melanie and watched her. She was twirling her hair around her fingers looking confused. “Mom,” Melanie whispered. Sara knelt down and opened her arms.            “Come here,” she said to Melanie. Melanie ran to her. Sara wasn’t sure what to say. She held Melanie close to her and smoothed down her curls. Sara’s mom grabbed Sara’s arm. “Let’s go,” she said helping her up. Sara resisted at first, pulling away. Her mom was more persistent and grabbed her arm and helped her walk back to the car. Sara watched out the window as the faces grew smaller and smaller until they became specks in the night.
            Sara woke to a room flooded with sunshine, and she pulled the covers over her head. The door flung open and her mom walked in a pitcher of water in her hand and a bottle of aspirin in the other. “Here,” she said handing her the aspirin. Sara sat up in bed. ‘Thanks,” she said rubbing her head. Sara felt safe in this room. Her old room. The room she grew up, the room where so many memories had formed. Her mom still had the same wall paper up; pink and yellow stripes with little white polka dots. Her posters of boy bands and animal rights filled the walls. “Why didn’t you ever take these down?” Sara asked gesturing to the wall. Her mom smiled.

“This is where you grew up. This is where it all happened.” Her mom patted down the comforter still with a smile on her face.

“I messed up,” Sara said. Her mom raised her eyebrows and set her hand on her knee. “Yes, you did.”

“I don’t know what to say to him or Melanie.” Her mom shrugged and got up walking across the room to the window. She pulled the curtains back and stared at the lake. “I was all for you telling Max the truth. Just not like that.”

“I know. That wasn’t the best way.”

“Maybe you should just go talk to him.”

Sara decided to walk to Max’s. The fresh air would really be nice. She rang the doorbell. She tried to rehearse what she would say in her mind, but everything came out sounding stupid. And no excuse seemed valid enough. After all these years she thought somehow she could find the courage needed to tell the truth, but it never came. One lie always lead to another. She pushed a piece of auburn hair behind her ear and leaned in closer to the door, trying to hear footsteps or any kind of noise. She frowned and began to turn around when the door opened.

 “Hello,” Max said

“Can we talk?”

“Sure…come in,” he said opening the door. Fiona was standing in the kitchen her hands on her hips. “Fiona,” she said walking up to her. “Are you excited for your honeymoon?” she said trying to lighten the mood. Fiona glared at her. Sara looked around. The house had not been cleaned yet and the evidence of the party last night definitely showed. “Do you need help?” she asked looking around. “Why did you do it?” Fiona finally asked.

“Um… can we sit down?” she pointed toward the couch. Fiona and Max followed her.

       “I don’t know. I was young and stupid I guess. I hope that you can understand why I did it.”

     “Understand? No, I don’t. How dare you waltz back into my life eight years later—telling me that I have a daughter that you never bothered to tell me about! Did it just slip your mind?”

     “No, of course not—it’s complicated.”

     “No, it isn’t. You chose to make it something complicated. If you would have just told me Sara; I would have been able to help. I could’ve been there. It’s not fair that you just decided this on your own. You didn’t think about anyone’s feelings but your own. You didn’t think about Melanie’s, and you certainly didn’t think about mine.”

     “You know, I thought about this very moment so many times. It didn’t go like this at all. I didn’t plan for it to end up like this. I had this whole speech I was going to say. I had it all mapped out in my mind. But now, none of it makes sense. Nothing I had planned on saying would sound right or sound anything like it should.”

     “You’re still the same. You haven’t changed at all. You’re selfish and inconsiderate just like you were in high school—when we were dating.”

     “No, I’m not. I am not that same little girl that everyone pushed around. The same little girl that was too weak and too scared—I had a baby. I took very good care of her. Believe me, it wasn’t always easy.”

     “Oh and for that you deserve a medal? Women have babies all the time it’s not a heroic act,” he shouted. Sara drew in a breath concentrating on the rise and fall of her chest. She didn’t want to say something she would regret, she’d done too much of that already.

     “Yes, it was for me. I was so young. The man I loved broke up with me. Yes, it was a big deal Max. I was alone.”

     “That’s just another one of your pitiful excuses for people to feel bad for you. You just want to make excuses for your cowardly behavior so in your little mind it sounds good. Does it still sound good? Even after all these years?”

“But I have tried to explain…” she cried. Her hands flew to her mouth and she could feel her bottom lip quivering. She didn’t want to cry again.

     “I think you have explained it pretty damn well. But the sad thing is even when you have explained it—it sounds even way more messed up than before.”

Sara stood there. Her long hair falling in her face, tears streaming down her cheeks, and she didn’t care that she looked like a complete mess. Her mascara was running, leaving thick streaks of black across her cheekbones. Her eyes were red from crying. None of that mattered now. She wasn’t sure what mattered anymore.

“I think you should go,” Max said waving toward the door.

“Wait,” said Fiona holding her hand up. Sara turned to face her.

“Are you still in love with Max?” she asked. Sara thought about the question, already aware of the answer. Fiona didn’t want to know the answer, knowing the answer would only make her more upset. The answer upset Sara. Why did she love him after all these years? What part of her was never able to let go? “No,” she lied opening the door. She wanted to say sorry one last time, but the words wouldn’t form and without looking back she left just as quickly as she had come.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS