Alone

“This is probably the most boring marriage I’ve ever seen.“, declared the bride as she brought the fourth glass of wine to her lips and emptied it with one sip. Another drop of wine dripped from her chin down onto her gown. Meanwhile she stared into the nothingness of the party in front of her. As she stood up, she nearly slipped on her part of the wedding cake and recklessly went outside onto the balcony.

„Are you now my shadow, that will always talk a bad conscience into me?“, she complained. In between her fingers rested the fifteenth cigarette of the evening. „Why won’t you just leave me alone?“, her eyes followed the smoke, while it slowly faded in the dim moonlight. „And let me enjoy this moment?“

For a short moment she listened to the quiet storms of the sea, until her attention drifted back, „Thanks, but today has been a stressful day. So I kind of need this right now.“, a deep breath.

„Stop staring at me with this reproachful look.“, a glance behind seemed unnecessary. Especially now that she noticed the lamps down by the dock. „No matter what I said, you would always look at em this way. We cannot change it anyway. I already said ‚Yes‘.“

The stub slowly slipped through her shaking fingers and fell into the darkness of the night. In one swift motion she grabbed the glass next to her and threw it against a wall, seemingly without any target. „What do you want from me?“, her echo stood against the loud music of the party, „I’m fine! I have a job, a house and I’m… married. What more?“

Only now did she take a closer look at the unfamiliar face and noticed: It was blank. „If I’m contented?“

A nod.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath: Yes. - No. - Run away. - Solitude. - Exhaled and opened her eyes. „I’m most contented right now.“

Then the unfamiliar face blended back into the guests and left the bride alone, smoking.