The Challege

 This was it, my big day.  I looked at the mirror, deep into my sea-green eyes.  I was ready, right?  This was a question I had asked myself a million times.  Every time I opened my closet and saw the long white dress.  When the florist delivered my bouquet.  I had thought it.  I have to do it.

Now I stood in the entry way of the church.  I looked at the parade in front of me.  The flower girl started it all.  She had on a forest-green dress and held a basket filled with lime peels cut into little hearts.

I had been so scared at first.  I didn't want my wedding to be a circus.  Marcus, however, suggested that we use things meaningful to us.  His favorite color was green.  My favorite food was limes and since nobody else likes them Mark suggested using the peels instead of flowers to throw.

After the flower girl came the ring bearer.  He was wearing a cute, black suit with a light green tie.  The pillow he was carrying was almost the same color as his tie.   I had looked all over for a green material that would match his tie.  I had just found something close enough three days ago.

Next in line were my sister and Mark's best friend.  My sister's dress was somewhere between lime and neon-green.  A color I thought would be way too hideous, but it turned out O.K.  Mark's friends suit matched the ring bearer's, tie and all.

I looked up front as our flower girl started the parade.  Everyone looked so confident strolling down the aisle.  If only I was positive this was the right thing to do.

"Here Come's the Bride," began to play and I realized it was my turn to go.  I took my first step into the sanctuary.  I put a smile on my face and looked around.  The windows had been covered with green satin curtains.  I could smell the green, pine scented candles, that my sister had picked out.  I could see Mark at the front of the room.  He looked amazing in his casual black suit with an army green shirt.  Finally I looked down at the runner I was walking on.  It was the same green as the curtain.  Everything looked amazing, so how could I not want this.

I love him and I knew it.  It was just that he never seemed to understand what I needed when I needed it.  Oh well, no turning back now.  In fifteen minutes it would be all over.  I'd have to live with my decision.

I reached the end of aisle and the vows began.  I said, "I do,"  when I wanted to say, "I don't.  The ceremony was over and we were presented to our friends and family.

We decided not to have a reception. After all we both had to be back at work Monday.  I still had to get everything organized in our home we had just bought.  It was an ugly mauve color with dirt for a lawn.  I had wanted to get it painted and grass planted before we moved in but I hadn't had the time.  Oh well I would deal with it later.  We were on our way to the ugly house now. 

Mike looked at me and said, "I have a surprise for you."  I smiled at him; but, I couldn't't help but think about his last surprise.  He woke me up at six in the morning on my day off to go fishing, with live bait which I am terrified of.  What a surprise.  We rounded the last corner. Two blocks left.  Mark told me to close my eyes.  I played along.  He pulled into the driveway and parked.  I opened my eyes what I saw brought tears to my eyes.  There were little sprouts of grass all over the yard.  The house was painted a light green.

I started to open my door.  Mark grabbed my arm, "Wait."  He got out of the car and walked around.  He opened my door and picked me up and carried me up to the door.  I turned the door handle for him.  Inside there were a zillion candles lit all over, the same green, pine scented candles from our wedding.  He told me to wait here and he'd be back.  I decided to walk around the remodeled house.  There were still tears in my eyes when I saw the bowl of fresh limes in the kitchen.  That's when the olive green eye shadow I was wearing began to slide down my cheeks.  I put my hand to my face and for the first time since I could remember I cried.  I cried not in pain but in happiness.  Something I hadn't done in years.  So here I am happy as can be and I know that at the end of the day I made the right choice with the ugly green wedding.

Rikki Castrechino