Beautifully Dead

The Sapphire gown tumbled and crashed as it spilled against the tile flooring. Like a sea, the dangerously beautiful waves of silk collided against one another, sending ripples up its bodice. The young woman glanced up hesitantly into the silver mirror that hung in front of her. She tightened her grip on the white lilies she held in her pail hands. A smile almost materialised onto her fleshy lips, but the dream she had, had from weeks before still lingered in the back of her mind. It replayed like an old time movie through her head. She could practically recite each word she had spoken.
* * *
John had been late coming home that night, but Caroline hadn’t noticed. She was too busy printing out each intricate detail to their upcoming wedding. Hours lulled by, and finally the sound of John’s old pickup truck rumbled into the house. Caroline almost immediately dropped her pen and spun down the staircase, whipping open the wooden door to see john stepping out of his truck. “John!” She squealed, waving her hand and grinning from ear to ear. Her fiancé smiled back at her and returned a cautious wave. There was something wrong. Caroline could tell. Something in his eyes screamed for help, but she couldn’t exactly put her finger on it. It was almost… fear. Caroline began to run towards him, when the boom of a gunshot filled the silent space around them. She immediately froze in mid step and the colour drained from her cheeks. John’s face turned a horrible white tint, and his knee’s gave way as he crashed down to the wet grass. Caroline didn’t scream. She didn’t speak a word. She just slowly kneeled down, her body sinking into the ground.
* * *
And that was when she woke up. A shiver ripped up her spine. It was all just a dream. Though, it didn’t help that everyone in the little Southern town of Hartsville was acting different. Strangers would walk right up to her, their faces full of grief and remorse giving her their condolences. Even her best friend Mary- Lynn had been acting strange. She looked at her like she was incredibly worried. Like she was an old sick woman, and Mary knew her fate. But none of that mattered to Caroline. John had just come home late. The morning after the horrible dream he awakened her like he always did. John kissed her on her forehead and whispered “good morning, love.” He just lost track of time. Caroline’s head began to pulse as the thoughts rushed at her with a great force. There was a faint knock on the door frame, loud enough to hurl Caroline back into reality. She lifted her head, and her long southern blonde curls fell to the sides, revealing her pale, lifeless face. Mary-Lynn stood in the white shine of the moon, which gave her an iridescent glow. She smiled reluctantly. “Are you ready to…” She trailed off, searching for the right words to say. “Your, wedding.” She hesitated, and stared into Caroline’s week eyes, for some kind of hope. For some hint that there was an ounce of Caroline left in her thin, tired body. But at a loss, she took a deep breath, and reached for her best friend’s boney grey hand. “Yes,” It was all Caroline could speak. The sound of her voice was startling. She sounded exhausted, and drained. It had been two days since she had seen John last. She had a horrible gut retching feeling that he wouldn’t come tonight. Mary-Lynn clicked the car door open, and helped Caroline into the passenger seat. The car started with a rumble as it came to life. They rolled down the gravel road in silence for most of the trip, until Caroline spoke up. “Where is John?” she mumbled. Mary-Lynn tucked one of her short brown strands of hair behind her ear, and sighed with frustration. “Caroline! He’s not-“She cut herself off before she could finish. Tears started to pool in her eyes, but she wasn’t about to let herself go just yet. “I don’t know.” She worded carefully. Caroline paused for a moment. “But… He will be there tonight… Right?” Mary-Lynn glanced out the window and thought for a minute. “He’ll be there. He wouldn’t miss this.” She spoke, with a tinge of hope in her voice. It wasn’t long before the black car pulled up to the old wooden church. The two girls, hand and hand, walked up to the large barn like doors. Caroline took a deep breathe, and walked in. The room full of people went silent and in that second, everyone’s eyes were on her. Caroline had dreamed about how this would feel. But something was very, very wrong. She could tell by the way they looked at her. It wasn’t a happy, look at her stare, but one full of pity and grief. At the front of the room, John was nowhere to be found. She didn’t know what to think anymore. Panic and sadness all washed over her so quickly she felt as if she needed to gasp for air to keep alive. Tears pooled in her eyes, rolling down her boney cheeks and onto the silk gown. Her faith was beginning to fade, until the familiar sound of John’s pickup truck pulling into the driveway filled the whole church. She spun around in that moment, her dress spinning and twirling. A smile spread across her face, and she couldn’t help but let out a laugh full of pure happiness. No one looked like they had heard anything. They all just looked at her. Some looked worried. Some even looked scared. “He’s here!” She chimed, gathering up her dress in her hands as she began to sprint back down the aisle towards the door. Looking out the church windows as she ran, she saw him. He was smiling, with his hand pressed up against the old glass. “John.” She mumbled to herself. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mary-Lynn. Her face was white and her eyes full of horror. She opened her mouth to speak, but at a loss for words, lowered her head, and stayed silent. Caroline burst through the wooden doors and rounded the corner to see John, perfectly positioned under the moon light. She only hesitated for a second before she raced into his arms. He was ice cold and burning hot all at the same time. “It’s okay. I’m here now. You’re okay, love.” He breathed against her cheek. She shivered as his chilled breathe hit her skin. He’s was here to stay now. His beautiful warm brown eyes, his shaggy care free blonde hair, old torn denim jeans, and a horribly beautiful hole through his chest.