Page 56 of Thirteen Years

Forever.

The church rose to applause at the announcement of Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Marshall and I joined happily. I only had eyes for one person though. The Matron of Honor, standing in whatever shade of purple she was wearing, looking like an angel.

She thought no one could see the pain she was hiding, but I knew her inside and out. We’d been high school sweethearts. We’d been married for three years before I started using drugs and pulling my bullshit. I paid for that every day of my life living away from her. I had a child with her for god sakes.

She was hurting and she wasn’t letting anyone in.

Typical Monica.

It had been a year since Paul died. I wouldn’t wish that on him or anyone but he wouldn’t want her aching and alone. Hurting forever. He and I had talked. I’d gotten my life together around the time Lacey was eight and Paul had sat me down.

He’d told me he knew Monica still loved me and I cared for her a lot. He’d asked me to try to step back in if anything had ever happened to him. I’d brushed him off and joked. Never thinking all these years later we’d be without the redheaded comic relief of our group.

But it was time. I couldn’t stand by anymore and let Monica fade away. Paul wouldn’t have wanted her to be this shadow of herself.

I still loved her, and regardless of if she would ever feel like that about me again, I’d spend the rest of my life ensuring her pain was at a minimum.

It was time to make good on a promise I never thought I’d have to follow through on.

The End