She catches her ring as it bounces off the wall,
puts it on and dabs her eyes. She throws the door
open as he backs in, suitcase in tow.
Shattered dishes re-assemble in her hand.
The kitchen fills with screaming. He staggers
out again, lipsticked collar, whiskey breath
and all. Babies suck back into her womb.
They jet tail-first from a honeymoon in Spain.
In reverse, they waltz across the ballroom floor,
wipe cake from each other’s faces, dance again,
climb in the white limo back to the church.
They kiss, say “Do I?” Each one takes the ring
from the other’s finger, then she strides
back up the aisle, and out the big front door.

02/06/2012

Author's Note: First published in The Barefoot Muse, Fall 2010. Also appeared as an audio file read by Nic Sebastian for Whale Sound, 2010.

Posted on 02/07/2012
Copyright © 2025 Bruce W Niedt